Crypto scam targets ships in Strait of Hormuz

Scammers are exploiting the chaos in the Strait of Hormuz by posing as Iranian authorities and demanding cryptocurrency payments for safe passage. Maritime risk management firm MARISKS issued a warning that these fraudulent messages, requesting Bitcoin or Tether, could be misleading ships into dangerous situations. At least one cargo ship, the Epaminondas, was fired upon by Iranian forces after reportedly receiving permission to pass, raising suspicions that the granted passage might have been a scam. This incident highlights the extreme risks faced by the approximately 2,000 ships currently stranded in the region amidst escalating geopolitical tensions.