21.04.2026 10:15
A warning issued by the Greek maritime‑risk consultancy MARISKS, as reported by Reuters, says that unidentified individuals have been targeting shipping companies with fraudulent requests for cryptocurrency payments. These scams are aimed at vessels that remain stuck on the western side of the Strait of Hormuz, where hundreds of ships and roughly 20,000 crew members have been unable to move.
According to MARISKS, the perpetrators are posing as Iranian officials and are demanding either Bitcoin or USDT in exchange for “clearance” through the narrow waterway. The messages promise a safe and unimpeded passage if the requested digital‑currency fee is paid, and they instruct ship owners to forward vessel documentation for review by Iranian security services before a crypto‑based transit charge can be set.
The scheme has surfaced amid heightened maritime uncertainty, with ongoing cease‑fire ambiguities, port blockades and recent attacks on ships amplifying the risks in the region. While the United States has maintained a blockade of Iranian ports for about a week, Tehran has alternated between lifting and reinstating its own closure of the strait. Before the latest escalation in the Middle East, the Hormuz corridor handled roughly one‑fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.
One incident cited by MARISKS involves a vessel that attempted to exit the strait on April 18 and was subsequently fired upon by Iranian boats. The firm suspects that a fraudulent outreach may have influenced the ship’s decision, although it did not confirm whether any cryptocurrency payment was actually made. The continued congestion of the Gulf leaves many shipping operators vulnerable to such deceptive offers of passage.
