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A series of Internet-based scams aimed at the container shipping industry
has been uncovered by the International Maritime Bureau (IMB).
Using fake websites, crooked cargo traders deceive buyers into believing
that their phoney cargo shipments are in fact real and being shipped.
“The use of fake websites has come to the shipping industry. IMB is
monitoring this new activity very closely,” said IMB assistant director
Michael Howlett.
Fraudulent websites have been numerous in stock market scams where they are
used by con artists to artificially pump up the price of a stock and then
dump it at an inflated value.
But the use of phoney websites in the shipping industry is relatively
recent.
IMB investigated a case where a consignment of sugar was never shipped.
False bills of lading were issued indicating the shipment had been
transported. Accompanying the falsified bills of lading was a fake website
with a phoney tracking service providing information – supposedly confirming
the movement of the cargo.
“This level of sophistication and deception is very worrying,” said Howlett.
He advised cargo traders to take extra precaution to ensure the information
they are receiving is factual and accurate.
Websites listed on some shipping documentation, particularly bills of
lading, should be independently validated, he said.
IMB has also recently documented a number of cases where a vessel was indeed
in the noted port at the stated time, but was actually at anchor or
undergoing repairs, not loading cargo.
It is no longer enough to check that a vessel has visited a load port on the
date listed on a bill of lading, new IMB research shows.
“Although fraudulent bills of lading have been plaguing the shipping
industry for some time, the shipping industry should be aware of this new
criminal element – phoney websites,” said Howlett.
In-depth due diligence by a third party, such as the IMB is one means of
securing reliable information about the credibility of shipping documents,
traders, and cargo.
IMB is a division of the International Chamber of Commerce specifically
dedicated to fighting all types of maritime crime and malpractice.
The Bureau provides independent verification and investigation services to
the shipping industry.
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