Fraudulent Permit Scams Targeting Shipping Companies in Strait of Hormuz Waters

Fraudulent messages promising safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for cryptocurrency payments have been targeting shipping companies, according to a maritime risk management firm based in Greece. The scam involves individuals posing as Iranian authorities and demanding payment in Bitcoin or Tether for transit through the vital waterway.

Marisks, the Greek maritime risk services company, issued an alert on April 20, 2026, after identifying that several shipping firms had received such messages. The company stated it believes at least one vessel fell victim to the scheme and came under fire while attempting to transit the strait over the weekend of April 18–19, 2026, although this detail could not be independently confirmed by Reuters at the time of reporting.

The messages falsely claim to offer safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments, which has seen disrupted traffic since late February 2026 due to regional tensions. Iranian authorities have historically required vessels to follow specific routes near its coastline for inspection and have, in some instances, demanded cryptocurrency payments for transit, creating confusion that scammers have exploited.

Marisks emphasized that the fraudulent communications did not originate from legitimate Iranian government sources. The firm warned shipping companies to verify any requests for payment through official channels and to remain vigilant against impersonation attempts exploiting the volatile security situation in the region.