Kamal Ghorui
As the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz continues to impact the world’s oil supply, a new cyber threat has emerged for the thousands of sailors trapped in the Middle Eastern region: digital pirates running a cryptocurrency scam. MARISKS, a Greek maritime risk management firm, has issued a warning to shipping companies that messages that are being sent to vessels promising safe passage are fraudulent.As per a report by news agency Reuters, scammers are sending messages to vessels stranded west of one of the world’s most vital oil waterways that they can get through the blocked waterway in exchange for a “clearance fee” paid in Bitcoin or Tether.“These specific messages are a scam,” the company said, adding the message was not sent by Iranian authorities.
What message are scammers sending to vessels in Strait of Hormuz
The messages sent by these scammers appear to be coming from Iranian officials but they are from opportunists taking advantage of the geopolitical crisis.“After providing the documents and assessing your eligibility by the Iranian Security Services, we will be able to determine the fee to be paid in cryptocurrency (BTC or USDT). Only then will your vessel be able to transit the strait unimpeded at the pre-agreed time,” said the message cited by MARISKS, Reuters reported.MARISKS reportedly said that it believed that at least one of the vessels, which tried to exit the strait on Saturday (April 18) was hit by gunfire and was a victim of the fraud. The crew likely believed they had “pre-cleared” their passage by paying the ‘fake fee’.
Thousands at risk due to this scam
The Strait of Hormuz, which usually handles 20% of the world’s oil and gas, has been a scene of chaos since war broke out. While Iran has proposed official tolls for transit during ongoing ceasefire talks, MARISKS warns that “unknown actors” are now impersonating Iranian authorities to steal from shipowners.According to the report, roughly 20,000 seafarers and hundreds of ships are currently stuck on the either side of the Strait of Hormuz. The US blockade of Iranian ports and Iran’s counter-blockade of the Strait have paralysed global energy shipments.
