Crypto Fraud Targets Ships Stranded in the Sea of Hormuz: Report
Actors impersonating Iranian officials have sent messages to shipping companies whose vessels are detained west of the Hormuz coast, demanding cryptocurrency payments for safe passage.
On Monday, maritime threat firm Marixus warned of unidentified groups contacting ship owners claiming to represent Iran's security services and demanding transit “payments” in Bitcoin (BTC) or USDt (USDT) to leave the coast, Reuters reported.
“These particular messages are a hoax,” Marix reported, adding that they did not come from Iranian officials. Tehran has not publicly commented on the claims.
The alerts come as the strategic waterway remains largely closed following the conflict in the Middle East. The Strait of Hormuz, a critical bottleneck for global energy flows, now exports a fifth of the region's oil and liquid natural gas exports.
Earlier this month, Iran said it was considering charging ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz with a Bitcoin payment tariff, while empty tankers would be allowed to pass for free while others could pay around $1 per barrel of oil.
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The Crypto “Transfer Fee” scam requires proof of documents
The reported scam messages require recipients to submit documents for verification before being allocated a “payment” in cryptocurrency, after which secure transportation is said to be provided at a pre-agreed time.
In one example cited by Marix, the message stated that Iran's security services would assess eligibility before determining payment in BTC or USDt.
The company also suggested that at least one ship that was targeted by gunfire while attempting to leave the coast may have received such a decoy instruction, although the information has not been independently verified.
Cointelegraph reached out to Marisks for comment, but did not receive an immediate response.
RELATED: Bitcoin Community Weighs In On Reports Of Iran Crypto Payments For Oil Ships
Crypto payments for Iran could pose sanctions risks: Chainalysis
Caitlin Martin, a senior intelligence analyst at Chinalysis, said shipping companies that intend to pay transit fees to Iran in cryptocurrency could face serious sanctions exposure.
She told Cointelegraph that any payments related to waterways under Iran's control could be considered “material support.”
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