Fact Check: Did Indian‑Flagged Tanker Sanmar Herald Fall to Crypto Scam in Hormuz?

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), on Wednesday, dismissed reports and claims circulating on social media that the Indian-flagged tanker 'Sanmar Herald' fell victim to a crypto scam when it was sailing near the Strait of Hormuz on April 18. Sanmar Herald is the same vessel that was allegedly targeted by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) linked gunboats in the Hormuz Strait, on Saturday (April 18). The firing incident had taken place as Hormuz continues to remain under US and Iran's blockade, amid the ongoing tensions in West Asia.Now, MEA's clarification has come after multiple users on social media claimed that the Indian-flagged tanker 'Sanmar Herald', which was first allegedly fired upon by Iranian gunboats last Saturday,

fell victim to a crypto scam.These claims further suggested that the "ship was contacted by an Indian man claiming to represent the IRGC Navy. The captain then transferred a large amount of money and was 'granted a right of passage'".

"When the vessel arrived in the Strait of Hormuz , it got fired upon by the actual IRGC Navy, who had not issued any permission for the ship to pass," users claimed on social media. However, India has denied making any payments - either in cash or cryptocurrency - to Iran to secure safe passage for its vessels through the Hormuz.When this (firing) incident took place against Indian tanker on April 18, an audio of the 'Sanmar Herald' tanker captain had surfaced in which he was heard pleading with Iranian forces to stop firing despite prior clearance to pass the Strait of Hormuz. The audio message said, "This is motor vessel, Sanmar Herald. You gave me clearance to go, my name is second on your list... You are firing now. Let me turn back."

No Money Paid For Safe Passage To Iran, Says New Delhi

While New Delhi has consistently rejected claims of any financial arrangements with Tehran for ship movement through the critical energy corridors, some reports linked the April 18 incident to a crypto scam.Reports suggest scammers are offering shipowners fake safe passage through the strait in exchange for crypto. At least one ship fell victim to the scam and was fired at while attempting to pass through the waterway, according to Marisk, a maritime risk services company.

Sanmar Herald Owner Denies Alleged Crypto Payments

At a news briefing, Mukesh Mangal, Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, also termed as "fake news" the report of any payment being made for the safe passage of Sanmar Herald."News is spreading about a reported payment by the captain of the vessel Sanmar Herald in US dollar to persons claiming to represent the IRGC Navy to grant passage, and fell victim to cyber criminals. We spoke with the owner of the vessel, and he confirmed that it is fake news and no such incident had happened," he said.He said his ministry, in coordination with the MEA, assesses the situation before asking Indian vessels, stranded in the Persian Gulf since the start of the Iran war, to cross the Strait of Hormuz."This unfortunate incident (of Iranian guards firing on Indian ships) happened on April 18. There was firing on two of our vessels, that's why they had to go back," he said. "As we have been telling in past also, we do not have any new data, any confirmation on any of our vessels has paid money to any of the authorities for this purpose."He termed as "fake news" reports suggesting that Sanmar Herald paid money to some cybercriminals, and that's why it was fired upon. "There is no relation (between the firing and the reports)," he said. "This is fake news."The development has come as scores of commercial vessels and thousands of seafarers remain stranded in the Persian Gulf since the outbreak of the West Asia war on February 28, which has sharply curtailed movement through the Strait of Hormuz.The Strait of Hormuz handles about a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas flows, making it one of the world's most critical energy arteries. Iran's ability to disrupt traffic through the narrow passage has emerged as a key lever in the conflict.With inputs from PTI