Fraudsters are targeting global shipping firms with fake payment demands in Strait of Hormuz transit schemes, seeking fees in Bitcoin and Tether as vessels remain stranded amid conflict in the Gulf.
Greek maritime risk firm MARISKS said unknown actors have sent messages to shipowners claiming to represent Iranian authorities and offering safe passage through the chokepoint in exchange for bitcoin payments.
The firm warned that the communications are fraudulent and not linked to Tehran.
The alerts come as tensions between the United States and Iran disrupt one of the world’s most critical energy corridors. The waterway once carried about a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas flows. Military activity and shifting restrictions have left hundreds of vessels stalled west of the passage, with about 20,000 seafarers affected.
According to MARISKS, the messages instruct companies to submit vessel documentation for review by “Iranian Security Services,” after which a transit fee would be set in Bitcoin or Tether. The senders claim ships would then receive clearance to pass without interference at a scheduled time.
MARISKS said at least one vessel may have fallen victim to the scheme. The firm linked the case to a ship that attempted to exit the strait and came under fire, though it could not confirm the connection.
Reuters reporters could not verify which companies received the messages.
Bitcoin as a means of payment in Iran
Earlier this month, Iran reportedly planned to require shipping companies to pay transit tolls in bitcoin for vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz, linking the move to one of the world’s most critical energy corridors.
The policy would issue payment requests before transit and require settlement in bitcoin within a short window, designed to bypass traditional financial rails while maintaining control over access during a US–Iran ceasefire period.
Security analysts warn that any such payment request carries legal and financial risk. Even if funds do not reach sanctioned entities, companies could face exposure under sanctions regimes tied to Iran.
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