An Indian-flagged tanker, Sanmar Herald, came under fire in the Strait of Hormuz after its crew said it had received clearance to transit. The incident has raised questions after maritime security alerts warned that unknown actors were posing as Iranian authorities and demanding cryptocurrency for supposed safe passage.
An Indian-flagged tanker that came under fire in the Strait of Hormuz may have received a fraudulent transit message before the incident, though authorities have not confirmed that the vessel made any payment.
The tanker, Sanmar Herald, was fired upon on April 18 while attempting to cross the strait. In a distress audio shared after the incident, a crew member told Iranian forces that the ship had already been given clearance to proceed.
Maritime security reporting later indicated that one of the vessels hit that day may have been targeted through fake messages demanding payment in Bitcoin or USDT for safe passage.
Distress call points to confusion over transit approval
The incident involved two Indian-flagged vessels attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz on April 18. Indian officials then summoned Iran’s ambassador and expressed concern over the firing. India also urged Iran to resume the process of facilitating India-bound ships through the strait.
A maritime warning issued that day said a tanker reported being approached by two IRGC gunboats about 20 nautical miles northeast of Oman. The vessel’s master said the boats opened fire without a radio challenge. The tanker and its crew remained safe. The distress audio from Sanmar Herald reflected the same confusion, with the crew stating that Iranian authorities had already cleared the ship to pass.
Fake crypto fee messages emerged after the attack
Maritime risk alerts issued after the firing warned that unknown actors were posing as Iranian authorities and offering safe passage in exchange for cryptocurrency. One example cited in the warning stated that a vessel would only be allowed to transit the strait after documents were reviewed and a fee was paid in Bitcoin or USDT.
What remains unconfirmed is whether Sanmar Herald itself paid such a fee. The available reporting states that at least one vessel may have been defrauded. However, no public statement from Indian or Iranian authorities has confirmed that the tanker transferred cryptocurrency or that a fake message directly led to the firing.
Shipping risks rose as enforcement widened beyond Hormuz
The suspected scam emerged during a broader maritime standoff linked to the U.S.-Iran conflict. U.S. forces expanded maritime enforcement into the Indian Ocean and seized the tanker Tifani after accusing it of involvement in moving Iranian oil. U.S. officials stated that sanctioned vessels linked to Iran could be interdicted beyond the Persian Gulf.
That wider disruption increased pressure on ships waiting to cross Hormuz. With vessels delayed by restrictions and security threats, fake transit messages may have appeared more credible to operators seeking passage. The confirmed details show that Indian-flagged ships came under fire, fraudulent crypto-based transit messages were in circulation, and maritime security analysts said at least one targeted vessel may have been affected by the scheme.
