PANews reported on April 21 that, according to Al Jazeera, Greek maritime risk management company MARISKS warned that unidentified individuals impersonating Iranian authorities are sending messages to some shipping companies demanding transit fees in cryptocurrency in exchange for permission to safely pass through the Strait of Hormuz. The company stated, "These specific messages are scams; these emails are not sent by Iranian authorities." MARISKS indicated that, to its knowledge, at least one vessel attempting to leave the strait on Saturday and being attacked by artillery fire was a victim of this scam. Hundreds of ships and approximately 20,000 seafarers are currently stranded in the Gulf region, unable to pass through, due to Iran's re-closure of the Strait of Hormuz in response to a US blockade of its ports.