Crypto scammers are exploiting the situation near the Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime route, by posing as Iranian authorities and demanding transit fees in cryptocurrencies like bitcoin and tether. The warning about these scams was issued by the Greek maritime risk management company MARISKS on April 20, highlighting that scammers have been targeting shipping companies during a time when many vessels are stranded. Reports indicate that one ship may have been deceived into thinking it had paid for safe passage after it was fired upon by Iranian military forces while attempting to navigate the strait on April 18. This incident coincided with Iran's claims of allowing inspections for safe passage, adding to the confusion. As of now, approximately 2,000 ships and 20,000 mariners are still stuck near the strait, raising concerns that more vessels could fall victim to these scams. Another incident involving the Liberia-flagged cargo ship Epaminondas, owned by Technomar shipping and operated by MSC, occurred on April 22, where the ship was also fired upon after allegedly receiving false permission to pass through.