Scammers Exploit Hormuz Crisis with Fake Safe Passage Deals

As tensions rise between the United States and Iran, criminals are now exploiting the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz to target global shipping companies.

With the strait largely closed and Iran reportedly offering escorted passage for a fee, scammers have begun posing as Iranian officials, demanding millions in cryptocurrency in exchange for “safe routes” for cargo vessels.

Shipping firms are being approached with offers that appear legitimate but are in fact fraudulent. A warning from Morrison Shipping highlighted that these actors are not connected to the Iranian government and cannot guarantee any safe passage.

The scheme adds another layer of risk to an already volatile situation, where legitimate maritime traffic is disrupted and companies are under pressure to move critical goods through one of the world’s most important trade routes.

Industry experts warn that beyond financial losses, these scams could endanger crews and vessels by giving a false sense of security in an active conflict zone.

The emergence of such fraud underscores how global instability can quickly become an opportunity for sophisticated criminal networks—putting both lives and international trade at risk.