---
title: "Cruise Ship Job Scams in Indonesia: Signs and How to Check"
description: "Cruise ship crew are Indonesian migrant workers under UU 18/2017. An individual 'agent' asking for fees before any agreement is a red flag. How to check."
lang: en
canonical: "https://kariraman.com/en/job-scams/fake-cruise-ship-jobs/"
datePublished: "2026-10-07"
dateModified: "2026-10-08"
sources:
  - "https://peraturan.go.id/files/uu18-2017bt.pdf"
  - "https://peraturan.go.id/files/pp22-2022.pdf"
  - "https://peraturan.go.id/files/permen-p2mi-no-17-tahun-2025.pdf"
  - "https://www.kompas.tv/article/323252/kenali-ciri-ciri-penipuan-lowongan-kerja-ke-luar-negeri-untuk-pmi-atau-tki"
  - "https://siskop2mi.bp2mi.go.id/profil/lembaga/list_lembaga/p3mi"
  - "https://ekonomi.republika.co.id/berita/sq0416423/ini-5-ciriciri-lowongan-kerja-palsu-versi-kemnaker"
---

> Markdown version of https://kariraman.com/en/job-scams/fake-cruise-ship-jobs/. Cite that HTML page and its update date.

# Cruise ship job scams in Indonesia: fake agents, unlawful fees and how to check an agency

Written by KarirAman editorial team Approved by [Kaiser Khan](https://kariraman.com/en/authors/kaiser-khan/) (editor), 8 October 2026 Updated 8 October 2026

Cruise ship crew are Indonesian migrant workers under UU 18/2017. An individual 'agent' asking for fees before any agreement is a red flag. How to check.

High severity Usually arrives via: Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, TikTok, in person

## Summary

- Seafarers on ships count as Indonesian migrant workers under UU 18/2017 Article 4(1)(c).
- PP 22/2022 lists who may place merchant crew abroad: the BP2MI agency, a licensed P3MI, or a company placing crew for its own business.
- A P3MI placing merchant crew needs a SIP3MI licence and an agency agreement endorsed by an Indonesian mission (PP 22/2022 Articles 8 and 10).
- Indonesian migrant workers cannot be charged placement costs (UU 18/2017 Article 30(1)).

## How does the fake cruise ship jobs scam work?

The fake cruise ship jobs scam usually runs in 4 steps. Any step that asks for money, personal data or a move to a chat app is the point to stop.

1. Step 1 of 4: Cruise ship vacancies spread on social media with high pay and easy requirements.
2. Step 2 of 4: The recruiter uses a personal account or calls itself an agency, but is not listed as a licensed P3MI.
3. Step 3 of 4: You are asked to pay a registration or processing fee before any written agreement.
4. Step 4 of 4: There is no clear contract until just before departure, and you are told to travel on a visit visa.

## What are the warning signs of the fake cruise ship jobs scam?

The fake cruise ship jobs scam has the 6 main warning signs below, each with its source. One sign is enough reason to stop and check again before you pay or send any data.

- The recruiter uses a personal social media account and is not registered as a P3MI.
- There is a registration fee before you have signed any agreement.
- The promised pay is very high and the requirements are very light.
- There is no clear contract before departure, or you are told to use a visit visa. [Kompas TV](https://www.kompas.tv/article/323252/kenali-ciri-ciri-penipuan-lowongan-kerja-ke-luar-negeri-untuk-pmi-atau-tki) (official statement via media) 7 October 2026
- The agency cannot show an agency agreement with the employer endorsed by an Indonesian mission. [Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id)](https://peraturan.go.id/files/pp22-2022.pdf) 7 October 2026
- The agency's SISKOP2MI status is not active, or it appears on the list of sanctioned agencies. [KP2MI/BP2MI (SISKOP2MI)](https://siskop2mi.bp2mi.go.id/profil/lembaga/list_lembaga/p3mi) 7 October 2026

## How is the fake cruise ship jobs scam different from a real vacancy?

The table compares each step of the fake cruise ship jobs scam with how legitimate employers recruit, row by row.

**Scam tactics compared with legitimate recruitment practice**

| Scam tactic | Legitimate practice |
| --- | --- |
| An individual 'agent' in a social media group. | BP2MI, a P3MI with a SIP3MI licence, or a company placing its own crew (PP 22/2022 Articles 3 and 8). |
| Pay first, contract later. | The official stages include selection, medical and psychological checks, the placement agreement, social security, pre-departure orientation and the PKL before departure (PP 22/2022 Article 6). |
| Fees outside the agreement, in cash or to a personal account. | The employer bears placement costs; the worker may be charged only costs written and itemised in the placement agreement (Permen P2MI 17/2025). |
| A passport is 'enough', other documents 'sorted later'. | Passport, seaman's book, PKL, social-security proof, health certificate, a work visa where required, and seafarer certificates (PP 22/2022). |

## I have already been caught. What should I do now?

If you have followed the fake cruise ship jobs scam, stop all contact, send no more money or data, keep every piece of evidence, then report to the official channels below.

1. Look up the agency on the SISKOP2MI P3MI list, make sure its status is Aktif, and check the sanctioned-agency list.
2. Ask for copies of the placement agreement and the PKL before paying anything, and read the cost breakdown.
3. Do not pay cash or into a personal account for any cost that is not written in the placement agreement.
4. Report a suspicious agency to KP2MI and the police, and keep all the evidence.

### Where should I report?

- **Ministry for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (KP2MI)** Overseas recruitment, illegal agents and migrant-worker protection [0800-1000](tel:08001000) [+62-21-29244800](tel:+622129244800) [WhatsApp 0811-8080-141](https://wa.me/628118080141) [kp2mi.go.id](https://kp2mi.go.id/)
- **Licensed agency (P3MI) list on SISKOP2MI** Check a licensed migrant-worker placement agency and its status [siskop2mi.bp2mi.go.id](https://siskop2mi.bp2mi.go.id/profil/lembaga/list_lembaga/p3mi)
- **Agencies under administrative sanction (SISKOP2MI)** Check whether a placement agency is under sanction [siskop2mi.bp2mi.go.id](https://siskop2mi.bp2mi.go.id/profil/lembaga/list_lembaga/p3mi_sanksi)
- **Police call centre 110** Emergencies and crime reports; formal reports are made at the SPKT of the nearest Polres or Polsek [110](tel:110) [polri.go.id](https://polri.go.id/layanan/spkt)

[Check a similar message with the job checker](https://kariraman.com/en/check-a-job/#modus-kapal-pesiar-palsu)

## What does a fake cruise job offer look like?

The example below is an illustration written by the KarirAman editors from the signs of overseas job fraud described by Kemnaker. It is not a copy of a real ad. Names and numbers are hidden.

> Cruise ship vacancies, waiter and housekeeping, no experience needed, fast departure. Transfer the registration and visa processing fee first; the contract is sent after you pass. Register with \[name removed\], WhatsApp 08xx-xxxx-xxxx.

This offer asks for money before any agreement, promises a quick departure with light requirements, and comes from an unclear recruiter. The [job checker](https://kariraman.com/en/check-a-job/) helps flag patterns like this.

## What documents do migrant ship crew need?

PP 22/2022 lists documents for merchant crew working abroad, including a passport, a seaman's book (Buku Pelaut), a sea employment agreement (PKL), proof of social security, a health certificate from medical and psychological checks, a work visa where the destination requires one, and seafarer competency certificates. The seaman's book is issued by the transport ministry and does not replace a passport. Routes into ship work are explained in [Seafarers and cruise ships](https://kariraman.com/en/work-abroad/seafarers-and-cruise-ships/).

## How do you check a cruise ship agency is licensed?

Search the agency's name on the SISKOP2MI P3MI list. Its detail page shows its status, such as Aktif, and its branch offices, and SISKOP2MI also lists agencies under administrative sanction. PP 22/2022 Article 10 requires a P3MI placing merchant crew to hold an agency agreement with the employer endorsed by an Indonesian mission, so ask to see it. If in doubt, contact KP2MI.

- **Ministry for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (KP2MI)** [0800-1000](tel:08001000) [+62-21-29244800](tel:+622129244800) [WhatsApp 0811-8080-141](https://wa.me/628118080141) [kp2mi.go.id](https://kp2mi.go.id/)
- **Licensed agency (P3MI) list on SISKOP2MI** [siskop2mi.bp2mi.go.id](https://siskop2mi.bp2mi.go.id/profil/lembaga/list_lembaga/p3mi)

## Which careers are used as bait for the fake cruise ship jobs scam?

Vacancies for these careers are often used as bait for the fake cruise ship jobs scam, highest scam risk first.

- [**Spa Therapist**](https://kariraman.com/en/careers/spa-therapist/)
- [**Flight Attendant**](https://kariraman.com/en/careers/flight-attendant/)
- [**Seafarer**](https://kariraman.com/en/careers/seafarer/)
- [**Bartender**](https://kariraman.com/en/careers/bartender/)
- [**Cook**](https://kariraman.com/en/careers/cook/)
- [**Electrician**](https://kariraman.com/en/careers/electrician/)
- [**Kitchen Steward and Dishwasher**](https://kariraman.com/en/careers/kitchen-steward/)
- [**Photographer and Videographer**](https://kariraman.com/en/careers/photographer/)
- [**Receptionist**](https://kariraman.com/en/careers/receptionist/)
- [**Room Attendant**](https://kariraman.com/en/careers/room-attendant/)
- [**Barista**](https://kariraman.com/en/careers/barista/)
- [**Maintenance Technician**](https://kariraman.com/en/careers/maintenance-technician/)

**KarirAman is 100% free. We never ask for money.**

For job seekers and employers. We run no ads, sell no data and never ask for any fee. Anyone asking for money in KarirAman's name is a scammer. [Our no-fee policy](https://kariraman.com/en/no-fees/)

## Frequently asked questions

**Do cruise ship crew count as Indonesian migrant workers?**

Yes. UU 18/2017 Article 4(1)(c) includes ship crew and fishing crew as Indonesian migrant workers (PMI). The placement and protection of merchant crew abroad is set out in more detail in PP 22/2022.

**Can I apply directly to a shipping company without an agency?**

PP 22/2022 Article 3(3) allows merchant crew to work individually, with employment risks then resting on themselves. Article 4 requires them to report their departure plan to the district labour office or the LTSA one-stop service with documents such as a passport, seaman's book (Buku Pelaut) and sea employment agreement (PKL).

**What fees can a cruise ship agency legally charge?**

In order: UU 18/2017 Article 30(1) says migrant workers cannot be charged placement costs. Permen P2MI 17/2025 puts placement costs on the employer, and the worker may be charged only costs written and itemised in the placement agreement. Any request for money outside that document is a red flag.

**What is a SIUPPAK, and is it enough for a cruise ship agency?**

A SIUPPAK (crew recruitment and placement business licence) is a manning agency licence under transport ministry regulation PM 84/2013. PP 22/2022 Article 43 says it stays valid, but manning agencies had to convert it to a SIP3MI within two years of the regulation's promulgation on 8 June 2022, and Article 8 requires a P3MI placing merchant crew to hold a SIP3MI. So check the agency on the SISKOP2MI list of P3MIs.

## Who wrote and reviewed this page?

Written by KarirAman editorial team Published 7 October 2026 Updated 8 October 2026

Prepared with AI assistance. Checked against official sources and approved for publication by Kaiser Khan (editor). Approval date: 8 October 2026.

## Sources

The facts on this page come from these sources. Dates show when we opened them.

1. [Undang-Undang Nomor 18 Tahun 2017 tentang Pelindungan Pekerja Migran Indonesia](https://peraturan.go.id/files/uu18-2017bt.pdf) Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id) · UU 18/2017 · accessed 7 October 2026
2. [Peraturan Pemerintah Nomor 22 Tahun 2022 tentang Penempatan dan Pelindungan Awak Kapal Niaga Migran dan Awak Kapal Perikanan Migran](https://peraturan.go.id/files/pp22-2022.pdf) Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id) · PP 22/2022 · accessed 7 October 2026
3. [Peraturan Menteri P2MI/Kepala BP2MI Nomor 17 Tahun 2025 tentang Biaya Penempatan Pekerja Migran Indonesia](https://peraturan.go.id/files/permen-p2mi-no-17-tahun-2025.pdf) Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id) · Permen P2MI 17/2025 · accessed 7 October 2026
4. [Kenali Ciri-ciri Penipuan Lowongan Kerja ke Luar Negeri untuk PMI](https://www.kompas.tv/article/323252/kenali-ciri-ciri-penipuan-lowongan-kerja-ke-luar-negeri-untuk-pmi-atau-tki) Kompas TV · official statement via media · accessed 7 October 2026
5. [SISKOP2MI: daftar P3MI, detail status dan daftar P3MI dengan sanksi administratif](https://siskop2mi.bp2mi.go.id/profil/lembaga/list_lembaga/p3mi) KP2MI/BP2MI (SISKOP2MI) · accessed 7 October 2026
6. [Ini 5 ciri-ciri lowongan kerja palsu versi Kemnaker](https://ekonomi.republika.co.id/berita/sq0416423/ini-5-ciriciri-lowongan-kerja-palsu-versi-kemnaker) Republika · official statement via media · accessed 7 October 2026

**How to cite**

KarirAman (2026). Cruise ship job scams in Indonesia: fake agents, unlawful fees and how to check an agency. Updated 8 October 2026. https://kariraman.com/en/job-scams/fake-cruise-ship-jobs/

[Report a fake job](https://kariraman.com/en/report-form/) [Report a data problem](mailto:redaksi@kariraman.com?subject=Data%20correction%3A%20https%3A%2F%2Fkariraman.com%2Fen%2Fjob-scams%2Ffake-cruise-ship-jobs%2F&body=Page%3A%20Cruise%20ship%20job%20scams%20in%20Indonesia%3A%20fake%20agents%2C%20unlawful%20fees%20and%20how%20to%20check%20an%20agency%0AUpdated%3A%208%20October%202026%0A%0AWhat%20needs%20correcting%3A%0A%0ACorrect%20official%20source%20%28link%29%3A%0A) [How we handle corrections](https://kariraman.com/en/contact/#koreksi)

## Related guides

- [**Cruise ship and foreign ship jobs from Indonesia: requirements, papers, costs and safety**](https://kariraman.com/en/work-abroad/seafarers-and-cruise-ships/)
- [**How to check a licensed overseas recruitment agency (P3MI) on SISKOP2MI**](https://kariraman.com/en/work-abroad/check-a-licensed-agency/)
- [**Placement fees for Indonesian migrant workers: who pays and what is lawful?**](https://kariraman.com/en/work-abroad/placement-costs/)
- [**Overseas jobs that end in online-scam compounds**](https://kariraman.com/en/job-scams/overseas-online-scam-jobs/)
- [**Human trafficking (TPPO) through job offers**](https://kariraman.com/en/job-scams/human-trafficking/)
- [**Job checker: is this job offer a scam?**](https://kariraman.com/en/check-a-job/)

- [Panduan Warga passport guide](https://panduanwarga.org/en/guides/indonesian-passport-m-paspor/)

CariTalent and PanduanHewan are Kode Nirlaba projects; Panduan Warga and The Cast Index are independent publications with the same founder. CourseToJob is a study-guide site with the same owner, run by Elite Digital AI Solutions Ltd.

**Change log**

- 8 October 2026 : Added how the SIUPPAK and SIP3MI licences relate under PP 22/2022 and how to check a licensed cruise ship agency.