A maritime security company warned about scam messages promising to ensure safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz.
Maritime risk management company MARISKS said on April 21 that some transportation businesses had received messages from unidentified subjects, claiming to be representatives of Iranian authorities. These messages requested payment by electronic money such as Bitcoin or Tether to be licensed to travel across the strait.
MARISKS affirmed that the messages were fake and unrelated to Iranian officials. The message stated that the ship must provide documents for "qualification assessment", and then be notified of the fee and safe movement time.
This situation takes place in the context of the US maintaining a blockade of Iranian ports, while Iran has repeatedly closed and reopened the Strait of Hormuz. Before the conflict broke out in the Middle East, this shipping line transported about 20% of global liquefied natural oil and gas.
Amidst ceasefire discussions, Iran once proposed to charge fees to ships to ensure travel through the area. However, MARISKS emphasized that the messages requesting payment by electronic money are not from official sources.
Currently, hundreds of ships and about 20,000 sailors are trapped in the Gulf. When the strait was opened in a short time with inspection measures, some ships tried to move but at least 2 ships, including one oil tanker, reported being shot by Iranian ships and forced to turn around.
MARISKS believes that at least one ship hit by fire may have become a victim of this scam. The information has not been independently verified and the companies receiving the messages have not been identified.
