We noted that number of fraud in shipping sector has been increased within last two years. Fraud schemes become more sophisticated and involve IT technology.
We may appreciate how Internet communication made our activity fast and easy, but sometimes it makes difficult to identify persons on the other “end of the wire” – THAT WEAK POINT IS EFFECTIVELY USED BY SWINDLERS.
A few recent cases:
(A) FICTIOUS AGENTS
A vessel had been fixed via Russian freight broker for loading in Port of Yuzhny (Ukraine). Upon arrival of the vessel to outer road of the Port the Owners received instruction from the broker to make a contact to local Agents, who have been allegedly nominated by Charterers.
The Agents demanded full amount of disbursements in advance asap. The Owners paid USD30K as per Invoice issued by the Agents immediately. Once funds were paid the Agents disappeared – phones calls and emails were left without answer. The Port advised later that no such Agents had activity in the Port.
A criminal proceeding had been commenced in the matter.
Details of the “Agents”:
BSPS LTD(Black Sea Port Services)
FAO: Mr ALEXANDER MANEHIN
PHONE/FAX: +380-51 270 12 85
CELL: + 380-94 711 51 53
e-mail: office@bspsagency.com.ua
(B) FICTIOUS FREIGHT BROKER
A Turkish freight broker offered a cargo to be delivered from Port of Novorossiysk (Russia) to port of Oran (Algeria). The Owners received fixture recap confirmed by the Charterers as per information from the Broker and accepted cargo on board in the POL.
As per charterparty a bill of lading is to be issued once payment of freight is received by the Owners and after their written confirmation. Before the vessel approached the POD the Owners claimed to the Charterers for unpaid freight, meantime the Charterers were insisting that the freight was paid in due course.
After exchange of documentation the parties realized that the Turkish Broker had provided the Charterers with different fixture recap. The Charterer’s example of recap contained less amount of freight (30% cheaper) and other beneficiary of the freight – a Turkish firm in Antalia.
The Owners instructed the Master of the vessel to wait outside of the Algerian port and proposed to the Charterers to settle the freight as per their recap.
A dispute had been arisen. The Freight Broker disappeared.
Finally the parties settled the dispute in amicable way – the Charterers had to pay an agreed freight directly to the Owners.
Details of the “Freight Brokers”:
ALDOMARIS Shipping & Chartering Ltd
Cinarli Caddesi, Uygur Apt Kat: 1 - No:2
Muratpasa – Antalya, Turkey
Fax : 00 90 242 517 44 65
Email : info@aldomaris.com
FAO: Mr Salim Songul
