The warning is in reaction to
different situations in which individuals claiming to be seafarers onboard
vessels or posing as law enforcement officers have sought money from
unsuspecting family members under bogus circumstances.
According to the advisory, these fraudulent attempts frequently take the
form of emails, telecalls, and WhatsApp messages, in which scammers claim that the seafarers are involved in major illegal
acts such as murder, narcotics, rape, smuggling, and theft.
They then demand payment for the release of the allegedly accused
seafarers.
The notice advises seafarers’ families to exercise great caution when
receiving fraudulent calls or emails, emphasizing the significance of verifying
the identities of callers or email senders before accepting any money transfer
requests.
Furthermore, it advises families not to send money to unknown people
without proper verification.
Families who receive such
fraudulent messages are asked to immediately report the situation to the
appropriate nodal officer of the Recruitment and Placement Services (RPS)
agency or the representatives of the ship-owners through whom the seafarer is
engaged.
The Directorate General of Shipping, an associated office of the
Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, Government of India, oversees all
executive matters relating to merchant shipping.
The release of this warning demonstrates the government’s seriousness in
addressing the issue of fraud against seafarers’ families.
In response to the advice, Franky Viegas, president of the Goa Seafarers
Association of India (GSAI), cited multiple cases in which fraudsters have
targeted families of Goan seafarers over the last year. Viegas supported the
warning and stated that GSAI is prepared to assist affected families by relying
on existing data in their system.
The Director General of
Shipping has urged all stakeholders to work together to protect the interests
of seafarers and their families, highlighting the need for collective action in
combating these fraudulent schemes.