Authored by Amin Haqshanas via CoinTelegraph.com,
Fraudulent actors posing as Iranian authorities have reportedly sent messages to shipping companies whose vessels remain stranded west of the Strait of Hormuz, demanding payment in cryptocurrency for safe passage.
On Monday, maritime risk company Marisks issued a warning saying unknown groups had contacted shipowners claiming to represent Iranian security services and requesting transit “fees” in Bitcoin or USDt in exchange for clearance through the strait,accordingto Reuters.
“These specific messages are a scam,”Marisks reportedly said, adding that they do not originate from Iranian authorities.Tehran has not publicly commented on the claims.
The alerts come as the strategic waterway remains largelyclosedfollowing the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East. The Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global energy flows, previously handled around one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas exports before hostilities escalated in the region.
Earlier this month, reports said Iran wasconsidering charging shipspassing through the Strait of Hormuz a tariff payable in Bitcoin, with empty tankers allowed free passage while others could be charged around $1 per barrel of oil.
The reported scam messages instruct recipients to submit documentation for verification before being assigned a “fee” payable in cryptocurrency, after which safe transit would allegedly be granted at a pre-agreed time.
In one example cited by Marisks, the message stated that Iranian security services would assess eligibility before determining payment in BTC or USDt, framing crypto transfers as a condition for unimpeded passage.
Trump says he won’t allow Iran to impose tolls on ships. Source:The Middle East
The company also suggested that at least one vessel recently targeted by gunfire while attempting to exit the strait may have received such fraudulent instructions, though the information has not been independently verified.
Source: ZeroHedge News
