The Strait of Hormuz remains a flashpoint amid blocks and counter-blocks affecting shipments, leaving hundreds of ships and about 20,000 seafarers stranded in the Persian Gulf.

Marisks, a maritime risk firm, says the messages are not from Iranian authorities and Tehran has not publicly commented on the claims.

Regulatory guidance emphasizes verifying any demands through official channels, conducting blockchain checks on any wallet, and consulting sanctions experts before acting on payment demands.

Experts warn that crypto transit payments carry sanctions risk regardless of the recipient, with OFAC, EU, and UK rules potentially applying.

The article incorporates attribution from MARISKS, Reuters, and Bitcoin Magazine, along with an editorial note about AI usage and verification practices.

The scam relies on timing and operational pressure; delays or disruptions make operators more likely to respond to urgent, authoritative-sounding messages.

Analysts caution that paying a scammer could still trigger sanction violations and fraud losses, as funds may reach sanctioned or illicit actors.

Security experts warn that legitimate authorities do not demand transit fees in cryptocurrency or via unsolicited channels, flagging such requests as red flags.

Sanctions experts from Chainalysis and others say payments or links to Iranian-controlled waterways could constitute material support and trigger US and international sanctions.

MARISKS notes the messages mirror bureaucratic language and cite pre-arranged transit windows; at least one vessel reportedly paid scammers after being targeted.

Industry guidance states that transit clearance and fees are handled through official government or naval channels, not private apps or messages.

A scam alert warns of scammers posing as Iranian authorities asking for cryptocurrency to grant safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, with at least one vessel duped and fired upon during transit attempts.