Job Scam: Starline Cruise

I've mentioned the starlinecruise.com job scam before, but I've been prompted to uncover more information, since the scam is (sadly) still very much alive and well. There used to be a Canadian corporation called "Starline Cruises Ltd.". It was incorporated in 1986, listed as active in 1990, listed as "Dissolution in Progress" in 1993, and listed as dissolved in 1999. The fraudsters behind "starlinecruise.com" appear to have hijacked this corporate identity, and pretend that they are still operating the company -- out of Malaysia. As the 419 scam is to Nigeria, so it appears the Cruise Line Scam is to Malaysia: there are more fake cruise line jobs on offer in Malaysia than you can shake a stick at.

The scam goes something like this. The fake cruise line company (Starline Cruise in this particular case, but new identities will be invented as the old ones are exposed) sends job ads by spam and also by listing on otherwise legitimate job sites. The offer is great -- well paid work on a luxury cruise ship, no qualifications required. Every applicant is "short listed", but there are up-front costs to cover. Paperwork, you know -- and lots of it. This is why they call it "advance fee fraud". The job applicant is asked to transfer money (or send it via Western Union) to demonstrate his sincerity and cover the supposed costs of the training, and so on. Oh yes -- and would you mind sending your passport details, too?

In the end, there is no job, only fees, and your passport details will probably be used for identity fraud to boot. It's a vicious, cold-hearted, cynical scam, run by rip-off merchants who are blissfully devoid of the ravages of conscience. To further acquaint yourself with the flavour of this scam, compare the tale of woe about Vigo Cruises to the Starline Cruise "appointment letter" on this page. Note the similarities: cruise lines, Malaysia, easy job offer, up-front fees for weird bureaucratic paperwork, direct transfer to a Malaysian bank or via Western Union.

Don't be a sucker, folks! These people will take your money and waste your time, leaving you out of pocket and with a bitter taste in your mouth.