Job offer email red flags
How to read an offer email like an ITF inspector.
What it looks like
An offer letter on a glossy PDF, signed by 'HR Director' with an unverifiable name.
Red flags
- Generic greeting ('Dear seafarer').
- Unverifiable signatory name.
- Salary in non-standard currency or unrealistically high.
- Reply-to a different domain than the From address.
- Attachments only — no plain-text content.
- Demand for immediate response within hours.
How to verify
- Check the email headers for the real sender domain.
- Cross-check the signatory on LinkedIn against the real company's website.
- Reply to the official corporate HR address rather than the recruiter's address.
Related
Primary sources
- ITF — Job scams targeting seafarers site unreachable
Medium confidence
Last verified