Crypto scammers are now targeting ships stuck near the Strait of Hormuz with fake “clearance” demands paid in Bitcoin and Tether. A maritime security firm says the messages claim to offer safe passage but do not come from any real authority.
Fake “Clearance” Messages Hit Stranded Ships
Greek risk management firm MARISKS reported that unknown actors have contacted some shipping companies whose vessels are parked west of the Strait of Hormuz. These messages pretend to be from Iranian authorities and demand transit or “clearance” fees in cryptocurrency, usually Bitcoin or Tether, before a ship can move.
The firm says scammers tell shipowners to submit vessel documents for review by security services, after which they quote a crypto fee and set a time for “approved” passage. MARISKS calls these contacts “a scam” and stresses that they did not originate from Iranian government channels.
A US naval blockade and conflict‑related restrictions have left hundreds of ships and over 20,000 sailors stuck in the Gulf, prompting the warning. This ambiguity has made it easier for scammers to take advantage of bewildered workers and operators.
War Tension, Real Toll Talk, and Cover for Fraud
Reports that Iran has pondered, or at least floated, imposing tolls on ships traversing the Strait of Hormuz coincide with the wave of scams. As they attempted to depart the area in recent days, some vessels reportedly encountered inspections, delays, and even gunfire.
Legal analysts also note that at least two ships reportedly paid fees in Chinese yuan for safe passage arranged by Iranian forces earlier in the crisis. Against that backdrop, fake messages demanding crypto tolls can seem more believable to stressed shipowners who just want to get out.
Sanctions attorneys caution that paying any actual tolls, whether in fiat or cryptocurrency, to the Iranian military or designated entities may violate US and UK sanctions. This implies that those who fall for a scam may suffer both monetary losses and, perhaps, legal repercussions.
MARISKS advises shipping firms to treat unsolicited requests for crypto or yuan payments with extreme caution and to verify any supposed instructions through official diplomatic or naval channels. The firm believes the fraudulent clearance scheme may have influenced at least one ship that came under fire while trying to exit the strait on April 18.
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