An Indian merchant vessel came under fire while attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, raising concerns about a possible link to a cryptocurrency scam involving fake clearance messages. Reports suggest the ship may have believed it had official permission to transit the route before the incident occurred.

During the episode, the vessel reportedly contacted authorities in Iran, claiming it had received clearance to proceed. The unexpected firing has sparked questions over whether the crew was misled by fraudulent communications posing as official instructions.

Maritime security agencies have noted a rise in phishing scams targeting ships in the region. Fraudsters are said to be impersonating officials and demanding payments in cryptocurrency in exchange for safe passage through the strategically critical corridor.

Multiple vessels were affected by security incidents in the Strait on the same day, with other commercial ships reporting threats or damage. This has heightened concerns over maritime safety in one of the world’s busiest energy routes.

Authorities and international maritime organisations have issued alerts to shipping companies, urging them to verify all communications and remain cautious of such scams. Investigations are ongoing to determine whether the firing incident was directly linked to the suspected fraud.