Scammers posing as Iranian authorities demand BTC and USDT from ships for Hormuz ‘clearance,’ per MARISKS.
The scheme exploits Iran’s real proposal of $1-per-barrel crypto tolls on tankers.
MARISKS says at least one ship that engaged was fired upon during an April 18 transit attempt.
Fraudulent messages demanding Bitcoin (BTC) and Tether (USDT) payments in exchange for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz are circulating among shipping companies whose vessels are stranded west of the waterway, Greek maritime risk management firm MARISKS warned on April 21.
The messages, sent by unknown actors claiming to represent Iranian authorities, ask shipping companies to submit vessel documentation for review before receiving a cryptocurrency fee demand for ‘clearance.’
The quoted text reads: ‘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.’
‘These specific messages are a scam,’ MARISKS stated in its alert. Iran has not commented. The publication that uncovered this story was unable to independently verify which companies received the messages.
What makes the scam credible
The fraud gains plausibility from a real policy decision. In early April, during the two-week ceasefire, Iran announced it would charge shipping companies tolls in cryptocurrency to transit the strait. The Financial Times reported on April 8 that Iran would demand $1 per barrel of oil on laden tankers, payable in crypto, to retain control over passage through the chokepoint during the ceasefire period.
Iran will demand that shipping companies pay tolls in cryptocurrency for laden oil tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz, as it seeks to retain control over passage through the key waterway during the two-week ceasefire.
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Watcher Guru reported Iran demanding fees in crypto or Chinese yuan as early as April 1.
The consequences on the water
MARISKS said at least one vessel that responded to the fraudulent messages attempted to exit the Strait of Hormuz on April 18, when Iran briefly reopened the waterway under checks. Iranian boats fired on the ship, forcing it to turn back. At least two vessels, including a tanker, reported being targeted by gunfire that day.
The incident underscores a compounded risk. Victims not only lose cryptocurrency payments, which are irreversible, but the fake ‘clearance’ offers no protection. Ships acting on fraudulent authorizations have no standing with Iranian forces and receive no coordination with the IRGC, which controls passage through the strait.
The broader picture
Hundreds of ships and approximately 20,000 seafarers remain stranded in the Gulf. The US has maintained its blockade of Iranian ports. Iran has lifted and reimposed its blockade of the strait multiple times since the conflict began in late February, creating stop-start windows of false opportunity that scammers are exploiting.
The ceasefire expires on April 22. Polymarket has priced the odds of a ceasefire extension at approximately 66%. Still, Iran’s rejection of a second round of US peace talks on April 19 and its continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz have introduced fresh uncertainty.
Until a durable agreement is reached, ships remain exposed to both the physical danger of attempting transit and the financial danger of fraudulent clearance schemes targeting crews and operators under mounting pressure.
MARISKS advised shipowners to verify all communications through official channels before taking any action and to treat any unsolicited message demanding cryptocurrency payments as fraudulent.
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Abhinav is a researcher and author specializing in cryptocurrency, blockchain, and Web3, translating complex protocols into actionable insight for institutions and builders. Drawing on experience across digital marketing, management, and research, he focuses on tokenization, stablecoins and payments, DeFi, and real‑world assets, with rigorous analysis of protocol economics, security, governance, and layer‑2 scalability.
