Kolkata, Oct 23 (IANS) The Directorate General of Marine Administration (DGMA) has launched a major campaign to raise awareness among seafarers regarding fake job rackets in the maritime sector. In 2025-26 itself, scammers have got away with crores of rupees from unsuspecting mariners by offering them high-paying jobs on merchant vessels.
Worst still, important documents belonging to the victims have been compromised.
“A genuine-looking job offer isn’t enough. Verify before you trust. Before accepting a recruitment offer, check whether the recruiter is authorised, verify the job details and stay cautious of unusual payment demands. Never let urgency override verification. Take a moment to check. Make an informed decision. Protect your career at sea,” the DGMA has said as part of its campaign.
Several genuine Recruitment and Placement Service Licence (RPSL) holders and shipping companies have also joined the drive to create awareness about such scams.
“Hundreds of seafarers across India lose money, personal documents, and career momentum to fake maritime job offers every year. These scams have grown more sophisticated since 2020, and in 2025–2026 alone, police have filed cases involving crores of rupees stolen from job-seeking mariners,” one such company has said in its notice.
The victims range from fresh deck cadets searching for their first ship to experienced officers looking for a better contract, an official said. It has been clearly mentioned that genuine shipping companies and licensed RPSL holders will never ask applicants to pay for a job, visa, joining ticket, or “processing fee.”
Hence, any demand for money before a mariner boards a vessel is a major red flag.
“Genuine RPSL holders never charge seafarers for employment or placement. All visa and medical costs are borne by the shipowner. Fake maritime job offers typically involve unrealistic salaries, ‘no experience required’ promises, or fast promotions, and almost always demand advance payments or full document scans upfront,” an RPSL holder said.
Those applying for jobs should verify a recruiter’s RPSL status on the official DG Shipping portal before sharing documents or travelling to join a vessel. As of October 2026, there are 538 valid RPSL holders, 396 agencies with invalid or expired licenses, and 66 agencies that are temporarily suspended from recruiting, it has been mentioned.
The scammers offer fraudulent employment proposals for positions on merchant vessels, cruise ships, or offshore platforms. The aim is to extract money, personal documents, or both from seafarers.
“Unlike generic job scams targeting office workers, these schemes specifically exploit the maritime industry’s structures: RPSL numbers, CDC requirements, COC certificates, and the urgency of crew changes. Maritime recruitment scams often target job-seeking seafarers who are under financial or career pressure to find their next ship,” the licence holder said.
Things have got worse with people relying heavily on digital modes of communication for all requirements. WhatsApp groups, Telegram channels, Facebook pages, and even LinkedIn profiles now serve as primary channels for distributing fake jobs.
Fraudsters set up offices or use co-working spaces in crewing hotspots like Navi Mumbai and Chennai, register a company name with “India Private Limited” or “Marine Services Pvt Ltd” in it, and begin advertising positions that look remarkably similar to those offered by legitimate ship management private limited firms.
The fraudsters have also become increasingly fluent in DG Shipping terminology. They casually reference RPSL numbers, MLC compliance, CDC endorsements, and flag-state requirements to sound legitimate.
–IANS
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