How to Avoid Scams

Common Types of Scam Schemes

• Upfront Payment Demands Criminals present this as payment for medical care, visa, registration, or document authentication.
• Extraction of Personal Data They request copies of passports, seafarer documents, certificates for supposed employment.
• Unrealistic Promises They offer salaries that are too high for the required qualifications or experience.

ITF Tips

"Upfront payments for securing work on ships are prohibited by international conventions. If something is asked of you, be wary. Do not trust advertisements that resemble official sites, as well as 'reputable' sites where unverified vacancies suddenly appear. Check the company’s reputation, look for reviews, and don’t neglect a simple search of 'company name + scam'." — (ITF)

How Fraudsters Operate

• Create professionally-looking websites with fake addresses and contact details.
• Masquerade as well-known companies, using similar names and logos.
• Require payment for airline tickets or other 'mandatory charges' before employment.
• Communicate only via messaging apps and avoid official email domains.

First Steps to Protection

1. Never transfer money for a "guaranteed vacancy" or an "expedited document review process".
2. Check websites and contacts through official registries and seafarers' unions.
3. Research reviews online: use search terms with keywords "scam", "fraud", "scammers".
4. In case of doubt, contact the seafarers' union or ITF: [email protected]

Basic Verification Methods

• Checking contact details:
  • Real companies use corporate email addresses (.com), not free services (.gmail.com*)
  • There should be a physical office address that can be verified
  • A landline phone number for contact, not only mobile numbers
• Analysis of communications:
  • Pay attention to language quality: professional companies do not make numerous grammatical errors
  • Legitimate proposals do not contain urgent demands to “pay now or lose the opportunity”
  • Official correspondence is conducted on branded letterheads with stamps and signatures
• Documents and contract:
  • Require a written employment contract (SEA) before paying any fees
  • The contract should comply with ILO conventions (MLC 2006)
  • The exact hire date, vessel name, and terms of work should be specified

When to Be Suspicious

• The vacancy is offered via WhatsApp or social networks without official confirmation
• There is no information about the vessel or the job is on a vessel with a "new name"
• You cannot find references to the company in official sources
• They demand an urgent decision and fast payment under the pretext that "other candidates are waiting"
• Interviews are conducted only online or in unofficial locations

Useful Resources for Basic Verification

• ITF Seafarers — information on working conditions and warnings about scammers
• ShipBeSure — ITF service for checking crewing agencies
• International Labour Organization (ILO) — labour standards and maritime conventions

For Additional Protection

For deeper checks of the vessel and company using OSINT tools, read our article "Vessel Verification Through Open Source Intelligence", where you will learn about specialized methods to verify the vessel’s existence and history.

Take care and share these recommendations with your fellow crew!