Warning! Internet Fraud - Pilot hiring scams

[Superpilot]

http://www.airlinepilotcentral.com/professional_articles/flightpodtv/flightpod_tv_-_hiring_scams_20090809339.html

[mdkirk]

The management of Falcon Aviation Services (FAS) in Abu Dhabi, UAE, have been made aware that people are receiving emails offering employment with us. If answered, the prospects are asked to send money for visas or other expenses. These offers are totally FALSE and do not come from FAS. We do not make employment offers unless the individual has applied through our website. We do not request money as part of the employment process. Please contact us through our website to verify any unsolicited employment offers received before responding to them. If you have been victimized by this scam or have any information about it, please let us know. Protect yourself; if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!

[mrmach]

Thank you for the advice mdkirk! :ok:

Who makes money of people's desperation should be hung from a boat's mainmast :yuk:

[Lloyd Vandermeer]

I was one of the guys Targeted, they are good these scammers, paper work , contracts look like the real deal, Just finished giving Falcon all the info,I was lucky lost no money but when read on other sites there are guys that are not as lucky, I guess you want to work over there so badly you are blinded by reason, and I'm no youngester in this Aviation game, I hope they get them and skin them alive, I'd like to be the one skining them. Be careful out there, call the company concerned first to insure its the real deal.

[MVE]

Wise words L V and it's worth noting that it's Ryanair that charge for the privilege of applying and not FAS :ok:

[Halfwayback]

I've made this a 'sticky' so that the Wannabee can read and be aware that there are sharks out there that will leave you penniless if you do not do your research (that I keep banging on about so much)

READ the posts in this forum

USE the search function

Make a more informed decision

[Halfwayback]

lpokijuhyt

Read the post again before posting - it is from Falcon management advising Wannabees of an internet scam. There are none so blind as those that want to be!

They clearly say they do NOT request money as part of their recruitment process.

HWB

[twomilehigh]

I just stumbled upon an advertisement on a popular NZ job website regarding a 'start up' airline in Hawaii. They are 'apparantly' recruiting 10 pilots from NZ, all training, meals, accom etc paid. Now this sounds very suspicious. A little TOO good to be true.

Has anyone else come across this?

[Bruce Wayne]

twomile..

Why would an FAA regulated start up be recruiting pilots from NZ ?

Green Card ?
FAA licence ?

[meggo]

"I guess you want to work over there so badly you are blinded by reason, and I'm no youngester in this Aviation game, I hope they get them and skin them alive, I'd like to be the one skining them." ME FIRST!

The Hawaii ad also appeared on a "reputable" Australian jobseeker website.
The start up airline is requiring hefty bonds from the "lucky" recruits.

[Clipper314]

You can now add Falcon Air Services of Abu Dhabi to. Both roto and fixwing guys have been hit.

[Jack4709]

Hi,

Sorry I am new to this. I am looking to become a pilot and have a looked at a school called Alpha aviation group who offer MPL (mutli crew pilot license) when you finish. Would you be able to get a job over here once you finish? Is it covered by the same stuff? Very confused, please help.

www.alphagroup.aero (http://www.%3Cb%3Ealphagroup.aero%3C/b%3E)/careers

[africanbushpilot]

You will get an airbus operator's license as a second in command and its not called a pilots license anymore as I blieve you will be trained to fly that specific type as SIC and that's it.... I hate schools like this, as you will be so limited in what you can fly.

[Pilot Positive]

PENTRO DRILLING NIGERIA

These guys have been using all kinds of pilot job sites to tickle interest. See the thread below for more:

http://www.pprune.org/african-aviation/410918-pentro-drilling-nigeria.html

Possibly a kidnap scam??? Frightening....:eek:

[perre737]

Hi!

Got a job offer from Pentro Drilling today. Be very careful. There is a lot to read here at PPRuNe (African Aviation forum). :=

[Pilot Positive]

Perre,

What were they offering you?



PP

[perre737]

Hi PP!

I was offered 6000 USD after tax. 2600 USD in travel expenses as well. 2 months ON-1 month OFF.

Have you had an offer?

// Perre

[Pilot Positive]

I have avoided all offers from these guys as they are bogus! :eek:


I take it they have asked you for some kind of "processing" fee? :hmm:

[099]

:ok::ok::ok::ok::ok::ok::ok:

[perre737]

Yeehaa! I have been offered a B-747 job. Passenger flights within Nigeria from Osubi airport:\. Dont they know about a thing called google earth??
Osubi airport is good enough for turbo-props, and the terminal looks like a big club house. And with a fleet of 747,757,737,A330,A340 it must be the most buizy oil-drilling company in the universe.

And when asked what flightschool I will go to. Answer: Company will take care of your training.:confused:

Those:mad::mad: idiots!

[Pilot Positive]

And when asked what flightschool I will go to. Answer: Company will take care of your training

I think they are trying to infer that they have their own TRTO which, given the number of Boeing and airbus variants they claim to have, would make them the largest TRTO in the whole of Africa. :eek:

Astonishing what they will try.... :hmm:

[alphaadrian]

I wonder if ALL the pilots on this forum pretended to show interest in these scams and went along with them as far as possible(ie getting them to post and fax things from nigeria etc) before telling them to :mad:off!, as some posters as already have done, would these scamsters realise it was a waste of time and give up. Would sure be good fun trying!

[Tommyg1]

Hi, anyone got any information on Global Pilot Training Centre's hour building program on A320. Any information will be appreciated. Thanks

[pilot790]

i agree thy should be hung

[pilot790]

Hi

Get in touch and I will tell you all you need to know

[BigNumber]

Perhaps the simplest plan might be to stop paying to fly?

Silly me!!!

[favete linguis]

Another one to avoid thats recently started re-advertising here on Pprune claiming to...

http://s0.2mdn.net/viewad/1694568/Pprune_FlyA320_728x90.gif
FAST track your career to where you want to be!!!

The reality is far removed from the hype and I understand there are a few legal claims against jonathan curd and his various companies.

Avoid.

[pinghenglin505]

thanks for your informative advise!

[kilafaki]

Hi guys, i am trying to find the thread about the Branson junior scam.

I have tried to use the search function but i dont remember hies name or the name of hies "airline".

Anybody who can help??

[darkroomsource]

I ran into something that I think was a scam earlier, but didn't record the url.

They mentioned they wanted CV's of pilots for contract work. I started to fill out the form, but stopped when they asked to have me upload copies of my log books, licenses, medical, passport, diplomas, and more.

I sarcastically sent an email asking why they didn't just straight out ask for my bank account number, and they responded saying that they do in fact request bank information, before signing any contracts.

They might be legitimate, but with all that information they could very easily steal a persons identity.

[Pilot Positive]

Hi Darkroomsource,

Do you remember what the name of the company was?

[darkroomsource]

No, sorry. I don't even remember where I found the link, just that they were advertising somewhere for "contract pilots" to take fill-in positions on crews. Everything looked and sounded legitimate until they wanted to upload ALL my documentation before even interviewing or discussing anything. At that point I decided that they were PROBABLY not legitimate, because if they were, they would probably have wanted to communicate a bit before they wanted all those documents.
Then, when I sent an email and got back a response that said yes, the did in fact want my bank information, I was even more concerned about it being a scam. So I just wanted to put it out there that someone, by some name, might be asking for more information than should be given to them prior to an interview.

[Alsacienne]

Might I invite all of you who have been tempted by a job offer and who subsequently found out it was a scam or any of you who have information about scams to get in touch with Welcome to ScamWarners (http://www.scamwarners.com) as they can help to stop others from being caught out in the future. Many thanks.

[21-Lancer]

Jet Aviation Dubai LLC - recruitment announced by PPC on 08/01/2011.
Now declared SCAM!

[LH2]

Everything looked and sounded legitimate until they wanted to upload ALL my documentation before even interviewing or discussing anything. At that point I decided that they were PROBABLY not legitimate, because if they were, they would probably have wanted to communicate a bit before they wanted all those documents.

You are of course correct. Another possibility is that they are trying to be a legitimate contract agency but they're not very experienced and don't really know how to go about signing people up?

[somedaywill12]

Is there some central agency that can shut these scam sites down? I really hate how when times are hard all these creeps crawl out from whatever rock they live under only to use people's desperation to scam them out of money. Makes me sick

[Plane-Jane]

I was recently offered an amazing job with FAS Abu Dhabi...or so I thought. Turns out id just been the victim of a very convincing and elaborate hoax to try and extort money from me via a western union transfer to cover the cost of my visa permit fees and courier costs etc, to the amount of over $1000.
It was a very convincing scam, contract all in place and seemed legit. Wording always professional. Names of people correct (i checked the FAS website and they were impersonating Celine Pedon who is the current HR Manager listed on the FAS official page).
Everything was so perfect, and I had a start date of a month from now, I was getting very excited about starting and had a phone call from some Arab accented guy called Mohammed (no, seriously!) who was really difficult to understand as he didnt seem to speak much english, or understand my simple questions very well... but there was a lot of back and forth interaction via email, which in hindsight was just to really suck me in.... Then boom, the email that came stating i was to process my visa application with Emirate Diplomat Agency (who i googled and found NO website or info for)
I asked the emailer for an office number, and he always just said he would call me (from a private number).
Then I found this earlier thread on here, and after sending the link to 'Mohammed' I heard nothing back...
Ive informed FAS about this to their genuine email and wanted to share with you all to hopefully save you from wasting your time, and printer ink....and especially from visiting a western union money transfer shop anytime soon!
Just to note, the fake scam emails were from the following email addresses
[email protected] and [email protected]
Feel free to waste their time as much as theyve wasted mine... :mad: :ugh:

[Job-Seeker]

If you ever stumple upon Abraham Benz, I bet you'll lose some money. So stay away from this guy.

Fraud (http://pcjassociation.net/)

[Oracle]

Gents,

Please be aware that the Nigerian 'pilot job' scammers are now purporting to represent AEROGULF SERVICES (although they show the company located in Abu Dhabi!) and are offering US Military pilots jobs in the Company and demanding CONSIDERABLE payments up front for 'visa and residency' costs. This seems to be effecting all UAE helicopter companies as ADA, FALCON and now AEROGULF have received reports of pilots having paid out money for 'pilot positions'.

AEROGULF advises all pilots to see their website recruiting page which carries a specific warning against making such payments - and that they will never ask for fees or payments of this kind.

You can email Aerogulf through their new website link at <aerogulfservices.com> for further information if required. Please pass the word along to save other Brethren being scammed by nasty people who don't even know where the individual companies are actually located! Thanks!

[206Fan]

Oracle,

I mentioned your post in the Rotorheads section!

[Job-Seeker]

You can also go to: https://www.facebook.com/pilotfinancialfraud

share your experiences and tell others about scams in aviation!

[gianniemma]

Could i have more info please about this captain ...is he not reliable?
Thanks

[enduro]

Fly Gosh (Andy) invited me to the assesment, paid 28000usd to Avia Integrated (Arif). Got a contract with sriwijaya air (signed in october 2012 for 3500h).
Waiting for my first flight (me and more 55 pilots).
SCAM . Stay away from indonesia!

[P40Warhawk]

Why the peep did you pay so much money upfront? For that money you could have done your TR also at a normal company instead of some misterious company. They ar laughing with their 1,6 M Dollar somewhere in some tropical paradise.
That is asking for trouble.

But thank you very much for the warning.

[pilotchute]

P40,

You forget that you already had to be rated! The 28k was for "line training"?!!

[pfvspnf]

Any news about the Eaglejet 767 program? That seemed like a scam too.

I would appreciate a list of agents that provide this sort of training so that I can warn others not to partake in any sort of line training, they are all scammers, they will send you for a type rating take a deposit for line training and delay you until you realize you have been cheated!

[enduro]

the 28.000USD are for license conversion, working visa, LT and 3500h.
I was already rated.In Indo, even if you are 737 300-900 rated you will need to do the difference course for the classics (5 sim sessions).
They are so stupid that, in the end, the profit was not so high.
It's a lot of people. Something serious can happen to those guys.
Lot's of people without money to survive.
I wish I could go back some years back but now I have to keep moving!
I just hope I can help someone with my posts!

[lingdee]

Are you sure 28k USD for 3500 hours when people are paying usd 75k for 500 hours with zero salary. If the deal sounds to good to be true, it always isn't!

Eagle jet is not a scam as they have placed many pilots to Lion.

[pfvspnf]

Eagle jet ? Yes but there are quite a few that got screwed over with delays and cancellation of contracts . Fly gosh probably meant to set your training up as he dies try to portray a good reputation, the Indonesian rules changed and took everyone but surprise, I suggest you cut your losses and take whatever he is offering you , this is what happens when you choose to pay to fly, you are always taking a risk!

[pilotchute]

Lingdee the difference is Sriwijaya actually needed fo's but knew foreigners were dumb enough to pay for a job they could have got for free.

[screenmonitor]

JOB OFFER WAS FOR G450 Pilots via latestpilotjobs.com

Here is the latest on "JET INTERNATIONAL AVIATION"
Jet International Aviation (http://www.jetintaviationltd.com/)

JET INTERNATIONAL AVIATION
57 Independence Way, Port Harcourt,
Rivers State, Nigeria
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.jetintaviationltd.com (http://www.jetintaviationltd.com)
Telephone: +234 (5) 329 0350

First thing I did was google the address...doesn't exist. 2nd thing, googled the "travel agency" that you are apparantly req'd to get the visa process done with didn't exist
(only a travel agent with "KLASS TRAVELS and TOUR" was in Kenya)

KLASS TRAVELS AND TOUR
22 East West Road,
Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
CONTACT NAME: (Dr.) Abu Mohammed
DESIGNATION: Head of Visa/Permits Operations
EMAIL: [email protected]
PHONE: +234-903-079-404

SCAM, SCAM, and scam.

They need to be reported, not sure who, but nonetheless...
A colleague of mine and I had the skype interview for curiosity and once both of us were sent contracts (extremely professional by the way- they new what they were doing), in section V, laid out the "requirement" for 25% upfront fee to be paid in order to get the Nigerian visa, in a nutshell. Hard to spot in the contract, but there it is. Total scam...and shady op from the beginning. They advertised on latestpilotjobs as far as I am aware, probably other sites.

Although there are jobs in Nigeria, be very mindful of who you send you your info to. If a company asks for payments up front, most likely a scam artist.

[pfvspnf]

Hi there,

Did you pay them any money? Have they disappeared?

Please PM me the details and we can try and assist.

- P

[reptile]

pfvspnf, I see you are from Lagos, and I want to apologize in advance if you take offence to my post.

I have been operating in Africa for many years, and am currently on contract in West Africa. Nigeria and scammers have unfortunately become synonymous - despite some good Nigerians in the industry, I would strongly advise anyone not very familiar with this part of the world to be very, very cautious when dealing with any Nigerian company. History has shown that you will be scammed, or at the very least, be exposed to some level of extortion, almost 90% percent of the time when it comes to offers of employment.

If you really want to fly in West Africa, look further north to Ghana, Cote D'Ivoire or Senegal, or south to Gabon or Congo (not DRC!).

[pfvspnf]

reptile,

none taken, it has been many years since I left Nigeria.

Been on the 330/340 for several years in Asia now.

I just wanted to see if anything can be done to try and retrieve the funds from these scammers in India.

Very unfortunate that people are paying to fly and are naive enough to pay up front.

[go.around]

The only way to catch these people is to play them at their own game.

False CV's False email addresses and send them screenshots of a large bank account to wet their appetite and then get them to meet you.

Hopefully the greed for the money will convince them to break trend and come out in the open.

Other steps to make sure is get them to send an email from an account that is not web based like gmail then you can track them to their location.

There are also other ways but main thing is give it to them as hard as they give it you ....

[neutralpoint]

Watch out for another scam, most worrying of all as there is usually no cash transfer so it can look legit, new middle east start up, guy has initials d.m. - scammer, sends contracts etc and then waits until you quit your job before disappearing, ive heard of at least 4 pilots getting scammed by this guy.
From what i hear he is a failed pilot who lives with his parents and gets a kick out of seeing others quit their jobs - weirdo!!

[Klimax]

Gents,

The Falcon Aviation Services (FAS) (Abu Dhabi) Scammer Mohammed is active again. Anybody receiving correspondence from this loser - have play with him! Waste as much of his time as you possible can!

Scamming email address in use: [email protected]

Watch out guys,
Kmax.

[P40Warhawk]

AVIATION SERVICE FOR WHAT YOU NEED (http://www.pilotsaroundtheworld.com/) PAW.
Phone number is from Vietnam.

I dont know if you guys have same advertisement as a banner here on Pprune, but to me this website looks pretty dodgy. To little infos about the company where it is located and with which ATO they are working with. Where the training will be held. Not clear where LT will be done. Nothing clear. No company Info's. So to many red flags I should say.

They just ask you to upload CV and then I even did not do that ,but I guess you receive a call or so and then you have to pay big sum. Bus as I said I even dont try it. Dont feed the Devil.

If you are jumping in willing to screw yourself financially and your colleague pilots then at least do it at an ATO which is known, such as BAA or Enter Air , Farnair/ASL or so, but dont even bother such dodgy brokers as PAW.