Are You Falling Prey to an Oil Rig Scammer?
How Do I Know if Someone Is Lying About Working on an Offshore Oil Rig?
By: Svenja Meismann, Member of the Board of Directors, World Association of Detectives
In this article, you’ll learn what an oil rig scammer is and how to spot and expose romance scams in online dating.
Do you believe in finding love through social media, dating apps, or online dating sites? Have you recently met someone claiming to be an offshore drilling rig engineer?
While it’s true that many people successfully find love online through platforms like:
- Snapchat
- Tinder, and others
there’s a darker side to this digital world. The internet is rife with scammers looking to deceive you into giving away your money or personal information. One misstep, and you could end up with an empty bank account.
Oil rig scams are among the most prevalent online scams today. In these cases, a romance scammer pretends to work on an oil rig, aiming to gain your trust, steal your heart, and ultimately exploit you financially or compromise your identity.
With over 1,400 offshore drilling rigs operating worldwide, romance scammers frequently exploit this scenario. The odds of meeting a genuine oil rig engineer online are slim.
What Should You Know About Oil Rig Scams
Certain professions often appeal to people looking for a partner, especially in online dating. Doctors and military personnel (often impersonated by so-called US Army scammers) are among the most sought-after. But scammers have found an even more effective cover: offshore drilling rig workers.
These scammers claim to be oil rig engineers or supervisors, often working in isolated locations like the North Sea, Gulf of Mexico, or off the coasts of Norway, Dubai, or Australia. This setup conveniently explains their limited access to money and ATMs, making it easier to request financial assistance.
The scammer might pose as a petroleum engineer, drilling supervisor, marine engineer, or another highly technical role. They carefully build their credibility, often starting with an online romance to establish trust and emotional connection.
Their ultimate goal? Your money. They’ll use charm and flattery, showering you with compliments to gain your confidence before making their financial demands.
How to Spot Scammers? The Red Flags
Spotting an oil rig scammer can be tricky but being aware of these warning signs will help you protect yourself. Here are the most common red flags:
They Work Offshore
Yes, some people do work on oil rigs but this job is a common cover for scammers. If someone mentions this job early in your conversation, be cautious. Scammers often say they work in remote locations to explain why they can’t meet or communicate easily.
A common theme is that the scammer portrays himself as a widower with a young child at a boarding school back home. This adds a layer of sympathy to their story making them seem more relatable and vulnerable.
They Use Stolen or Fake Pictures
Scammers don’t use their real pictures. They steal images of attractive people to lure victims. If you’re smitten with the picture perfect guy/gal online, do some detective work.
Use Google Reverse Image Search to verify their pictures. If the same picture appears on multiple profiles or websites, it’s a big red flag that the person you’re talking to isn’t who they say they are.
They Refuse Video Calls or In-Person Meetings
A typical scammer will avoid any direct interaction that could reveal their true identity. They’ll come up with endless excuses to avoid video chats or in-person meetings. Poor internet connection or strict offshore work rules are common excuses.
While there may be some restrictions on communication on oil rigs, legitimate workers often find ways to stay in touch with family and friends. If your online contact refuses calls or in-person meetings repeatedly, you’re dealing with a scammer.
They Ask for Money or Gift Cards
One of the biggest red flags is a sudden financial request. Scammers don’t ask for money outright but spin elaborate stories to justify their needs. They might say they’re facing an emergency, broken equipment or unexpected expenses and need money now.
They might also ask for funds for their “child’s” medical expenses or ask for gift cards as an alternative. Whatever the story, the bottom line is always the same: they want your money. Never send money or gifts, you’ll never see that money again. Once you comply, the scammer will keep asking for more.
They Want a Romantic Relationship
Scammers move fast from casual conversations to intense romance. They know that building an emotional bond increases their chances of getting money from you. If someone you just met online is pushing for a serious relationship too fast, take a step back. True connections take time to build, anyone rushing this process has ulterior motives.
What to Do When You Think He’s a Scammer?
When you see suspicious behavior in an online contact, act fast. Here’s what you can do to protect yourself from an oil rig scam:
Don’t share personal and financial details if you haven’t met the person in person. Scammers are good at getting their targets to reveal sensitive info.
Don’t accept friend requests or engage with strangers on social media. Scammers create fake profiles to make contact and building a relationship with someone you don’t know is risky.
Ask Questions and Look for Lies
Talk to the person and ask them questions about their life and work. Scammers have generic, scripted answers and will slip up if you press for details.
Check Their Profile Info
Check their profile carefully. Start with their profile picture which can be checked using reverse image search tools like Google. If the same image is linked to multiple profiles or websites, that’s a red flag.
Meet in Person
Before taking an online friendship to the next level, meet in person. If they keep finding excuses to not meet, they’re probably hiding their true self.
Never Send Money or Gifts
No matter how good the story is, never send money or gift cards. Scammers will spin a yarn to make their request seem urgent and legit but once the money is sent, it’s gone for good.
Don’t Send Intimate Photos
Sending personal photos, especially intimate ones, can lead to blackmail. Scammers use such images to extort money from their targets. Keep private stuff off the internet.
These will help you protect your finances and personal info. Scammers are relentless but by being aware and setting boundaries you can avoid being their next target.
Not sure if the guy is real?
When you start to doubt your online friend, a background check can be the answer. Our private detectives have years of experience in uncovering the truth behind online profiles, especially those who claim to be offshore oil rig workers.
Is your online contact real or a fraud? Let private investigators uncover the truth and protect you from romance scams and oil rig scammers. Never send money to your oil rig romance.
Uncovering Romance Scammers
We discreetly investigate your online contact to see if they are who they say they are. We look at key details to see if the person is real or a scammer using the oil rig story as a cover. Many scammers use the isolated nature of oil rig work to justify asking for money or being unavailable.
Oil Rig Worker Verification
Our detectives have years of experience in verifying offshore jobs. We look at the information provided by your chat partner and cross check it with public records and industry data. In no time you’ll know if you’re dealing with a real professional or a scammer.
Get Started Today
Tell us everything you know about the person in question. Based on the details you provide we’ll create a customised investigation plan for you. If our investigation reveals your friend is a drilling rig scammer we advise you to cut all contact off immediately.
They’re sly and dangerous. Every message they send is designed to make you trust them and get your money. Keep chatting and you’re just giving them more time to scam you.
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