Hormuz blockade: Scammers demand cryptocurrency for safe passage of stranded ships

Scam messages are being sent to shipping companies offering safe transit through the blocked Strait of Hormuz in exchange for cryptocurrency. A Greek maritime risk management firm has issued a warning about these fraudulent messages targeting vessels stranded west of the waterway. The situation arises amid a dual blockade, with the United States blocking Iranian ports and Iran reimposing its blockade on the Strait of Hormuz due to the ongoing war in the Middle East. Scammers are demanding payments in cryptocurrency to ensure no financial trail is left behind. Shipping companies are being strongly advised not to contact these fraudulent entities or attempt to take advantage of the fake offers. Meanwhile, reports indicate that international agencies are currently working to rescue seafarers stranded in the region. The strait is a critical waterway through which roughly a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas previously passed before the conflict escalated.