Worth Avenue Yachts released a statement yesterday warning yacht crew of an active recruitment scam currently circulating within the yachting community. An individual or group is falsely claiming to represent Worth Avenue Yachts, using the company’s logo, WhatsApp Business profiles, and fabricated email addresses to create the appearance of legitimacy. Worth Avenue Yachts is a brokerage firm specializing in luxury yachts for sale, charter management, fully crewed yacht charters, and new yacht construction. The scammers are using fake accounts to reach out to crew claiming they have been “selected” for positions on board specific yachts, hosting fake Zoom interviews with personnel not associated with Worth Avenue Yachts, sending fraudulent offer letters and employment contracts with incorrect vessel names, and requesting documentation from crew that can be later used for identity theft or other scams. Worth Avenue Yachts is not conducting these recruitments and is not associated with any of the individuals asking for phone numbers, email addresses, or documents. “We encourage all crew to exercise caution and verify any recruitment outreach using the contact details listed on an official website. Worth Avenue Yachts never requests visa payments, upfront fees, deposits, or personal financial information as part of any hiring process,” Worth Avenue Yachts’ statement said. Worth Avenue Yachts has reported the impersonating WhatsApp account and continues to monitor the situation. If any crew are contacted by the accounts, Worth Avenue Yachts encourages them to report the suspicious activity to the relevant authorities. “The crew community is an essential part of our industry, and protecting it is a priority. If you receive any questionable communication claiming to represent Worth Avenue Yachts, please contact us immediately,” the company's statement said.