Have you received a good sounding job offer ? It could be a Nigerian employment and money scam targeting not only seamen but also offshore professionals and especially inexperienced newcomers.

This page starts with an example of a job offer and money scam letter I received middle of July 2005. I have further added more details as reported by other "targets". Even this example is an old one, I still show it, because it's "typical" and the checking on it that I did can still be done for other similar fake offers.

Since that first one was received the character and the targets for the fake job offers has slowly changed. First these were mainly targeting seafarers / cargo ship crews and then slowly concentrating more and more on inexperienced offshore oilfield workers. Now, in 2010, it's almost solely offshore workers. Of course there are a lot of other scams also going on. Like those targeting Cruise Ship Personnel and Superyacht Crews, which are shown on their own pages.

Please note: Every link on this page opens in a new window. If your "Pop-up killer" is too efficient it can also stop new windows. When this happens, please press "Ctrl" and click on the link you want.

Customarily this kind of fake job offers with a request of an advance fee for visa / work permit is called a "Nigerian" scam. The reason for this is that a majority of the scams have been traced to Nigeria or as long as Western Union was used as money transfer media the receiver was always in Nigeria. But as the companies' and peoples' names and addresses are all fake, one can never say who has sent the offer and who finally receives the money sent. I know personally some normal honest Nigerians and it's unfortunate the country's lousy / non-existing Internet security gives all Nigerian citizens a bad name. I do not believe all Nigerian are crooks and it's sure the great majority of Nigerians are people with other occupations than sending fake job offers.

Money Scam Background

In 1999 I was very new and inexperienced with email and gave away my new email address too freely. At the beginning of year 2000 I started getting those "old" Nigerian money scam letters. Usually it was a widow of a Nigerian general or government minister who had stashed away 20-25 million US$. The widow was asking my help to clear this money for a commission of 2-3 million USD. This was clearly "too good to be true".

Anyway, the first one I followed up to see where it would lead. The correspondence ended on my part a couple of months later when I was asked to transfer USD 700 to Nigeria to pay for an air ticket for the widow to meet me in Berlin in order to transfer the cash via my account to a new account in her name.

Since then I have received about 3-4 letters per year, until now I got this very professionally done job offer cum scam letter. There is a strong possibility also other ship officers and engineers already have or will receive a letter like this. Beware!

To the story must be added that all those earlier scam messages came to my very first e-mail address. When I first put up this website in 2001 I started getting a lot of dirty or nonsense messages so I had to change my e-mail address and put up the new address in an encrypted form.

The first message I received came to that same old email box and was an inquiry whether I would be interested, stating my email address had been found on the internet. That address, however, is not present anywhere on this or any other website. This was the first reason to get suspicious.

Second point is this American Recruiting Agent is using "gmail" which is a free email service like Hotmail. Gmail is Googles version and was at that time very new so it's not likely for an American company to have this kind of e-mail service.

Note the time e-mail sent: 08.06 PM. This is local time in receiver's time zone, in this case Philippine local time and that would be just after one o'clock in the afternoon in Nigeria but 5 o'clock Monday morning in California (See Don Pedro's Time Zone Explanation). I don't think even an American work alcoholic would work at five o'clock on a Monday morning. What do you think?

Beginning 2007 the fake employment offers have been moving strongly over to target offshore job applicants. May be because there are so many hopeful candidates who don't know about employment requirements and recruiting procedures (see Offshore Job Links). The Woodworth Recruitment, from where I received the example below hasn't been so very active anymore. I still show the offer because it's well made and quite typical.

Please note: Every link on this page opens in a new window. If your "Pop-up killer" is too efficient it can also stop new windows. When this happens, please press "Ctrl" and click on the link you want.

Dear Capt Per Peter Forsberg,
With reference to your application for employment in pursuant to the service contract, we hereby notify you that your qualification was found suitable for the requirements of Avon Shipping Lines Nigeria Limited, after evaluation of details as contained in your CV. Hereinafter, you shall be required to serve as Master onboard MV Hamm for the fulfillments and requirements of Avon Shipping Lines Nigeria Limited in Nigeria.

Your salary shall be US$8,000 per month and your leave rotation shall be 3 months on and 4 weeks off and it's a one year contract, you will be expected to join the vessel on the 16th of August 2005. We recommend the following Vaccinations if travelling to Nigeria for the first time as required by the Health Authorities of that country, yellow fever.

Do provide us with the name of your nearest airport and copy of your international passport, as this will enable our Nigerian representative's process your travel documents, which includes your return flight tickets, visa and working permits.

You are requested to cover the cost of the following fee for the arrangement of your travel documents;
Temporary Working Permit (TWP):
Visa Fee:
Processing Fee:

The total cost for the above mentioned documents: US$300. This fee shall be used for your travel and arrival co-ordination that will be undertaken by our representatives in Nigeria, Slok Travel Agency Inc. which you can know more about at http://slok.bloombiz.com/ they will process and arrange your travelling documents including your visa, working permits and send you your prepaid return flight tickets to arrive at your port of joining in other to resume duties onboard the vessel on the given date and they will also welcome you upon your arrival to Nigeria and take you to your port of joining.

It is now due for you to remit this fee, which is US$300 to our representatives in Nigeria for the processing of your said documents as you have limited time to join the vessel. Make the Fee payable to the accountant of our representatives in Nigeria, MR.EMEKA OKECHUKWU through Western Union Money Transfer, and send us the Money Transfer Control Number (MTCN) and the Transfer Test Question & Answer for onward transmission to them in Nigeria, to enable their accountant retrieve your payment. The payment destination should be;
Name of Receiver: MR.EMEKA OKECHUKWU
City of Destination: PORT HARCOURT
Country of Destination: NIGERIA

As soon as we receive your payment details, We shall then send you your letters of contract and employment, and also authorize our Nigerian representatives to proceed with the copy of your international passport and the name of your nearest Airport you are to provide in the arrangement and processing of your Visa and working permits, then send you your prepaid return flight tickets to enable you arrive Nigeria to the Port of joining in other to resume duties onboard MV Hamm on the given date.

You shall be sent a pin code which you shall use to collect your electronic prepaid flight ticket from your nearest travel agency in your country.

We hope you understand our position and act accordingly to resume duties onboard the vessel on the given date.

Thank you for your attention and congratulations for your new job from us here at Woodworth Recruitment Agency.

Regards,

Anthony Flynn
Recruitment Officer Woodworth Recruitment Agency
4814-B Long Branch Ave
San Diego, Ca 92107
USA
Fax: 419-574-7686

Further Suspicions Confirmed

Let's check the small details:

1. My name: Per Peter Forsberg, was before written thus: (Peter). The name is not found in this form on the net, only as Peter Forsberg. Suspicious.
   
   
2. Language: I have received many messages and newsletters written by Americans with worse spelling and grammar errors than in this message, so faulty language is no indicator. On the contrary, it like assures the message was written by an American.
   
   
3. In my first answer I said I would be interested in the job and gave the internet address for my net C.V. Current message is the agency's response to my answer.
   
   
4. Avon Shipping Lines: I went to Lloyd's Register and searched for this company in the Shipping Directory which gives limited information on shipping companies, brokers, and agents for free. It was not found in that shipping directory.
   
   In their next message they gave particulars on ship and company, saying the company had 97 ships with 2 gas tankers on order. Not exactly any small company - should be found. Next I searched in Google and Yahoo, couldn't be found there either. Added suspicions.
   
   
5. The ship MV Hamm: I went to ITU (International Telecommunications Union), which maintains a register of all ships' radio call signs and Inmarsat numbers. I found one MV "Hamm" registered in Germany and many other different versions of the same name. No ship of that name was registered in Liberia. To be absolutely sure I typed in the name of my last ship, the correct call sign and flag came up. In other words, both company name and ship's name are fake. Now I'm not just suspicious any more, I'm getting sure.
   
   
6. Salary: In the upper range for an old general cargo ship, even with American owners. Still not totally unbelievable.
   
   
7. Passport: Earlier they said having checked my C.V. A copy of my passport is available there, but still the agency asks for it. Have they really checked my C.V. or not?

Now it's not necessary to number the checks anymore - does anyone still think this is a real offer? I am already sure it's a scam. Let's still anyway check also rest of the points.

• Work permit in Nigeria: In the first inquiry I was informed the ship is under Liberia flag. With a good national licence, like what I have, the employer gets a one year temporary licence from the nearest Liberian Embassy or Consulate issued on the basis of the national one. The employer or his agent always pays for this. In the case of a small company it's possible you are asked to pay for it yourself, but the fee is then deducted from your salary.
  
  I have myself had both Panamanian and Liberian licence before (when it was needed). I do not need a Nigerian work permit to work on a Liberian flag ship. The smell of scam is turning to a stink.
  
  
• The agent asked for a passport copy, which is available on the net but did not ask for a copy of my Captain's license, which would be needed for the Liberian licence.
  
  On Aug. 16 when I should join the ship I would be a few days past my 65^th birthday. According to the particulars I received the ship is insured, but they didn't ask for my current medical.
  
  
• USD 300 for a work permit that's not needed. Now it's clear this is a scam, but lets check the rest.
  
  
• Money transfer by Western Union: this is not as suspicious as it sounds as bank to bank transfer in developing countries can be extremely slow. But, it makes the person receiving the funds untraceable.
  
  
• Slok Travel Agency: I went in on the web site given. On my computer I have Netcraft's toolbar, which shows me the site is on an American server owned by The Planet.
  
  Little bit irregular I would say, even if my own web sites are in USA and Canada respectively. This is because of unreliable power supply at the Philippine country side. But Port Harcourt is a big city, so there shouldn't be any problems like that. The agency's email address is not to be found in any form, not even when checking the code.
  
  
• The travel agency says they are river travel and excursion experts. The site contains just nonsense, except a note they have been in business for 18 years (since when?). Not a single picture from the Nigerian rivers. One picture shows a cruise liner, which has "Star Cruises" painted on the side. Star Cruises are based in Singapore and Hong Kong. There are no connections with Nigeria as I strongly doubt those ships goes up the rivers.
  
  
• The travel agent further states on their web site they are members of the "very exclusive" ASTA. This is the American Society of Travel Agents, the worlds largest travel agent association. On their web site you can check who is a member. Slok Travel Agency is not a member!
  
  
• Their email is not directly available on the site (not even in the code), but that is not in itself suspicious. Only I wasn't able to check whether their e-mail is also on "gmail".
  
  
• To be sure, I asked my own travel agent, who is the best in town, to check the travel agent in her International Directory of Travel Agents. Both she and her assistant checked every way they knew. Slok Travel could not be found anywhere.
  
  
• In November the employer finally got a website: www.avon.xaper.com/. My Netcraft toolbar tells me it's an American server (for a big Nigerian ship owner!), the server is owned by Mega Web Services (= United Online), which is a free web site service. There is a Home page with 2 (two!) paragraphs of text extolling the excellence of the company plus three more very short pages. This for a ship owner with 97 vessels and recruiting world wide!
  
  The Home page states the company started in 1978 but the page "About Us" states they have 5 decades (= 50 years) experience. There is a picture of a office building, with just a number only showing - No Company Name!. You can also find a picture of one (1) cargo or container ship . When zooming in on that picture the name seems to be either Pancaldo or Fancaldo. No ship by either name can be found in ITU (see above) register. This would be possible if the picture has been taken before the ship was sold for scrap and de-registered.
  
  
• The Woodworth Recruitment Agency have a web site, same server as Slok Travel: www.woodworth.bloombiz.com. On that site they say they have offices in 10 USA cities and they are doing recruiting for ships. But that's only their home page. The rest of the pages are same nonsense as the Slok Travel Agency's pages. At one page you can find: "Aim and Objectives: Price/IncotermsConditions: Not Specified" ??

Case closed.

I answered the recruiting agent that I don't need work permit in Nigeria etc. In addition, I asked the agency to contact the American Embassy or Consulate in Philippines to verify, for instance by e-mail, that this is a real legitimate American company.

I haven't heard anything further.

---

If you or your friend have received anything similar, please send me some details like: company, agent, and ship name. I will add those data to this page for other "targets" to be aware about this scam.

---

September 2006

• Jack Daniels from Elf Petroleum (UK) sent a job offer to an Indian seafarer, who continued the correspondence until he was asked for advance payment - "placement fee".
  
  
• In September I also received a fresh employment scam letter from:

THE NIGERIAN NATIONAL PETROLEUM COOPERATION ADMINISTRATIVE DEPARTMENT

The first offer gave as address: "Glass House Abuja". The same "COOPERATION" sent me a new copy in January and again in February 2007. The second and third copies say: "N.N.P.C. House Abuja" as well as giving a slightly different tel. number: 234-8061118154. The country code "234" is for Nigeria and "80" is a Nigerian mobile number.

There is a real Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Ltd. Note the real name is Corporation. The second offer was received on Saturday at 2:49 AM (morning) in the Philippines, so IF sent from Nigeria, that would be 6 hours less = 8:49 PM (evening) on Friday. In the first letter I was given 7 days to respond, that sentence was later cut out. Otherwise the text is a complete copy of the first one, see the copy on: Nigerian Money-Employment Scam Example, Page 2.

More information on the "Cooperation" scam, although it was in 2006 called Corporation - without LTD. At that time the "author" asked for USD 620 and referred to Nigerian Immigration Services, which is a Government Agency. E-mail address to the Immigration was on "@myway.com", which is a US search engine and free e-mail service. No Government Agency anywhere have their e-mail on a public free service, especially not in another country.

The "Head" of the Immigration was at that time Dr John Adenuga, who in his turn was already in 2001 involved in the scam business as "Credit Control Manager" at Ecobank, Victoria Island branch in Lagos (Nigeria). Now he is again involved in a new "Project": Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas - see below.

October

• "Soku Gas Project" added a new "consulting company": Engineering Consulting Inc., Hennekijnstraat 37-B, NL-3012 EB Rotterdam in Holland. "Inc." is an American company designation (Incorporated) but the company is in Holland (where there are many Nigerians). No phone, no fax, yahoo e-mail.
  
  
• A new scam letter from "Shell Global Employment Program", "signed by" shellnationalsecretariat@usa.com. No names, no telephone numbers or addresses. The real Shell is a Dutch (Holland) Company: Royal Dutch Shell. On Marine-Maritime Job Links there is a link to the real Shell Corporation employment vacancies.

November
Early November I again received a new employment scam letter from Premier Oil Plc (UK) - Copy on Page 2.

Summary year 2006:
During the whole of year 2006 Woodworth Recruitment and Synergy Recruiting (Martin Moore) were active with Avon Shipping and Klime Shipping (James Parker), the ships MV Anabel and Merlin still looking for crew - occasionally using Ebi Bipella in Sweden for money transfer.

The Dutch Engineering Company at Hennekijnstraat as well as Tapinok Consulting were still going strong.

All the others: Elf Nigeria, Elf UK, Shell Gas UK and Soku Gas Project as well as Nigerian National Petroleum Cooperation (Harry Browning) and Premier Oil (James Coker)were all active.

2007

In January I started seeing some small changes. Woodworth Recruitment seems to be exchanged for Tapinok Consulting UK and Synergy Recruitment, Canada. The others: Shell / Soku Gas and Shell Global together with Elf Petroleum were as active as before.

At end of January I received the following offer:
QUOTE:
From : bintulu port <bintuluport@yahoo.com>
Sent : Saturday, January 27, 2007 1:46 PM
To : (address deleted)
Subject : port offer

TO:HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER/ CREW MANAGER
Copy of this message is on Page 2

The e-mail again is again at yahoo and the message is sent on a Saturday with no address or telephone mentioned, plus it came again to the same old box where all scam letters have come, I don't hesitate to make this a scam too.

In February a new scam letter was send to some Indian Engineers, the copy is on page 2 - it was sent by:

QUOTE:
NIGERIAN LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS,
Plot 23, Engineering Close,
P.O.Box 2348,
Victoria Island,
Lagos, Nigeria.

And a second fake offer on January 2007: A fishing letter, clearly intended to collect CVs / résumés from unsuspecting seamen. It was sent from: heniking@aim.com with Subject: Marine Job Offer. See Page 2

February 2007 reports:
Woodworth seems to still be running their employment fraud but mostly using Slok, Klime Shipping, and Helix Solutions (now using new correct name) and offering jobs on MS Fancaldo.

Shell Oil (Clifford Lewis) and Nigerian National Petroleum Cooperation circulating together with the Bintulu port job scam, which was received by a Canadian seafarer.

In February and March 2007 most scam letters going around seems to have been targeting offshore applicants. A British Stewardess got a fake job offer from Texaco via www.oilcareer.com. Texaco recruiting is - as far as I have found out - handled by Chevron which is on Marine-Maritime Job Links.

In April and May Shell Soku Gas Project and "shellnationalsecretariat" came back, now was added a project also in Italy. Both Nigerian National Petroleum Cooperation and Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas were connected to the Nigerian Immigration Services; Premium Oil and Bintulu Port were likewise aggressively out hunting for victims. Even Cal Dive with diving support vessel Merlin ( DSV ) was back in circulation.

Most big oil company names are being used: Shell, Elf, Texaco, and Caltex (the real recruiting links to these are on Marine-Maritime Job Links - see Menu to the right). Also the Nigerian National Petroleum Cooperation (see above) and a variation on the earlier Synergy Consulting, which now has changed to "Synergy Oil". Both Bipella in Sweden and Okechukwu in Nigeria were used as money collectors.

DR (!) Adenuga's name is used although I do not believe the real person by that name is the one sending the fake job offers. Oceanic Shipping Links was still going on with some "traditional" ship jobs.

June 2007, at the very end of the month I received for me a new fake offer from Nigeria AGIP.
QUOTE:
Agip Agencies <agipagencies@hotmail.com>
Sent : Tuesday, June 26, 2007 4:57 PM
To : (address deleted)
Reply : agipagencies@hotmail.com
Subject : Employment opportunity/résumé needed Asap...

The copy of the letter is on page 2.

For the rest of June all the same scams were running full power. Those targeting offshore oil personnel were most active. Anthony Flynn from Woodworth Recruitment was back in action with Avon Shipping again.

July Report:
In July a job offer was sent to an Indian national from Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas:
QUOTE: "... based on detailed recruitment by our official recruitment consultants FIDEL RECRUITMENT INC SERVICES" and referring to "earlier forwarded application" UNQUOTE although this person never directly applied for a job from that company. Salary as "Senior Account Manager in Nigeria" offered USD 39.920 per month. This is over 1.250 USD per day, which is about what an oil rig Offshore Installation Manager ( the BIG boss ) is paid!!!

He was told (as usual) to personally pay for all expenses related to permits with Nigerian Immigration Service, Contact person: DR Mike Adenuga, Head of Visa/Permit Operations. The message was signed by Mrs Wumi Osifor with email address: wumi-osifor_1@myway.com . "Nigerian Immigration Service" was given two telephone numbers, both starting with ++ 234 80 ..., which are Nigerian mobile numbers.

Obviously "John" has changed his first name to "Mike" ( Adenuga ), can't be two brothers, can it now?

At the very end of July I received an e-mail from EYOU GAS COMPANY LIMITED asking me to send my resume (CV) to: eyou_jobs2007@eyou.com - I regard this as a "fishing" attempt. It was signed by Mike Anderson and provided a UK address: 2 Jonson Bill Street, SW1W 0NR, London plus a telephone number: +44 702 405 8126, which is a UK mobile number with a redirect. If you send your resume to this address you will receive a fake job offer with the sole purpose of collecting an advance fee. www.eyou.com is hosted by a Chinese server.

EYOU was very active all of August, and in September attacking especially Indian mariners. The "eyou producers" didn't slow down a bit even in October but were going on as actively as before until Feb. / March 2008. After April 2008 it seems Eyou has dropped their activities completely. May be a rest for a couple of years and then looking for new victims again.

At the very end of August I received another "phishing" attempt from Total Oil And Gas Nigeria Plc :

QUOTE; "There are Vacancies on our new oil field project Abuja. We are interested in international experts that can handle the post of: Mining/Drilling & Exploration" UNQUOTE plus many other very broad categories, that cover about the whole range you can find on an oilfield. It was sent from totaloilnigerplc@hotmail.com and signed by Mrs Pat Eze, Secretary. No address and no telephone number.

"Plc" is a British ( UK or Ireland ) legal acronym identifying a type of limited company whose shares may be sold to the public. It's not legally recognized for Nigerian Companies. Total Oil is not British, it's a French oil giant, one of the four biggest in the world.

There is a warning against fake recruitment organizations on Total's own recruitment page [ Français ].

In November / December 2007 a European engineer in East Africa received an employment offer with Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria from Wintech Engineering Limited, address:
Wintech Engineering Limited
Nolimpark 1810
Siberiestraat 10
3900 Overpelt
Belgium
For comments on this, please go to page 2

End of December a Canadian Captain informed me there was a job advertisement on Marine Link's publication Marine Technology Jobs:

QUOTE Master/Chief Engineers/ Afloat Officers e.t.c
Nigeria Abuja; Nova Shipping Lines
Nova Shipping Lines, a Shipping Company based in Nigeria, West Africa seeks afloat officers on her Cargo Vessel, MV Harrier. The Company has recently acquired a new Cargo Vessel and is currently recruiting to man the Vessel. Vacant Positions : Master, Chief Officer, Second Officer, Third Officer, Fourth Officer, Navigator/Radio Officer, Chief Engineer, Second Engineer, Third Engineer, Fourth Engineer.
Further comments on this are on page 2

2008

In February 2008 I received a new fishing letter with a fresh twist. It was from " The Ideal Concepts Placement " said to have a list of 150 employers from every country in the world, which means barely one employer per country (!).

The twist is that they promise to lend you 90% of cost of airfare to relocate. Signed by Frank davis, Public Relations Manager. The letter gives no information where this agency is located, not even what country. Furthermore they use as e-mail yahoo.com. I would absolutely not bother even with answering this kind of letter at all, and absolutely not send my CV.

In February two different offers were sent to an Indian marine engineer. The first one from "Shipping Containers Limited" with a website: www.shippingcontainerssl.8k.com/ . On the website they give two e-mail addresses - one in UK (?) infouk@shippingcontainerssl.8k.com and the other to Accra, Ghana (?) infogh@shippingcontainerssl.8k.com . Basically they just ask the receiver to send their CV - DON't Send!

On the "Employment" page the company is called "Shiping Containers Shiping Line" (spelling as on webpage). They also state they control three subsidiaries: Landyang Shipping, Senator Lines, and Cyberlogitec. The website have a total of 4 pages and is on a American free server. As they point out they operate 145 ships and 11 dedicated terminal facilities world wide, it's highly unbelievable such a company would use a free website. The job offer to the engineer came from a yahoo e-mail address, not from anyone of the "company" e-mail addresses.

Further they do boast they have 200 offices and third-party agents spread across 53 countries. Main areas Africa, West Asia and the Middle East, plus Europe and US East Coast. They say they employ 80.000 staff, including 5.000 foreigners (75.000 staff in Ghana ?), QUOTE: This company is located Worldwide. UNQUOTE. Some of the text on the home page is even duplicated.

On the "About Us" page the text is an almost exact copy of what I received middle of June 2006, including offering jobs for teachers on board the ships. Same salaries as in the 2006 letter. That letter came to me from Oceanic Link Shipping Line, see Page 2.

The second offer was for a job on M.V.RABADU - I checked in ITU [ International Telecommunications Union ] Register - such name ship doesn't exist at all. Said to be owned by JDAK Shipping Company London and managed by JDAK Shipping GH Ltd - neither company could be found. Furthermore they stated his CV had been sent to them by "the global maritime academy", which (of course) also doesn't exist. He was just asked to send his CV for verification purposes.

Again a typical fishing letter, may be they sell the CV to somebody else or use it later in another "company" name. This was sent from yahoo.co.uk e-mail address - Atlantic Consultants (?) - with telephone number: 00-447045757939, this is a mobile UK number with a redirect. The message was signed by Mr Joshua Kofi, which I believe is a Ghanaian name.

There exists two different "Atlantic Consultants" named companies, neither of which I can even imagine being involved with this kind of recruiting.

In March a Philippine Engineer received a job offer from "Caltex Ltd", London. Oil Gas Company. The fake offer has been moved to Page 2 to save some space for new fake offers.

Very soon afterwards he received another offer from Corporación Sidenor Oil Espana. The copy of this fake offer has also been moved to Page 2.

In the middle of May 2008 I got an offer I reproduce below:

QUOTE : Attn: New Applicant,
We currently have vacancies for the position you require in your
resume, on board the vessel M.V. ALASKA, owned by kingdom-Shipping
Company London and managed by Kingdom Shipping GH Ltd. Your resume
was posted to us for perusal by the British Referral Service. Please
inform us if you will be able to take up the contract, and we also
have highly attractive remuneration.

We shall wait to hear from you within 10 working days of the receipt
of this message, and also attach a copy of resume.

Best Regards,
MR Kins Robert
         Job Recruitment officer
Kins Robert Consults, London
Tell : 00447045755141.UNQUOTE

Comments: Same ship name, MV Alaska, was used in an offer to an Indian Marine Engineer. That offer is described down on the Cruise Liner Employment Scam page. British Referral service doesn't exist and of course telephone number 004470... is the British mobile number with redirect. E-mail is @mailbox.hu, where ".hu" is short for Hungary. I don't think any more comments are needed for this one.

Still - one more comment. On May 02 I came upon MV Alaska requiring "amateur" and professional crew from among yachts people for trip from Ghana to UK.

In the middle of June I received a new fake offer. This was something of a mix up - it's not completely clear whether they are offering a job or something else. It was sent "on behalf of" Caltex ( Texaco ). The message received is copied on page 2:

Quote: CHEVRON TEXACO NEEDS YOUR ATTENTION (Reply to chevrontexacogoil@live.com)?
From: Downey, Matt (mdowney@liberty.edu)
Sent: Sunday, June 15, 2008 6:59:09 PM

There is no such company ( Chevron Texaco Oil and Gas Company ) registered anywhere.

This is a definite scam letter / "fishing" attempt again. To be sure I asked for some more information about this "endowment fund". In the answer it was strongly pointed out this is no lottery winnings. It was said Microsoft had provided 50.000 e-mail addresses from which 100 "winners" were picked out to receive USD 3.000.000 each ! It was signed by Mr. Dawson Newton, Officer In-charge, COEFA ( ZoneF ). See details on page 2

At the end of July 2008 I received again another fishing letter. These seem to get more frequent. QUOTE:
From: BRINDEX OIL COMPANY (brindexoil.recuitoffcer@live.com). The offer is copied on Page 2.
Sent: Sunday, July 27, 2008 8:50:58 PM
Reply-to: brindexoil@live.com
To: email address deleted

BRINDEX OIL COMPANY

Lavington
London. SE1 0NZ.
Switchboard
United Kingdom

In October two old "favourites" came back. First Soku Gas Project in Nigeria, which has been going on at least since September 2006 ( see above ) and EYOU, which is again a "fishing" project ( fishing for resumes / CV ) and been going on at least since July 2007. Both of these have been resting about 6 months and now again reactivated.

Middle of November 2008 I received a "job offer" from Nigerian Agip Oil Company. This is an almost exact copy of what I received June 2007, also from Nigeria AGIP. A copy of the earlier one is on page 2. Sender's e-mail address is different this time:

OPEN EMPLOYMENT VACANCY PSC/JV/NAOC 01145-2010/2020?
From: Resume Services ( naocagencyservices@yahoo.com )
Sent: Tuesday, November 18, 2008 7:53:35 PM
Reply To: naocagencyservices@yahoo.com

The text, and layout is very much same as before, the colours in the latest version only little bit different. The salary range has been up-dated to US $ 60,400 - US $ 140.000. At the end there is still another new e-mail address where to send one's resume:
naoc-enquiriesdept@live.com
In November there was still the "JDAK Shipping" still active, little bit changed - now also cruise ships included. See comment above.

So where's the catch? I regard all of these last ones as "fishing letters". They do ask for the person's personal details same time as they strongly insist you don't have to pay anything. But once they have your personal details, they can keep these a year or two. Then may be sell the data to somebody else who then can use the data for an other scam. By then may be you have forgotten you long time ago gave your data away. Don't give your personal details to unknown persons.

Get advice on what to do if you by mistake already have given away your banking and/or other financial data ( including user names and passwords ).

May be those Nigerian money scammers are growing lazy, just recirculating old fake offers instead of working for their money! Like the next one !

At the very end of December, 2008 - a few days before Christmas somebody sent me a copy of a "new" fake job offer from Woodworth Recruitment in San Diego, California. It's an almost exact copy of the scam letter that originally in July 2005 kicked-off this very webpage - about 3½ years earlier. The letter itself is still as a full copy at the very top of this page.

Just following small details were different now:

• Before Avon Shipping and MV Hamm - NOW Nova Shipping and MV Harrier
  Both Nova Shipping and Harrier were used in December 2007 in an advertisement about ( fake ) jobs in Marine Technology Jobs magazine ( US ). Details are on Page 2.
  
• Master's salary and advance processing fee have both gone up by 9% - salary from USD 8.000 to 8.700 and the fee from USD 300 to 327.
  
• Travel agent who will "take care of you" still the same Slok Travel with the same fake website ( same Internet address ).
  
• The person who signed the fake offer is NEW: Felipe Torres and the person receiving the advance fee is also NEW: MR.CALI ADUM in Lagos, Nigeria.
  
• The office address and fax number in California are still both the same.

In January 2009 I received a copy of a new (?) employment scam offering fake jobs on superyachts and in February 2009 I received another one, targeting crew both on Superyachts, Cruise Ships and Cargo Ships.

Middle of February 2009 the fake offer below was received by an African oiler. So many news papers around the world were proclaiming the economy is in depression and people were laid off both here and there. The scammers realized there must be many not so very much educated jobless people who would willingly spend their last money to get a job. I have elsewhere pointed out it's not so much a real money or credit problem, but people have stopped spending so much on luxuries and the employment "problems" are mostly a question of restructuring the workforce. This means less and less manual workers and more and more skilled trained technicians - nuts and bolts people.

One result of all this "hoopla" is an increase of fake job offers, like the one copied below (different lay-out). QUOTE:

From: Global Logistics Trading Shipping CO,LTD <globaljobsrecruitment@yahoo.com>
Subject: JOB INTERVIEW QUESTIONS @ GLOBAL SHIPPING LTD -UK
The offer letter itself has been moved to Page 2

Kind regards
Mrs. Gabriel Geneva.
Director of Employment
Global Logistics & Shipping Trading Co,Ltd
14/17 Skylines Village, Limeharbour, London, , E14 9TS .
Tel: +44 (0) 7031884984 +44 7031887534

Tel:+ 44 (0) 8715039512 Fax: + 44 (0) 8704956686
E-mail info@globallogisticsltd.com, globaljobsrecruitment@yahoo.com
website: www.globallogisticsltd.com UNQUOTE

The website isn't so badly done, at least not the Home page. Even the other pages could fool somebody who hasn't seen so very many different shipowners' websites. From the inner pages it's, however, difficult to surf without going via the Home page. Without the fake offer it could be difficult to say for sure whether the company is fake or not. The website has been on-line only since December 22, 2008, and a WhoIs look-up doesn't give much information.

At the very end of March 2009 I received again a fake offer from British Petroleum, the offer letter has been moved to Page 2

A Filipino offshore store keeper informed me middle of April about a fake offer he had just received. It was from SAO TOME & PRINCIPE OIL EXPLORATION PROJECT ( SNOEP ) ( www.snoeproject.net ). Sao Tome & Principe is a Portuguese speaking island nation in the Gulf of Guinea, west of Angola and about SE from Nigeria. According to Who is Look up this domain was registered on March 18, 2009, but no website existed as of April 20, 2009.

The domain www.snoeproject.com was registered by an unknown person on a Google server on March 14, 2009, for one year and www.snoeproject.net was registered for one year by Brenda Esopi [ "Esopi" is an African name ], Emery Ville, California, USA. This "project" ( s Noe Project ) is mentioned also on 419 Scam Org. webpage, so it's definitely a scam. The full copy of the fake offer has been moved to Page 2

His resume was accepted by e-mail signed by:

Mr. Jude M. Willson
Chairman Search Committee
(Human Resources Department)
Sao Tome Nigeria Oil Exploration Project
Tel: +234 82 895 280
E-mail: s.noep@live.com
Url: www.snoeproject.net

The fake job offer letter have a beautifully crafted Heading:

He continued the correspondence until "Travel Afrik" requested an advance fee of USD 950 for visa / work permit processing. There is a travel agent by name Afrik Travels, but it is in India at a town called Jalahandar in Punjab !

First thing he had never applied for work with this project, the offer came for him "out of the blue". The first thing he reacted on and which made him suspicious was the offered salary: USD 15.500 per month. He first thought it was yearly income, but no, it's clearly stated he would get this very much for a low position - and every month.

The whole process started for this Filipino store man with an "fishing letter" with a request to "confirm" his resume and other details. Then he was found perfect for the job and was offered the position. A position of which the job description was lifted from his own resume - i.e. he wrote his own job description ! That never happens in real life.

When writing a fake job offer in an attractive way it's extremely difficult to make it believable and with correct details. The telephone country codes are in this case correct - 234 is Nigeria and 239 is Sao Tome & Principe.

The e-mail addresses in this case are either at "live.com" or at "snoeproject.com" or "gmail". The domain name registered doesn't have any website yet, but there could be an e-mail box attached, may be that's why the domain was registered?

On May 09, 2009, I received again a "Fishing" letter, see below:

From: mohammedhassan ( vinedoe@gmail.com )
Sent: Saturday, May 09, 2009 2:12:44 AM
To: (deleted)
Attachments: CHEVRONNG-EMPLOYMENT-ONLINE-INTERVIEW-APPLICATION-FORM.doc (27.4 KB)

Dear Applicant..............

Fill in our Online Application Interview Form to enable us access your personal information and know the most applicable post for you in our Company.

Yours Faithfully,

Mr Mohammed Hassan
Dircetor Of Human Resource

Very short and to the point, right? A company like Chevron never would send out e-mail requests like this. First they don't use "gmail". Second they have enough applicants to every open vacancy and they don't have the time to try to figure out where to put a certain person. It's not for them a question of employing as much people as possible, on the contrary - the less the better. When / if you open the attached document it looks nice:

The questionnaire is said to come from: "CHEVRON  OIL  AND  GAS  COMPANY, LAGOS, NIGERIA."

It contains several spelling errors plus the details asked for are not in a logical sequence, for instance: after "YEARS OF YOUR WORKING EXPERINCE.....1 YEAR" you get the following:
CITY...........................................
AGE................................
MARITAL STATUS..........................
 
There are some other errors like this, which just go to point out it's definitely a fake document. They even ask for employer's marital status ! - could it be a mistake ? If / when you receive something like this, delete it straight away. If you answer, you will just start getting more fake offers until you change your e-mail address.

One JOB OFFER FROM SAIPEM OIL COMPANY:
Recruitment Agency
Saipem (Eni) Nigeria Plc
(International deepwater units and Jack-ups)
Plot 99 Ajose Adeogun Street,
Victoria Island Annexe Lagos.
Tel: +234-806 4072 211
E-mail: saipem_mobile_oil@engineer.com
The website this offer refers to www.saipem.eni.it is the official correct website - only it's in Italian (!) so I think most "victims" just skip it. When looking around little bit you can find a link to the English version and there, on the vacancy list you can find a warning against job offers like this that just happen to come into your e-mail box like "from nowhere".

It's a relatively long offer - too long to be reproduced here - with a long list of available jobs. Salaries offered: $ 5 - 50.000 Monthly (!). Wich is way too much. This was signed by Engr. Ganuyi Issah, Recruitment Agency, Saipem (Eni) Nigeria Plc. - Tel: +234-806 4072 211, E-mail: saipem_mobile_oil@engineer.com . Now ENI is the Italian Government owned oil company and they are sure not using any other source for their e-mail than @eni.it .

In September 2009 the scammers were back from vacation again. Starting with SEAWELL DRILLLING LIMITED UNITED KINGDOM in Aberdeen. A long list of vacancies, starting with Consultant and Human Resources Officer - ending with FIELD WORKERS, ETC.

Applicants were told to send their up-dated resumes to: seawellrecruitedpt009@live.com . The offer was signed by Steve Rae, Co-Ordinator For Uk Office, United Kingdom, Tel: +4470 1114 8315, +4470 1114 8315 . Both numbers are again British mobile numbers with re-direct.

At same time with "SEAWELL" came another one, somewhat more serious. From TECHNIP OFFSHORE NIG., technipoffshore2009@live.com , TECHNIP RECRUITMENT AGENCY. Now this is serious matter because a company named Technip does exist and they are doing offshore construction. So in this case the scammers have "borrowed" a legitimate well known company's name for their fake job offer.

QUOTE: Lebal (!) recruitment agency; with the mandate to recruit expatriate services employees' for the fulfilment of the requirements of nlng "GAS FLARING PROJECT in Nigeria ..." UNQUOTE. A long list of jobs / vacancies is given, even Aerospace Engineers needed ! All applicants are offered "Full access to some of the finest and social recreational facilities in Nigeria.". Which is a phrase I have seen before in these offers.

Everyone is offered a two year contract. The fake offer was signed by Dr.Abel Jacson, Chief Recruit Officer, TECHNIP RECRUITMENT AGENCY, Phone :+234-7023602647. Country code 234 is Nigeria. These people love titles, especial "Doctor" ( Dr. ).

And another one "borrowing" a well known legitimate company's name: SEADRILL DRILLING OFFSHORE UNIT, seadrilloilsnig@gmail.com , and replies to: seadrillnig@live.com . The project "hook up and Commissioning of the production platform and pipeline" offering salaries of US $ 5,000-50,000 Monthly. The lower amount I believe but 50.000 (!) - seems more than a little bit too much, even for the OIM ( Offshore Installation Manager - the top guy ). DURATION OF WORK PERIODS: Mondays till Fridays, Time: 8.00 am to 4.00 pm with break period between 12:00 noon to 1:00 pm. This sounds like office work - doesn't it !

This was signed by Engr.Goodluck Mark, Human Resource Manager, Bonny Nigeria, TELE : +234-80-65627841, Email: seadrillnig@live.com . I know for sure, the real Seadrill company doesn't use neither gmail.com nor live.com for e-mail correspondence. In my e-mail system I managed to get the "full path" header that showed the sender's origin was mail.mu-pleven.bg - .bg is for BULGARIA !

The real Seadrill company is an International offshore drilling contractor based in Norway and controlling 42 drilling units ( 10 under construction, Nov. 2009 ). On the Seadrill website there is a warning: "Please be advised that Seadrill does not send unsolicited offers of employment in any form and will never ask for payment of money from a candidate to be considered for employment".

Then this one started circulating: EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
From: global oil ( globaloil.gaservicesltduk@gmail.com )
Sent: Tuesday, September 29, 2009 6:53:11 PM
To: (name with held)

GLOBAL OIL / GAS SERVICES LTD ( Dublin )
RH6 0NZ, West,
Dublin, Ireland

Tel: +447-02406-5593

25/09/2009

GLOBAL GAS / OIL SERVICES LTD ( DUBLIN ) EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

We are currently offering job opportunity to professionals in different fields. We require experience professionals, competence to work with less supervision.

Global gas / oil services ltd ( Dublin ) is a global player in the energy and petrochemical business and is one of the worlds most successful companies, offering international career in oil/gas industry.

We focus on profitable business strategy based on principle. This makes us outstanding among our peers.

We employ people of diverse background regardless of nationality and gender.

REGARDS,

Jeff Cole

FOR: GLOBAL GAS/OIL SERVICES LTD (DUBLIN)

So how do I know this is SCAM ? There's no physical address and country area code is 44. This is for UK - Ireland is 353 ! There is no country area code like 447. But the way the telephone number is written, most people would type in: 44702406.... And suddenly there we have the British area code with re-direct ( 44 70 ...). Just delete this when you get it, don't bother to answer at all.

Middle of September 2009 a fake offer from DIGICON EXPLORATION UNITED KINGDOM was doing it's rounds. Sent from: digicon.e4@gmail.com and including a very long list of jobs. More than 15 years ago I was Master on a seismic survey vessel chartered to Digicon for a project in South East Asia, but I doubt that same ( US ) company exists anymore.

The jobs offered were all in connection with offshore exploration. The project was said to be a 14 year project at the "Korun Nad" well, BUT Location was UK ! Replies to the e-mail offer were to be sent to: digiconexploration@gmail.com . Contract duration 3 years (!) with paid leave and free transport also for spouse and 3 children. Expected salary 15 - 50.000 GBP ( per month or per year not stated ). The offer was signed by Albert Smith in London; digiconexploration@gmail.com

Then the "clincher" - telephone numbers: +447024077993,447023087997 - again the British mobile numbers with re-direct. Does anybody need any more comments ?

At middle of November the Digicon offer was repeated, this time sent from wisdonian@yahoo.com , replies to be sent to digiconexploration@live.com . Same very, very long list of offshore jobs (even some imaginary ones ). Salaries offered were increased to 5.000 - 80.000 GBP ! Office would be easy to find - on the fifth floor in London. The offer was signed: WILLIAMS BROWN
Assistant Human Resouces Manager.
Digicon Exploration
10 pavilion street
5th floor London
Tel: +447024034568
Fax: +447023087997
EMAIL: digiconexploration@live.com

Little before receiving the "Digicon" offer there was another one almost same sounding one - also for the "Korun Nad" well project, but from GIC OIL AND GAS SERVICES NIGERIA. This was a 18 year project with 28 days work and 28 days "pay leave" including spouse and 3 children, salary $ 15 - 40.000 ( per year or per month not stated !).

The offer was signed by Edward Gibbs, gicoilandgasltd@live.com , telephone numbers: +2348097714810, +2347088662797. Country code 234 is Nigeria. Because this is almost copy of the one from "Digican" (above) it's clear this is also scam.

Same time as the Digicon offer, another one dropped into the mail box - from Lonestar Drilling Nigeria Ltd, lonestar5.group@gmail.com . Said to be located in Port Harcourt in Nigeria. Port Harcourt is the Nigerian offshore centre so that's a quite possible location. This time salary 5 - 55.000 MONTHLY !, may be those salaries above also were monthly salaries. Quite a range between lowest and highest, I must say. Lonestar Drilling is mentioned on the Scam Baiter as a scam effort.

This time, however the contract was offered for 2 years only ( 24 months ), one month work - one month "pay leave". The offer was signed by Mark Kelvin, mark.kelvin453@hotmail.com - telephone numbers: +234-8134553856, +234-84843216. These are landline numbers in Nigeria. The text in the offer is however, so similar to the ones above so it's sure this is a scam as well.

The stream of offers continued in October with Sea Petroleum Group Nig Ltd, spg.info1@gmail.com . The "project invited experienced,skilled and qualified expatriates / persons for the Iguruta Project Development" ( Soku gas project ). And something repeated from an earlier offer: "hook up and commissioning of the production", this is same as what was said about the Seadrill Drilling Project above !

SALARY: $ 5,000- $ 55,000.00, Monthly - same as for the Digicon offer above ! CONTRACT DURATION: 48 months, i.e. 4 years - I think that's the longest contract period I have seen offered. DURATION OF WORK PERIODS: One Month Work, one month "pay leave" - also same as before

This was signed by ENGR. KEN MARTIN, EXPATRIATE HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER, Phone: + 234-8134553856, E-Mail: project.spg@live.com . I don't think any comments are necessary.

And again a well known legitimate company has had their name "borrowed" and misused: SEA TRUCK GROUP, jose2260@sbcglobal.net , with replies to: seatruck.recruiting@live.com . For a change a very short message and no specific jobs advertised, this "offer" could therefore be characterized as a "fishing" attempt - to get unemployed offshore expatriates to apply to whatever there is:

QUOTE: "There are job openings in the $145billion oil project is Nigeria's largest deepwater development and lies in OPL Blocks 216 and 217, approximately 220 miles south-east of Lagos and 70 miles offshore of Nigeria, in the central Niger Delta. which has produced first oil from the eastern part of the field.

It is estimated that the oil field project will increase production from 65,000 to 95,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day during 2009 .

You are hereby notified that your qualifications and experiences were found suitably for the requirements of SEA TRUCK OIL PROJECT, from central Niger Delta opening, you are to submit your most recent Resumes/CV's through our e-mail contact below." UNQUOTE

Signed by ENGR ROMAN FRANKLIN
HR DEPARTMENT SEA TRUCK
Office: +2348097714810
Phone: +2348139733103
Email: seatruck.recruiting@live.com , Email: hrdept.seatruck@gmail.com . On their website Seatrucks Group, the company has a warning about job offers coming from any other e-mail source than @seatrucksgroup.com. The real company is listed on Offshore Jobs.

Very beginning of November 2009 I received a new fake job offer from a Philippine offshore worker:
From: Bluemart Oil & Gas, bluemartoilgasrecruitements@gmail.com
To: ( name and address with held )
Sent: Tue, November 3, 2009 9:59:15 PM
Subject: SIGN AND RETURN SOFT COPY CONTRACT AND APPOINTMENT LETTER

To save some space on this webpage I copy here only the information on the travel agent, who was to arrange for work permit and visa in London - UK. For that service they charge UK £ 900 for a single person plus UK, £ 600 additional for family (!) [ about USD 1500 and 1,000 respectively [ The text has been a little bit shortened. ].

UK DE TOUR AGENCY
78 WATER CRESCENT - OAKWOOD PRESS
GB 989 LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM
TEL: +4470240159484 +447024033825, FAX: +44.768.678.6566
EMAIL: ukagency@qlinktravelagency.com , and uk.qlinktravelagency@yahoo.com
CONTACT PERSON: CONTROLLER ( THOMAS WILLIAM RICHMOND )
DESIGNATION VISA, WORK / RESIDENT PERMIT DEPARTMENT.

(2) Do get back to us with developments and updates regarding the procurement of your valid work-permit. You are required to contact the Human Resources Manger incase of any clarifications. Below with his contact information.
(3) Once we confirm your works and residence permit from the UK DE TOUR TRAVELING AGENCY, which stipulates that you are ready to join the team, we will take care of your traveling Visa together with your flight ticket and any money which you spend in the procurement of your British Valid papers will be reimbursed to you along with your first month upfront salary.

We hereby once more congratulate you on the success of you application among many that have applied and thereby instruct you to expedite all requirements as afore mentioned so as to be able you to meet the team before the deadline. Once again, congratulations as we look forward in seeing you achieve your career with BLUEMART OIL AND GAS COMPANY. Always update me every correspond you may have with the traveling agency to enable us update your file.

Hoping to hear from you soonest. Once again we said Congratulations!!!

Regards. MR. JOHN COOL
HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER.
CONTACT NUMBER: +447024079575 +447024024864.
EMAIL: bluemartoilgasrecruitements@ gmail.com and info@bluemartoilgas.net
WEB SITE: www.bluemartoilgas.eu.pn

BLUEMART OIL AND GAS COMPANY. LONDON-UK

The Bluemart Oil gives a website address and I think many people will notice the ".eu" and think it's OK. But it's only the two last letters that indicate country or territory, in this case .pn. This stands for Pitcairn Island, a small island in the Pacific located halfway between New Zealand and South America. Of course no company of good repute would put their website on that Islands webserver. Why would they ?


As with all the others, all telephone numbers are the British mobile numbers with re-direct. "GB" in the mail / visiting address is not used, GB = Great Britain. On the website there is a specific address, but that address is for the private health insurance company BUPA. Neither did the company ask for any offshore training certificates. And, of course, this is spam for sure

In Dec. 2009 and January 2010 I received two almost identical fake job offers. The "labor consultant" was same in both ; Secco Consultant Agency and acting on behalf of Technip Group. Below is a copy of the Jan. 2010 offer:

Date: Mon, 11 Jan 2010 06:03:42 -0800 [01/11/2010 02:03:42 PM UTC]
From: TECHNIP Ghana LTD c/o Secco Consultant Agency <de_greater@yahoo.com>
To: de_greater@yahoo.com
Subject: EMPLOYMENT OFFER/JOB OFFER / VACANCY
#542 Kinbu,
Jamestown,
P.O. Box 742,
Accra, Ghana.
Phone: 0-2-769 15248

Because this offer is very long, the whole letter has been moved to page 2.

About at the same time I received the offer below, with the longest job list I ever seen before. Little bit down the list there's a link to skip the rest of it - if you don't want to study all.

Sure this is a scam, probably written by the same person or persons who wrote the two above, because some of the text is almost the same - including a promise of up-front salaries ! Something nobody else offers.

From: SOLGAS ENERGY LIMITED <recruiting@solgas.net>
Reply-To: dan.easun@yahoo.com
Subject: SOLGAS ENERGY LIMITED ( AJOKUTA STILL PLANT JOB OFFER )

Solgas Energy Limited
23A Akin Adesola Street
Victoria Island,
Lagos, Nigeria

INTRODUCTION:
REF: SOLGAS/S-GL-EGV/NIG/20-10.

We are Legal Labor Consultant / Recruiters to Solgas Energy Nigeria Limited, a foremost Oil and Gas Company.

The rest of the fake offer has been moved to Page 2.

We would like to have your detailed resume, if this Offer is acceptable to you together with an application via email attachement in MS Word format. We await your response in this regard.

YOUR SINCERELY,

TOM RUSSELL
HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT
Office: +234-8136376231
E-Mail: tom.russel@live.com, dan.easun@yahoo.com
SOLGAS ENERGY LIMITED

Solgas Energy Nigeria Ltd was a British company that in 2003 had been contracted by the Nigerian Government to construct a steel mill. This seems to have been cancelled by the Nigerian Government in 2004 and the current job offers have "borrowed" the company name for an non-existing recruitment campaign. This offer was still going around in April 2010.

Shortly after I received another offer, almost same, but this one contained a website for the "company" www.sol-gas.net/ and was sent from Iceland by Helgi Sigurður Karlsson, e-mail: hsk5@hi.is. You can get in on that website only by logging in !

There's one more, "Lonestar Drilling" that belongs with this same bunch. Also a previous company gone bankrupt and then the name borrowed for scamming purposes. Lonestar's offer was signed by:

ENGR. JOHN DUKE
EXPATRIATE HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER
LONESTAR Drilling United Kingdom Limited
Phone: +447011147273
E-Mail: lonestardrilling@consultant.com

Lonestar is the only one in the group to use a British mobile phone number with re-direct. Otherwise they all have something in common: upfront salaries, work on rotation and full pay while on leave, salaries 40.000 - 75.000 $ per month, etc.

Still one more received together with the bunch listed and shown above:

From: Oiltest Services Limited <woods2200@att.net>
Reply-To: hrwilliams1@live.com
Subject: At Your Service

Oiltest Services Limited
Port Harcourt (Corporate Headquarters)
Plot 182 Trans-Amadi Industrial Layout,
P.M.B 5135, Port-Harcourt,
Rivers State, Nigeria, W-Africa.

INTRODUCTION:
Ref: OSL/EMP/EXP/VOL.IV/010

Oiltest Services Limited, a foremost Drilling Company. With respect to our project in Nigeria requires expatriates whose services will include Technical:- Chief Engineer,Marine:-Stability,Section, Leader, Drilling:- Assistant Driller, Sub Sea Engineer,Africa and Middle East - Driller, Africa and Middle East -Asst.Drillers, Driller. Jack-ups - Administration:- Rig Safety Coach (Offshore). Jack-ups - Drilling:- Driller, Assistant Driller, Night Toolpusher. Jack-ups - Marine:- Barge Master Jack-ups - Technical :-Assistant Electrician, Electrician, Assistant Mechanic.the project management, engineering,procurement, construction,transportation and installation, safety, Cook, hook up and commissioning of the production

SCOPE OF THE PROJECT: The exploitation and exportation of crude oil in Soku.
.
SALARY: $3,000- $65,000.00, Monthly, can be transferred to any Bank or Country of your choice.

CONTRACT DURATION: 36 months (Liable for upward review depending on your commitment and expertise)

DURATION OF WORK PERIODS: One Month Work, one month pay leave You will be entitle to Four(4) months upfront salaries and relocation expenses on confirmation of your relevant documentation for commencement of work. We would like to have your detailed resume, if this Offer is acceptable to you together with an application via email attachment and you are to forward it to the below Email address. We await your response in this regard

At Your Service,
ENGR. WILLIAMS ADAM
EXPATRIATE HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER
Oiltest Services Limited
Plot 182 Trans-Amadi Industrial Layout,
P.M.B 5135, Port-Harcourt,
Rivers State, Nigeria
Phone: +234-8134553856
Office: +234-84900922
Fax: +234-84-236941
E-Mail: hrwilliams1@live.com
E-Mail: post2003@live.com

Close to the above comes this one from "Abu Dhabi", United Arab Emirates:

Employment Vacancy @ Castrol Abu-Dhabi U.A.E,
From: KAMPAC OIL SERVVICES KAMPACGROUP ( kampacoilservices.uk@gmail.com )
Sent: Monday, March 08, 2010 8:19:51 PM

Dear Prospective Expatriates,

Job Opportunity At Castrol Oil Lubricants ABU-DHABI.

This is to inform you that Castrol Oil Lubricants Abu-Dhabi is in need of expatriates that can work in various fields, like Engineers, Hotel/Resturant, Management/Accounts departments, and we've gone through your CV/Resume together with your qualification through our Job Provider and your CV has been shortlisted. Hence, we are sending you our International Online Questionnaire to endorse and get back to us immediately. Your application will be evaluated on the basis of the answers from the Online Questionnaire alongside your Resume and you will surely be notified upon review of your whole submitted information, our salary and Perks are based on our candidates qualifications, and we assure all our candidates that the entitlements from our office are very attractive and suitable for all post and all interested candidate should send his CV/Online Interview via email attachment.castrol.du@gmail.com

Please find enclosed and attached, herewith documents for your endorsement, and also in the list are our current and available positions. Currently there are many openings for Candidates who have qualifications on any Engineering, Shipping, Managerial fields etc.

VACANT POSITIONS/JOB DESCRIPTIONS:

JOB Code #1. CEO Engineers, Chief Engineers,Production Managers, Project Managers/Project Engineers
JOB Code #2. Field Engineers,Site/Project Engineers, E& I Engineers
JOB Code #3. Drilling/Piping Engineers,Petroleum/Chemical Engineers,
JOB Code #4. Mechanical/Automotive Engineers,Electrical/Computer Engineers,
JOB Code #5. Environmental/HSE/Safety Engineers,Geologist/Mining Engineers
JOB Code #6. Financial Accountants/ Account Managers
JOB Code #7. Medical/Nursing Department
JOB Code #8. Civil Engineers/Structural Design Engineers,
JOB Code #9. NDT Technicians/QA/QC Managers/ HVAC Engineers
JOB Code #10. Supervising, Coordinating, Planning and Maintenance Managers.
JOB Code #11. Document Controller and Administration Manager.
JOB Code #12. HSE, Safety Engineer/Environmental Engineer
JOB Code #13. Senior IT Executive/ Information and Operations Research Managers
JOB Code #14. Hotel/Resturant Department/ F&B/ Bartender/Waiter etc.

Interested Candidates should email us their CV/Resume Immediately to this email: castrol.du@gmail.com

Good luck! As you take steps to the right path in building your career.

Thanks and best Regards.

CASTROL OIL LUBRICANTS ABU-DHABI
Bander Tower, Mezzanine flr
100-109 - 46889Abu Dhabi
Name: Mr Frankline Jones
Email: castrol.du@gmail.com
Tel/Fax: +971555048238

The telephone area code is for United Arab Emirates - that's probably the only thing that's correct in this fake job offer.

And then one phishing scam:

Job Offer From Impex !!
From: xande@brt14.com.br
Date: Thu, February 11, 2010 1:18 pm

Impex Petroleum and Drilling
95 Wilton Road, Suite 3,
London, United Kingdom.
Email: offer@iptltd.com
Tel:+4470 4575 5333
Website: www.iptltd.com

SUBJECT: EMPLOYMENT AT IMPEX PETROLEUM AND DRILLING

Ref: IPT-EML/OE/CSE-908/2010

INTRODUCTION:

Impex Petroleum and Drilling Limited is an independent oil development and production company whose shares are traded under a dual primary listing on the Asia, Africa and London Stock Exchanges. Impex Petroleum and Drilling Limited operates oilfields located in the Asia, Africa and Europe regions Impex Petroleum and Drilling Limited had proved and probable oil reserves 30/06/08 of 645 million barrels and 3.2 trillion cuft of gas resources.

Following the recent expansion and development in the company,we are presently recruiting the services of skilled and technical personnel and reliable firms to fill vacancies and contracts in the arrears of Geology, Geo technical,Environmental, Operations, Medicals, various fields of Engineering, Electrical, Electronics, Mechanical,Civil engineers, Medical/Health Personnel, I.T/Hardware and Software, Accounts, Finance/Audits, Instrumentation, Project Management, Construction,Welding and Fabrication, QA/QC,Management and Administrative personnel at our United Arab Emirates Location.

Therefore you requested to send your updated resume and send the scanned copy of your degree or experience certificates and send to us via email. All mails should be directed to the human resource department at offer@iptltd.com . You will be intimated on other proceedings.

Note: this must be done within 7 working days from the receipt of this email.

Make sure you send your CV to offer@iptltd.com.

Thank you.

Mr. William Grant
President Human Resource
Impex Petroleum and Drilling

I call this a "phishing" letter because they don't directly offer you a job but they ask for your CV. If you send the CV may next year or the year after you'll get an offer that's absolutely tailored to your CV and fits your experience to perfection. That's then a regular scam letter with very good salary and somewhere a hidden fee, before you get anything at all. Which you, of course won't get. Note there's the British mobile number with re-direct again. Also note, the e-mail comes from a Brazilian e-mail source ( .br ).

Beginning of March, 2010, I received from an Italian offshore worker this fake offer from ENI / AGIP Exploration Nigeria Ltd for a position as Assistant Driller on a rig:

Salary $ 15.500 per month ( which is within normal limits )
Three months on and one month off with paid leave.
40 hours work week ! On the rigs the work goes on 24 hours per day, 7 days per week in 12 hour shifts. First two months salary to be paid in advance before embarking to assume duty.
First class family accommodation in Company community ( camp ).
Access to some of the finest social and recreational facilities in Nigeria.!

The payment is now for "a departmentof petroluem Resources Certificate from Nigeria", which is a certificate I've never have heard about. There's always a catch somewhere in these fake job offers. They say they are using the Zenith Bank. This is a real bank, head office in Nigeria and other offices in Ghana, Sierra Leone, and UK. The bank have a warning about scammers using their name.

You have to get that Nigerian certificate first, before they pay your advance two month salary. The Certificate is said to be issued by:

DEPARTMENT OF PETROLEUM RESOURCES,
345 OKILO WAY
BAMADU CRESENT
GARKI
ABUJA NIGERIA
EMAIL: dprnigeria1@gmail.com,
Tel:+234 8036081672
CONTACT PERSON: ENGR. ALHAJI KABIRU

This was signed by:
ENGR. JAMES OKA
Human Resource Manager,
ENI Agip Exploration And Production Recruiters
C/o ENI Agip Oil And Gas Offshore Nig Limited,
264 Apara Way Ikeja,
Lagos, Nigeria.
Tel:+234 82864131
Fax:+234 8286414.

In the middle of March 2010 I received the next one:

Subject: Capital Oil And Gas Nigeria Limited offer
From: "Capital Oil And Gas Limited" <chisco_prince@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, March 10, 2010 2:58 pm
To: undisclosed recipients:;

Capital Oil And Gas Nigeria Limited
1 Capital Oil Close, Westminster,
Ibru Jetty Complex, Ibafon, Apapa
P.O. Box 558 (CODE 102241),Apapa, Lagos
Tel:+234 82864131 ,+234 7055419589
Fax:+234 82864133.
Email: capitaloilandgasind@live.com
Website: www.capitaloilandgasind.com

INTRODUCTION :

Ref: COG/CEP/OAG/VOL.IV/10

Capital Oil And Gas Limited is Company based in Lagos, a Production Sharing Contract (PSC) with shell and involves in oil and gas exploration and production activities in Nigeria. Capital Oil And Gas Limited is operating Oil Prospecting Licenses (OPL).Capital Oil & Gas Industries Limited was incorporated in 2001 but commenced full operations in 2003, following the deregulation of the downstream sector of the oil and gas industry by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

We are Labor Consultant/Recruiters to the company Capital Oil And Gas Limited, a foremost Oil and Gas Company. In pursuant to the service contract with our client company (Capital Oil And Gas Limited ) wish to invite experienced, skilled and qualified expatriates/persons for the Uhele Project Development going on in the Federal Republic Of Nigeria, project schedule to commence work in April 2010.

The programme is the Developement of Uhele project, the project involves the contruction of Four platforms and a Gas Export Piepeline that will aid optimum exploitation of the crude oil potential of the Uhele Field, as well as that of Natural Gas that is currently being flared.

This Company is the operator of Uhele project. This is a deepwater license (4000 feet) and the location of a major oil and gas discovery. Uhele project target production rate is 150 kbd and it is expected to produce about 560 million barrels of the oil (gross). The world-class Capital Oil And Gas Limited is located in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Oil Prospecting License (OPL) 10 and has recoverable offshore reserves of some 600 million barrels of oil.

Capital Oil And Gas Limited with respect to the Uhele project, requires expatriates/persons whose services will include the following,
Geology and Geoscience
Data management,
well and production
Exploration Geologist
Geological / Geophysical
Geological Technologist
Geological Technologist / GIS Specialist
Geologist,Geophysical Engineer
Geotechnical Engineer (Intermediate)
Geotechnical Technicians / Technologist (Junior)
Geotechnical Technologist (Intermediate)
GIS Specialist / Analyst
Hydrogeologist (Junior)
Jr. and Int. Processing Geophysicists Land processing
Manager (VP) Geoscience
Mineral Processing Engineer
Permafrost Engineer
Reservior Engineers
Reservoir Engineers
Seismic Driller
Well Site Geologist
Well Site Geologists Gas,
Chemicals, Petrochemicals,
Laboratory .Acid Supervisor ,
Gas Business Coordinator ,
Nitrogen Supervisor Drilling and Rig,C
ement Supervisor
Deep Cailed Tubing Supervisor,
Derrick and Directional Driller
Drillers ,Drilling Engineers,
Drilling Foreman ,Forearm Drillers,
Mud Logger
Rig Electrician
Rig Manager
Roughneck
Roustabout
Toolpusher
Wireline OperaApplication Scripter IT Analyst,
Communications Spec Sr
Communications Technician
Computer Repair Technician
Intermediate Programmer
IT Consultant - Oracle Financials
Account Manager
Accountant
Accounting Clerk
Accounting Systems Analyst
Cost Controllers
Dept Admin
Documentation Manager
Accountants, Admin
Energy Analyst ,
Executive Assistant
Field Administration Clerk Finance Analyst
Land Property Administrator
Manager Projects
Procurement Specialists (FIDIC Procedures)
Quantity Surveyors Engineering .

SCOPE OF THE PROJECT: The programmed is the Development of Uhele project, the project involves the contraction of Four platforms and a Gas Export Pipeline that will aid optimum exploitation of the crude oil potential of the Uhele Field, as well as that of Natural Gas that is currently being flared.

SALARY: $10,000- $35,000.00,monthly / take-home ( After tax ), Dollars or Euros equivalent depending on home country and currency preference.

CONTRACT DURATION: 36 months ( Liable for upward review depending on your commitment and expertise )

DURATION OF WORK PERIODS: Two months work, one month leave You will be entitle to (Two)2 months upfront salaries and relocation expenses on confirmation of your relevant documentation for commencement of work.

Send your detailed resume, if this Offer is acceptable to you together with an application via email attachment.

Engr. Edward Ben Mike
Human Resource Manager
Capital Oil And Gas Nigeria Limited .

The website: www.capitaloilandgasind.com is an existing one and it is on a UK free server. But it consists of only one page. The menu shows several non-existing pages. In the long list of "available jobs", did you notice the position Permafrost Engineer ? Permafrost is something you can find in Northern Siberia and Canada. It is when it's cold enough around the year so the top soil stays frozen all year. That you don't have in Nigeria. I would say this is scam, because of the e-mail addresses and because of the website. Plus the way it's written, very similar to the whole bunch I have received this spring.

Still one more general "phishing" attempt this very busy spring:

From: David Mayor (david_mayoresq@yahoo.com)
Sent: Sunday, March 21, 2010 5:09:14 PM

Hello Sir/Madam:

Attn: Job Availability Notice

I am a consultant to "Job Hunt Direct" in UK on international Work recruitment possibilities. Some Companies / Establishments needs staff / part-time / Contractor workers in the following under-listed categories:

Administration
Records/ Accounting
Alternative Energy
Teaching
processing
Commercial / Financial / Legal
Design
Drilling
Engineering
Airlines services
Environment
Geo science
Health & Safety
HR/ Personnel/Training
IT/ Communications
Logistics/ Procurement
Management
Marine / Diving / ROV
Operations
Quality / Inspection
Sales / Marketing
Technician
Science
Terminal / Refinery / Distribution

If you are interested in any of the above listed options, a minimum qualification of one (1) year working experience in your field of learning / expertise is required for consideration. Forward me your application letter, and well detailed Curriculum Vitae with a copy of your photo identification. Also include, the geographical area you wish to work in.

Good luck and best wishes as I anticipate your response and look forward to assisting you.

This attempt is so generally written that I get a feeling the scammers have been getting problems finding new victims. The number of "phishing" letters have increased strongly. Of course, once they have your CV it's very easy to write a "job offer" that fits your experience like a hand in the glove.

There is a "job hunt Direct" website: job hunt Direct. There is an e-mail contact address on the website: @jobhuntdirect.co.uk. I have tried that one and several variations. All have been returned by Postmaster so may be the website is also fake, made only to support the scam letters.

In addition to this "phishing" letter I got repeated offers from Technip (2 times), Seadrill, and Capital Oil. The new ones almost same as the ones received earlier.

In May there were just two NEW ones only. This was the first one:

This one from "Hess Corporation" I received a second time ( exact copy ) on June 16.
Subject: Job Offer
From: xande@brt14.com.br
Date: Mon, May 10, 2010 9:24 am

HESS CORPORATION OIL AND GAS PRODUCTION UK

Andy Mitchell
Senior Manager/Online Co-Ordinator For Uk Office
Hess Exploration & Production
Level 9,The Adelphi Building
1-11 John Adam Street
London WC2N 6AG
England
Tel:+4470 1114 8315
info@hesscorporationuk.tk

Email:

HESS CORPORATION OIL AND GAS PRODUCTION UK

JOB VACANCIES
Could you be the right person for this job offer? What if our
judgment was wrong? You might want to try your hands on it but
unfortunately we are only looking for professionals with exceptional expertise,
highly
spirited individuals who are ready to take up rewarding challenges in
the oil and gas industry. HESS CORPORATION, a well established and reputable
oil/gas
company with rapidly growing wide network of outlets around the world,
seeks to attract resourceful individuals craving for a refreshing opportunity
yet characteristically possesses the skill and uprightness to excellently
deliver
amidst limited assistance.

JOB VACANCIES
Consultant
Human Resources Officer
Marketing.
Account Executive.
Chief Accountants.
Engineering Managers Maintenance.
All Managerial positions.
Cost Engineer/ Sr Quantity surveyor
All Engineering positions
Chief Engineers.
Management and Project Management.
General Manager/Manager Engineering.
Project Manager, Exploration of Oil and gas fields.
Medical Officers.
Medical Consultants/Specialist..
Mining Consultants.
Engineering consultants
Financial Consultants.
Petroleum Geologist.
Welding and heavy fabrication.
Professional Executive Secretary.
Human Resources, Administration.
Medical Practitioners
Data Processing Officer
Computer Data Analyst
IT Analyst
TRACTORS/TRUCK DRIVERS
FIELD WORKERS
ETC.
METHOD OF APPLICATION - All interested candidates
should reply via mail with
updated Resumes (CV).- Only applicants who possess the qualification will be
employed.

State Position Applied For............
required qualifications
will be short-listed whence consequently contacted.
All Resumes should be forwarded to: info@hesscorporationuk.tk

Regards

Andy Mitchell
Senior Manager/Online Co-Ordinator For Uk Office
Hess Exploration & Production
Level 9,The Adelphi Building
1-11 John Adam Street
London WC2N 6AG
England
Tel:+4470 1114 8315
Email: info@hesscorporationuk.tk

Most of the job positions listed doesn't seem to have much to do with oil-gas exploration or processing, except for a few which you find in every sector. The e-mail offer itself was sent from an Brazilian address (.br) while this UK "company" asks for e-mail replies to an e-mail address at an address in Tokelau (.tk), which is Tokelau Islands in the South Pacific. AND Telephone number is the British mobile number with re-direct. No more Comments !x

There is a real Hess Exploration & Production with headquarters in New York, USA. They have an office for Asia and Europe in London. And - surprise - The address and person name is the same as in the fake offer. That still doesn't mean the real Andy Mitchell has sent the offer. This time the scammers have been so bold they borrow both company's and manager's name to use in the fake job offer - the telephone number is different. The real Hess have an website www.hess.com/ and their e-mail address is on @hess.com.

And the other one, which again contains some already familiar sentences / statements from earlier fake job offers:

Subject: Gulf Marine Services
From: "Gulf Marine Services" <post2003@live.com>
Date: Thu, May 20, 2010 10:02 am

Gulf Marine Services
Mussafah Base, P.O.Box 46046, Abudhabi,
UAE

JOB REF: GMS-UAE/DRE-097-/2010

INTRODUCTION:

Gulf Marine Services UAE,one of the world's largest Seismic Company; provides
comprehensive worldwide reservoir imaging, monitoring, and development services,
with the most extensive seismic crews and data processing centers in the industry,
as well as the world's largest multiclient seismic library. Range from 3D and
time-lapse (4D) seismic surveys to multicomponent surveys for delineating prospects
and reservoir management.

DESCRIPTION:
Following the recent Contract and development in the company, we are presently
recruiting and employing the services of skilled and technical personnel's' and
reliable firms to fill vacancies and contracts in the areas of Geology, Geo
technical, Environmental, Operations, Medicals, various fields of Engineering,
Electrical, Electronics, Mechanical, Civil engineers, Medical/Health Personnel's,
I.T/Hardware and Software, Accounts, English Teacher,

Finance/Audits, Instrumentation, Project Management, Construction, Welding and
Fabrication, QA/QC, Management and Administrative personnel's,Marine / Land / TZ /
(2D, 3D, 4C, OBC),Client QC Reps,Party Chiefs,Senior Observer / Shift
Leaders,Observers,Observer / Technicians,Snr Navigators / Navigators ( Concept
Systems preferred ),Navigation processors,Data processors / QC Geophysicist,Senior
Source Engineers / Back deck supervisors,Source Engineers

Additional sources for information on Nigerian money scams:

• A very long UK webpage with names of companies and people used in scam and fraud letters / e-mails, some details go all way back to 2003. If you find the name in the job offer you have received on this page, then you can be sure the great offer is a fake.
  
• Summary of Nigerian "419" scams since 1990's.
  
• Wikipedia: Nigeria Scam.
  
• Nigerian Money Scams, including the beginning of mobile phone numbers used to redirect the caller.
  
• You can inquire from the Nigerian Consulate in New York by e-mail if a certain company is real and legitimate: info"at"nigeria-consulate-ny.org (instead of "at" you type: @ )
  
• A searchable and indexed archive of scams received by email. You can check every email you are suspicious about against the archive. You can also include the scam search in the Google toolbar - if you have the toolbar.
  
• Additional information on offshore oil and maritime scams.
  
• If a recruiting agent / shipping company in Nigeria offers you something "fishy", you can check if the company is real or not from Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency ( NIMASA ). That's the agency licensing recruiting agents and shipping operators.
  
• Overview with details on different scams going on Internationally and what you can do if you receive something suspicious.

I have below copied instructions on what you can do when you have received any kind of scam message. If it's about Maritime Employment, please forward it to me first.

"We ( i.e. Fraud Watchers Org. ) have received a communication from the Metropolitan Police in the UK regarding Advance Fee Fraud (419) emails received:
"We would ask everyone to please forward all their received 419 and Advanced Fee Fraud related emails to the Metropolitan Police, together with full email headers, to fraud.alert@met.police.uk.
"This request is not limited to those only living in the UK, for the reason that UK based perpetrators of this crime indiscriminately distribute their scam letters and emails to inbox addresses all over the world.
"It is essential that the entire email, including the header information, is emailed as an attachment to the above address. In the event that you are unable to include these full headers, please just delete the email and do not forward it, as it will be a waste of time and resource."

You may refer to the documentation of your email client on how to display full email headers before forwarding them (Yahoo users should click on"Options", "General Preferences", and at the option "Forwarding Messages" set "Forward as an attachment").
Users of other email programs/applications may find this page useful, but be prepared to copy and paste if your program or application will not include them automatically.
If you have any questions about this announcement, or how to go about assisting, please post any queries in this thread within our forums."

[ Source: www.fraudwatchers.org/ ]