Crypto scam lures ships into Strait of Hormuz, falsely promising safe passage

Scammers posing as Iranian authorities are demanding bitcoin or tether transit fees from ships near the Strait of Hormuz.

Greek maritime risk firm MARISKS said one vessel may have been fooled into believing it had paid for safe passage.

Another ship, Epaminondas, is under review after a possibly fraudulent message allegedly granted permission to pass before it was fired on.

The scheme threatens a key global shipping chokepoint, putting cargo crews, oil flows, and LNG shipments at risk.