Loading…
Families of seafarers are targeted by scammers who know that a family member is away, potentially unreachable, and that the family at home has regular income in the form of allotments. These scams exploit exactly the fears that come with having a loved one at sea — an emergency, a sudden demand for money, a fraudulent offer. The most important single rule: verify any urgent claim by calling the manning agency directly using the number you already have on file — never the number the scammer provides.
The most common scam targeting seafarer families presents as an urgent message — by phone, text, WhatsApp, or email — claiming that the seafarer has been injured, hospitalised, arrested, or is in some form of legal trouble, and that an immediate money transfer is needed. The scammer may have some real details: the seafarer's name, the ship name, the company name. These details can be found via social media, public AIS records, or data leaks.
Why this is almost always a scam: under MLC Standard A4.1, all medical costs for a seafarer injured or ill during employment are covered by the shipowner's P&I insurance. The family is never required to pay for treatment. No legitimate maritime company, P&I club, embassy, or legal authority will ask a family to wire money to resolve a seafarer's emergency.
Some scammers approach family members with offers of a 'better job' for their seafarer relative, often at significantly higher pay, and require an upfront fee to secure the placement. Under MLC 2006 Standard A1.4, no legitimate manning agency may charge seafarers or their families a fee for placement. Any upfront fee demand is a clear sign of a scam. The seafarer-facing guide is at recruitment fees and scams.
Scammers sometimes impersonate the manning agency or ship's accounts department and contact the family claiming that 'the allotment account details have changed' and providing a new bank account number for future transfers. This is designed to redirect the seafarer's monthly allotment into the scammer's account.
The Seafarer Employment Agreement and associated documents contain a significant amount of personal information — full name, passport number, nationality, home address, rank, and employer details. If these documents are leaked (from a manning agency breach or from the seafarer's own social media), they can be used to impersonate the seafarer or to build a convincing scam targeting the family.
I got a message saying my partner is in hospital at sea and I need to send money. Is this real?
This is almost certainly a scam. Under MLC 2006 Standard A4.1 and the shipowner's P&I insurance, all medical costs for a seafarer ill or injured during employment are covered by the employer and their insurer — the family is never asked to send money for treatment. Do not send anything. Call the manning agency immediately using the number you already have on file (not any number provided in the message). If you cannot reach the agency, call ISWAN SeafarerHelp (+44 20 7323 2737) for help verifying the situation.
A recruiter has asked my family for a placement fee. Is this normal?
No. Under MLC 2006 Standard A1.4, seafarers cannot be charged recruitment or placement fees by manning agencies. This prohibition extends to the seafarer's family — no legitimate recruiter will ask a family member to pay a fee to secure a placement for their family member. If you are asked to pay any amount to secure a job for a family member at sea, do not pay it. Report it to the relevant national maritime authority and contact the ITF. See /rights/recruitment-fees-and-scams for the seafarer-facing guide.
How do scammers get my contact information?
Several common routes: (1) Social media — public posts mentioning a partner or family member working on a named vessel are visible to anyone. (2) Leaked manning agency data — data breaches at agencies have exposed seafarer contact lists, including next-of-kin details. (3) Community knowledge — in some port cities, knowledge that a family member works at sea spreads through social networks that scammers exploit. Minimise public social media references to the specific ship name, company, and contract dates.
What should I do if I think I have already been scammed?
First, stop all further payments. Second, report to your bank immediately — some banks can recall a wire transfer if contacted within 24 hours. Third, report to your national police and the national fraud authority (e.g. Action Fraud in the UK, the FTC in the US). Fourth, if the scam involved a fake manning agency or fake company, report to the flag-state maritime authority and the ITF. Fifth, contact ISWAN SeafarerHelp for welfare support and further guidance.
Disclaimer. General awareness information only. If you have been the victim of fraud, contact your bank, the national fraud authority in your country, and local police immediately. ISWAN can provide support and signposting to the appropriate authorities.