By Gloria Ogbonna
A Greek maritime risk management agency is warning global shipping companies about a dangerous new scam exploiting fears of instability in one of the world’s most critical waterways.
The Athens-based firm MARISKS issued an alert on Monday cautioning that fraudsters posing as Iranian officials are offering false guarantees of safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for cryptocurrency payments.
According to the advisory, at least one vessel may have fallen victim to the scheme—only to be attacked by Iranian forces while attempting to transit the narrow strait.
Scam Messages Demand Crypto “Transit Fees”
MARISKS said unidentified actors are contacting shipowners and operators with messages claiming to represent Iranian authorities. The messages promise vessels safe and unimpeded passage through the strait—if they first pay what is described as a “transit fee” in cryptocurrency, specifically Bitcoin (BTC) or Tether (USDT).
One fraudulent message cited by the firm reads:
“After providing the documents and assessing your eligibility by the Iranian Security Services, we will be able to determine the fee to be paid in cryptocurrency (BTC or USDT). Only then will your vessel be able to transit the strait unimpeded at the pre-agreed time.”
MARISKS emphasized that such communications are entirely fraudulent.
“These specific messages are a scam,” the company warned, adding that shipowners should not engage or transfer funds under any circumstances.
Exploiting Real-World Tensions
The scam appears to be capitalizing on credible reports that Iran has discussed imposing tolls or fees for vessels transiting the strait. In March, Iranian lawmaker Somayeh Rafiei publicly suggested that countries using the Strait of Hormuz for energy and food shipments should pay a form of tax to Tehran.
In comments to the Iranian Students’ News Agency (ISNA), Rafiei said:
“We in parliament are pursuing a plan under which countries will pay tolls and taxes to the Islamic Republic if the Strait of Hormuz is used as a secure route for transit, energy and food security.”
She added that Iran would establish security in the strait “with strength, authority and grandeur,” and that nations should compensate Tehran in return.
By early April, Iranian officials claimed they had begun collecting $1 per barrel of oil from tankers moving through the strait—payments reportedly made in cryptocurrency. Given that some of the largest oil tankers can carry up to two million barrels, such fees could reach into the millions of dollars per voyage.
These developments appear to have created fertile ground for scammers seeking to exploit shipping companies’ fears of seizure, delay, or attack.
U.S. Warning and Escalating Confrontations
On April 12, Donald Trump warned that any vessel paying ransom or tolls to Iran would be barred by the U.S. Navy from transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Shortly afterward, Iranian authorities began denying reports that Indian ships had paid for safe passage.
However, events on the water have raised further concerns.
One vessel believed to have paid for safe transit—the oil tanker Sanmar Herald—was reportedly attacked by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), also known as the Sepah, operates naval units that patrol the Persian Gulf and surrounding waters.
During a broadcast by NBC News, radio transmissions captured from the Sanmar Herald revealed a crew member pleading with Iranian forces as gunboats fired upon the vessel.
“Sepah Navy. Sepah Navy. This is motor tanker Sanmar Herald. You gave me clearance to go. My name is second on your list. You are firing now. Let me turn back,” the crewman could be heard saying.
Iranian state media later confirmed that two Indian-bound vessels—the Sanmar Herald and the bulk carrier Jag Arnav—were attacked and damaged by IRGC forces. The Sanmar Herald was transporting oil from Iraq, while the Jag Arnav had departed from the Saudi port of Al Jubail.
Diplomatic Fallout
The attacks triggered a diplomatic response from India. The Indian government summoned Iranian Ambassador Mohammad Fathali to express what officials described as “deep concern” over the incident.
Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri noted that Iran had previously allowed several India-bound ships to transit safely through the strait. He urged Tehran to “resume at the earliest the process of facilitating India-bound ships across the Strait,” though he did not specify whether ransom payments had been made.
A Critical Global Chokepoint
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most strategically vital maritime corridors, with roughly a fifth of global oil shipments passing through its narrow waters. Any instability—whether from state action, militant activity, or criminal scams—has the potential to disrupt global energy markets and raise shipping insurance costs dramatically.
MARISKS is urging maritime operators to remain vigilant, verify all communications through official diplomatic and naval channels, and avoid engaging with any entities demanding cryptocurrency payments for passage.
As geopolitical tensions simmer and opportunistic scams proliferate, the waters of the Persian Gulf are becoming not only a flashpoint for military confrontation but also a breeding ground for sophisticated financial fraud.
Source Breitbart
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