Red flags — when to walk away

The signals that the offer in front of you is too risky to accept. Some flags are absolute walk-aways; others are 'verify and slow down' signals.

Who this is for

Every seafarer evaluating an offer. The brief is to recognise the pattern early — before money has been sent and before originals have been couriered.

Practical steps

1. Read through every red flag below. Mark which ones apply to your offer.
2. If any of the absolute red flags fire, walk away and report to ISWAN + the national regulator.
3. If two or more 'verify and slow down' flags fire, pause, send the questions-before-signing list, and wait for clear written answers.

Checklist

• ABSOLUTE: Recruiter asks for any payment to secure the job.
• ABSOLUTE: Recruiter asks for original passport / CDC before any signed contract.
• ABSOLUTE: Recruiter demands a personal bank-account transfer.
• ABSOLUTE: Contract substituted at the gangway with materially different terms.
• ABSOLUTE: Asked to sign a blank document.
• ABSOLUTE: Cannot verify the licence number with the national regulator.
• SLOW DOWN: Wage materially above the published range for the role.
• SLOW DOWN: Free-email-domain contact only (Gmail / Yahoo / Outlook).
• SLOW DOWN: Refusal to disclose vessel IMO or principal shipowner before commitment.
• SLOW DOWN: Pressure to sign within 24 hours.
• SLOW DOWN: Visa fees collected by the agent rather than paid direct to the consulate.
• SLOW DOWN: SEA presented in a language you cannot read.
• SLOW DOWN: 'Documentation' fees with no itemised receipt.
• SLOW DOWN: Mandatory training at a specific provider that pays the agent.

Common mistakes

• Treating 'small' fees as harmless because they're under $100.
• Believing 'the licence number isn't relevant in your country' — it is, in every country.
• Sending originals because the recruiter says it's 'standard'. It isn't.

Last verified 5 months ago