The strategically important Strait of Hormuz has become the scene not only of a military standoff but also of a daring criminal scheme, which has targeted the crew of an Indian-flagged oil tanker. The Sanmar Herald, attempting to transit the danger zone amid a de facto blockade of the region, encountered an unexpected form of deception that led to tragic consequences. According to monitoring reports, shortly before entering the strait, the vessel's captain was contacted by a man of Indian origin claiming to be an official representative of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Naval Forces. Using complex terminology and a knowledge of shipping regulations, the fraudster convinced the tanker's command that a special "passage fee" in cryptocurrency was required for safe transit.

Trusting a fake official, the captain of the Indian vessel transferred a large sum of USDT stablecoins to a specified e-wallet, after which the fraudster issued a fictitious digital permit to proceed along the route. The crew was confident that the formalities had been completed and safety guaranteed, but reality proved otherwise. As the Sanmar Herald entered the Strait of Hormuz, it was met by genuine IRGC patrol boats. Since the real Iranian naval forces had not issued any transit documents for the vessel or recorded the payment of official fees, they interpreted the tanker's appearance as an attempt to illegally breach the blockade. Warning shots were fired at the vessel, posing a direct threat to the lives of the crew and the safety of their dangerous cargo.