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News India Live, Digital Desk: Amidst the ongoing tension in the Middle East and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, ‘digital pirates’ have now created a ruckus. Global shipping companies, whose ships are stranded in this strategic waterway, are now falling victim to a major crypto scam. The fraudsters, posing as Iranian officials, are demanding ‘clearance fees’ worth millions of dollars in exchange for providing safe passage to the ships. This fraud has raised serious questions on the security of international maritime trade.
This is how the web of fraud is being woven
Greek Maritime Risk Management Firm MARISKS Has issued an international alert saying that fraudsters have sent fake messages to the owners of stranded ships. These messages claim that if the company Bitcoin (BTC) Or Tether (USDT) If they pay in cryptocurrency, their ship will be allowed to pass without any restrictions by Iranian security services.
Message from thugs: “After the documents are scrutinized and eligibility is decided by the Iranian security services, you will have to pay the fees in crypto. Only after this your ship will be able to leave safely at the pre-arranged time.”
The ship became a victim of deception, had to face firing
According to reports, at least one ship has fallen prey to this hoax and suffered heavy losses. On Saturday (April 18), a tanker tried to sail through the strait thinking it had cleared its way by paying ‘fake fees’. But as the ship proceeded, it was fired upon by Iranian patrol boats, forcing it to turn back. The crew thought they were ‘pre-cleared’, when in reality they had fallen into the trap of cyber criminals.
Hormuz: the Achilles’ heel of the global economy
The Strait of Hormuz is the world’s most important oil transit route, carrying approximately 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG). Currently due to the blockade of Iranian ports by the US and the sanctions imposed on the waterways by Iran, about 20,000 sailors And hundreds of ships are stranded in the middle of the ocean. Taking advantage of this geopolitical instability, hackers and scammers are targeting shipping companies.
Maritime security agencies warn
MARISKS and other security agencies have clarified that no such crypto-payments have been officially demanded by Iranian authorities. Companies have been advised not to trust any unknown emails or messages and to use only official diplomatic channels. Making crypto payments is not only causing financial loss, but it can also be a violation of international sanctions, putting companies at risk of legal action.
