Fake UKMTO Contact Reported In Red Sea

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  • Fake communications purportedly from the UK Maritime Trade Operations agency have been reported in the Red Sea.
  • Contact was made with ships in the Red Sea on Wednesday from someone pretending to represent UKMTO, the British agency said in a social media post.

On 5th September, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) revealed that a fraudulent group has been posing as them, asking commercial ships to disclose their locations in the Red Sea, reports Safety4sea.

In this area, tensions have escalated following Houthi attacks.

UKMTO warns of fraudulent group targeting ships in Red Sea

In particular, the agency said that it has been made aware of an entity declaring itself to be from the UKMTO and requesting vessels to switch on their AIS and provide present position update.

“UKMTO recommends masters verify any calls from UKMTO,” UKMTO said.

Furthermore, on 6th September UKMTO received a time late report from the CSO that a vessel was approached from the east by a small blue and white skiff, 60 NMs southwest of the port of Al Hudaydah. The skiff had 3 personnel onboard, one was navigating and the other two was looking through binoculars. The skiff got to 400 metres of the vessel and changed direction when the armed security team displayed their weapons.

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Source: Safety4sea