Edmiston and Company is the most recent legitimate business name being used in an e-mail employment scam targeting megayacht captains and crew.

The company has been “under attack over the past couple of weeks from scammers trying to offer people employment aboard yachts using our company name (incorrectly for that matter),” said Tom Lilley, a brokerage assistant with Edmiston in London. “They are taking money in the form of visa applications.”

“I would be most grateful if you could help us with getting the word out to anybody that might be caught out by this," he said. “We do not actively market ourselves for employment and our crew department is contactable on crew@edmiston.com.”

In an official company statement, Edmiston stated:

“Edmiston wishes to raise awareness of a possible UK visa scam that was discovered recently. The group of scammers using a variety of apparent pseudonyms such as Morris Winter, Capt. Jones William, Capt. Pierre Elliot and Capt. Casey Miller start with false job adverts in e-mails naming unsuspecting companies, ‘The Edmiston Hotel’ amongst them.

“Unfortunately, it doesn’t just stop there. It has been reported to us that once they attract someone’s attention they even go as far as issuing bogus appointment letters. After that, they get down to what they are really after. Charging up to £900 for arranging a UK visa. For a job that doesn’t exist.

“Any phone numbers given are premium rate UK numbers; expensive but very hard to trace and therefore quite commonly used by scammers.

“Fortunately, many people have seen this as a scam and have reported it to us, likewise to other companies similarly affected. We wish to raise the issue to the yachting industry as a whole to hopefully ensure no one gets convinced to hand over any money or personal details. We recommend crew check out employment opportunities thoroughly.

“Neither Edmiston nor any of its subsidiaries are associated with this activity and consider it to be deliberate misuse of the name and reputation of Edmiston. Our solicitors have issued a cease-and-desist letter to this effect. We have also petitioned Google and other Web sites to remove these references but we understand these links are now widespread.”

With main offices in Monaco and London, Edmiston specializes in sales, charter and management for yachts.

The Triton recently reported on a similar scam using the name of Seabourn, and of a chef who fell victim to the scam.

About the Author

Dorie Cox

Associate Editor