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Manning-agency scam checker

Tell us about the recruiter contacting you. We'll score the answers against the ILO C181 + MLC A1.4 + ITF scam patterns and tell you what to verify before sending money, documents, or a passport.

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Risk score

0 / 50 — low risk

No headline scam indicators in these checks. Continue with the rest of your due diligence — licence verification, vessel verification, CBA reference, written SEA before flying.

Verification steps

When to use this tool

Before responding to a recruiter contact — especially unsolicited WhatsApp / Facebook / Telegram contacts offering "guaranteed placement" on a specific vessel. Before paying any advance fee. Before handing over a passport, sea-service book, or STCW certificate copies.

Worked example

Red-flag pattern: Recruiter says (a) $500 advance for a "certification fee" (illegal under MLC A1.4 — recruitment fees to the seafarer are prohibited); (b) no verifiable office address; (c) no DMW/DGS/local-authority licence number provided on request; (d) offers a specific vessel name + IMO but no owner or manager identified; (e) pressure to decide within 24 hours.

Response: Decline. Report to the local labour authority (DMW Philippines, RPSL India, etc.) + to ITF fair-recruitment inspector. Cross-check the agency name against our licensed manning-agency registry.

Regulatory basis

MLC 2006 Standard A1.4 prohibits recruitment fees charged to seafarers. ILO C181 (Private Employment Agencies Convention) sets standards for legitimate agencies. National regulators (DMW Philippines, DG-Shipping India, VINAMARINE Vietnam, etc.) license manning agencies + maintain public registers.

See also