TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2024
Team Herald
MARGAO: Taking serious note of alleged ‘extortion’ cases involving seamen, Directorate General of Shipping on Thursday appealed to the seafarers’ community to be vigilant and avoid falling prey to deceitful schemes.
Captain (Dr) Daniel J Joseph, Deputy Director of General of Shipping (Crew) in an advisory statedathat It has been brought to the notice of the Directorate General of Shipping that cases have come to light, where unknown individual via telecalls, WhatsApp messages, emails, etc, have contacted the family members of seafarers, alleging that the seafarers working on ships have been involved in smuggling, narcotics, theft, rapes, murders, etc and have demanded money for their release or assistance.
It further stated that these claims are generally false and are designed to deceive and exploit unsuspecting family members.
It has come to this directorate’s attention that there have been incidents involving individuals falsely claiming to be associated with seafarers’ onboard vessels or pretending to be from law enforcing authorities such as Customs, State Police Departments, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Immigration officials and Government officials from the Ministry, etc, and soliciting money from their family members under fraudulent pretences, Joseph stated in the advisory.
The Directorate General of Shipping stated that it strongly advises all family members of seafarers to exercise extreme caution and vigilant while receiving such calls or emails as it is crucial to ascertain the exact details of such caller, message or email sender and not to entertain these requests and refrain from transferring money to unknown individuals without proper verifications.
In the event of receiving such calls or emails, the family members of seafarers are urged to be cautious and immediately inform the matter to the concerned nodal official of the Recruitment and Placement Services (RPS) agency or the ship-owners representatives through which the seafarer has been employed contractually onboard vessel.
“The RPS agencies/ship-owners are hereby directed to immediately take up the concerned matter by alerting the concerned law enforcing authorities to prevent further victimisation and ensure the safety, security of our seafarers and their family members,” it added.
