Athens, Greece – MARISKS, a leading Greek maritime risk management company, has issued an urgent warning to international shipping companies about a new wave of scams targeting vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
These warnings come amid escalating geopolitical tensions in the region. Unknown actors have exploited security concerns to extort money from ship owners with false promises of “safe passage” in exchange for payments in cryptocurrency.
Details of the fraud scheme
According to a warning issued by the Greek shipping organization and reported by Reuters, several shipping companies stranded in areas west of the strategic waterway have received emails from entities claiming to represent Iranian authorities.
These emails demand that ship owners pay “customs clearance fees” or “transit fees” in exchange for guaranteeing that their vessels will not be harassed or detained while passing through the strait. Marisex explained that the scammers are demanding large sums of money in cryptocurrencies that are difficult to trace, such as Bitcoin or Tether (USDT), as a prerequisite for granting the ship “clearance” to pass.
The company stated emphatically: “These specific emails are a complete scam,” emphasizing that Iranian authorities or any official body in the region do not use such methods to demand customs fees or provide navigational security.
Exploiting the state of “confusion” on the ground
Maritime security experts believe this type of fraud exploits the “confusion” and heightened military activity in the Strait of Hormuz. The UN Secretary-General recently alluded to this.
As tensions rise, shipping companies become more susceptible to making hasty decisions under the pressure of fear of seizure or targeting. Consequently, they become easy prey for cybercrime gangs who closely monitor global shipping traffic and the timing of crises.
Official silence and security recommendations
To date, Tehran has not issued any official comment regarding the impersonation of its maritime authorities in these operations.
However, all risk management companies have urged captains and security officials at shipping companies to exercise extreme caution and not to respond to any unofficial or anonymous payment requests. Marisex also recommended direct contact with official diplomatic channels and international maritime organizations in the event of receiving any suspicious messages. It emphasized that the safety of navigation in international waterways is governed by international law and official agreements between states, not by encrypted online financial transfers. This incident adds a new dimension to the challenges in the Strait of Hormuz. The threat is no longer limited to mines or military vessels, but now includes “cyber pirates” seeking to profit from crises in global waterways.
