is this a scam?

i received an email regarding various vacancy for a cruise line ship and i forwarded my CV to them. after 10 days, i received an offer and contract letter stating that i will be to start working with them starting september 3. they said that they are already processing my papers and asking me to send them a copy of my passport. they said that in order to work for a maritime/ship, i have to have a certificate which they call "International Maritim Eligibility Certificate" which will cost $335. is this a scam or what? the offer is very tempting.

This is the contract letter that i received.

??????????CONTRACT LETTER & EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS
?Monday 29th July, 2013
DEAR <removed by dotti>
We are pleased to offer you the position of ADMINISTRATIVE CREW STAFF in "CLUB MED CRUISE LINE" (Club Med Cruise Line International) upon the following terms and conditions:
1 DATE OF COMMENCEMENT
1.1 Your employment will commence on 2nd September, 2013.
1.2 Your Probation Period will be three (3) years from the date of Commencement. The Company may extend the probation period at its sole discretion.
2 SALARY
2.1 Your starting basic monthly salary will be €5,000 /- per Month.
2.2 Any bonus or declarations of bonus shall be made at the sole and absolute discretion of the Company. In determining the amount of bonus, the Company shall consider your work performance, amongst other factors.
2.3 Your performance will be reviewed periodically and the Company shall make adjustments to your salary as it sees fit.
2.4 The Company shall deduct from your salary and bonus all such sums it is authorised to deduct under the laws of Italian, whether for your share of Central Provident Fund Contributions, withholding tax or others
PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL
??
3 WORKING HOURS
3.1 The Company's working hours depends on the Cruise Linear destination hours
Monday to Saturday, from 9: am to 5: pm. You are entitled to one hour of lunch break every day.
3.2 You may be required to work beyond the normal working hours to discharge your duties at the sole discretion of the Company.
3.3 The Company reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to revise, amend or extend the working hours should the need arise.
4 ANNUAL LEAVE
4.1 Besides the gazetted public holidays, you are entitled to twenty eight (28) days paid annual leave upon the completion of one year's service from the date of confirmation of your employment. Pro-rated annual leave before the completion of one year's service is at the sole discretion of the company.
4.2 During the probation period, you are entitled to any leave.
4.3 You cannot carry forward any unutilised annual leave to the next year. Any leave balance at the end of the calendar year shall be forfeited.
4.4 Unpaid leave shall be granted at the sole discretion of the Company. The Company reserves the right to terminate your employment without notice if you are absent from work on unpaid leave without prior approval from the Company.
4.5 You are entitled to Ten (10) days of compassionate leave per calendar year upon the completion of the first year of service. Approval for compassionate leave shall be at the sole discretion of the company.
4.6 All leave applications must be made in writing and at least seven (7) days in advance and shall be approved at the absolute discretion of the Company.
5 SICK LEAVE
5.1 You must notify the Company and/or your immediate supervisor as soon as practicable if you are unable to work for medical reasons. Such notice shall be given within the first four (4) hours of the working day.
5.2 You are required to produce, without demand, a medical certificate in all cases where you are absent from work for medical reasons.
5.3 You are entitled to fourteen (14) days of paid sick leave per calendar year, upon confirmation of your employment. Sick leave during the probation
???
period shall be approved at the sole discretion of the Company.
5.4 If you are hospitalised on a doctor's written order, you may get up to forty-
six (46) additional days of paid sick leave per calendar year. 6 MATERNITY AND CHILDCARE LEAVE
6.1 You will be entitled to the Maternity leave as per Francelaw. Such leave is to be taken on doctor's written orders. The maternity leave will be on a fully paid basis as long as the Employee has served for at least one hundred and eighty (180) days before the date of first confinement.
6.2 A female Employee on leave because of a miscarriage or abortion shall be considered to be only on normal sick leave.
6.3 You are entitled to two (2) days of employer-paid childcare leave per calendar year if you have any child below age seven (7) in that year.
7 TERMINATION AND NOTICE
7.1 During the probationary period, either party may terminate the contract by giving two (2) week's notice or the equivalent of two (2) week's salary in lieu of notice.
7.2 Upon confirmation of your employment, either party may terminate the contract by giving one (1) month's notice or one (1) month's salary in lieu of notice.
7.3 The Company reserves the right not to give any reasons for termination.
7.4 The Company, however, has the right to give immediate notice before terminating your services if you are guilty of misdemeanour, misconduct, negligence or breach of any of the terms of this Letter of Appointment.
7.5 Upon the termination of your employment you shall return to the Company all documents, records, items and materials in your possession or custody belonging to the Company or its clients and you shall not retain any copies (including electronic or soft copies) thereof.
7.6 During your notice period, you shall handover all documents and materials relating to your work and ensure a smooth transition of your duties and responsibilities. If you fail to complete the handover during the notice period, the Company shall be fully entitled to require and compel you to stay two (2) more weeks after the notice period has ended to complete the hand over.
8 CONFIDENTIALITY
8.1 You shall not disclose to any third party any confidential information obtained during your course of employment unless expressly authorised by the Company.
??
8.2 Confidential information for the purposes of this contract includes and is not limited to trade secrets, business plans, strategies, financial information and any other information that will affect the Company's competitive position.
8.3 Your obligations to maintain confidentiality and secrecy shall apply after your employment until such time that the information is no longer confidential or has been made public by the Company.
8.4 You shall not without prior written consent of the Company destroy, make copies, duplicate or reproduce in any form the Company's confidential information.
9 GOVERNING LAW
This Letter of Appointment shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Italian.
Please confirm your acceptance of the above terms and conditions by signing and returning to us the duplicate copy of this Letter within seven (7) days from the date of this Letter.
Yours faithfully for and on behalf of Club Med Cruises Line
Mrs. Leslie Satcher
Recruitment Manager Club Med Cruise Line
CLUB MED CRUISE EMPLOYEE'S ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I accept and agree to the above-stated terms and conditions.
Name :
Passport/Phone No: Nationality: Signature:
Date

100% scam.


The scammers have simply copied and modified a sample work contract from here: http://www.enterpriseone.gov.sg/en/Resources/Links/Laws%20and%20Policy/Sample%20Employment%20Contract.aspx

They have done it badly too. There are several problems, but I will point out one of the most obvious:

They can't even make up their minds as to which country they are supposed to be governed by:

The Company shall deduct from your salary and bonus all such sums it is authorised to deduct under the laws of Italian

You will be entitled to the Maternity leave as per Francelaw

whether for your share of Central Provident Fund Contributions

(Singapore)

Please post the email addresses the scammers used, as well as their original emails to you (remove your own name and email address) as they will help more scammers.

Sender: rebecca emily <[email protected]>

Club Med Cruise Lines®
Where happiness means the world
11 Rue de Cambria, 75019 Paris, France
http:// http://www.clubmed.com
[email protected]

OUR REF: GRF/JB/VOL031/GRT0/FILE34/CLUB MED


Club Med Cruise Lines France/Unite State of America urgently needs the services of devoted and hardworking people who are ready to work after undergoing enlistment training in Australia.
Qualified applicant should contact us immediately for job placement here at Club Med Cruise Lines United State of America (USA). The management intends to increase its manpower base due to increasing number of customers in our Cruise Linear in Australia. The company needs One thousand two hundred and fifty (1,250) workers to sum up with the already registered staffs and maybe have the opportunity to work in our offices at USA, Canada, United Kingdom and Europe depending on your choice.

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING:

Employment Type: Full-Time/Part-Time
Base Pay: $45,000 - $350,000 /Year
Preferred Language of Resume/Application: Any international Language or English
Type of work: Permanent
Status: All Vacancies
Job Location: Canberra Australia
Visa Type: 3 (Three) Years working permit

BENEFITS, PACKAGES AND ENTITLEMENT:

These are the Entitlements, Benefits and Packages from the Company.
Paid Airfares, Transportation, Quality single or family housing accommodation in company community, free medical/dental care, Excellent educational assistance benefits, Life Insurance and Paid vacation and Maximum security in work environment and housing community.
The management will secure VISA FEE; ACCOMMODATION & FLIGHT TICKET will be paid by the company for any qualified person.



THESE ARE THE AVAILABLE POSITIONS:
Accountant Deck Hand Musician
Activities Director Disc Jockey Naturalist
Activities Staff Cleaner Security
Administration Engineering Photographer
Online Reservation Agent Engine Room Staff Printer
Bar Staff Entertainer Production Manger
Bar Steward Expedition Leader Purser
Bartender Fitness Instructor Purse staff
Beautician/ Aesthetician Food and Beverage Staff Public Relation Staff
Bedroom Steward Gentleman Host Restaurant Staff
Casino Staff Gift Shop Staff Reservation Staff
Chef Host SCUBA Instructor
Child Care Worker Hostess Shore Instructor
Comedian Housekeeping Staff Singer
Computer Specialist Lecturer Reservation Staff
Cruise Director Magician Youth Counselor
Cruise Staff Maitre d? Water Sport Instructor
Dancer Massage Therapist Waitress
Dance Instructor Guest Speaker Medical Staff (Doctor/Nurse)
Male/Female Nurse Plumber

The lowest salary among all job listed above is the post of Fish Packing jobs which is US$25 - US$150 (Twenty five – One hundred and fifty United state dollars)per hour and you will work for 8 hours per day and also there is a chance for overtime if you have the strength and there are many other positions that are available which were not listed.
There will be no interview required since this is manpower job where anybody is fit to work except at the health and management Sector where the company required at least first degree holders in job related.
Interested applicants should forward their CV/RESUME or application letter via email to Club Med Cruise Lines Specialist (CMCLS) Mrs. Rebecca Emily for processing of application.

Regards,
(CMC) Management
Email: [email protected]


(2) Sender:


From: Club Med Cruise Office <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 30, 2013 1:49 PM
Subject: Hello

Hello


Congratulations; your application for employment had been approved by the management of Club Med Cruise Line France. Endorse document is your employment contract letter; you’re required to sign your contract letter and scan it back to our office for documentation.

We have already faxed your invitation letter to the France Immigration office together with other necessary documents required for the processing of your visa/working permit. The France immigration’s urgently needs you to get an International Maritime Eligibility Certificate (IMEC) that will enable you Work in European Maritime Industry.

Please Contact the European Maritime Union in your Legion for them to issue you an International Maritime Eligibility Certificate (IMEC)
Contact the European Maritime Union in your Legion via email on [email protected]

Update me once you receive your European International Maritime Eligibility Certificate (IMEC) from the European Maritime Union Office.

Regards

Mrs. Leslie Satcher
Manager Recruitment c/o Human Resources
Club Med Cruise Line France
Email: [email protected]



The information contained in this message is confidential and is intended for the stated addressee(s) only. E-mails are susceptible to alteration. Neither Club Med Cruises Line, nor any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, shall be liable for the message if altered, changed or falsified. It may therefore only be read, copied and used by the intended recipient(s), and must not under any circumstance be re-transmitted in an amended form without our consent. If you have received this e-mail in error, please contact us and or the sender immediately by return e-mail. Please then delete it and do not disclose its contents to any other person.

(3) sender: Europen Maritime Union Office <[email protected]>

Hello

We have received your application for International Maritime Eligibility Certificate (IMEC); your recommendation letter was sent to our office by your company Club Med Cruise Lines France;

The fee for your IMEC certificate is USD $335 (Three Hundred and Thirty Five Dollars) Including DHL Courier Service fee that will be use to courier your IMEC certificate to the France Immigration Office. This money must be send to our office through MONEY GRAM Transfer with any of the below banks in your Country that has MONEY GRAM facilities for urgent receiver of your payment.

Below are the Money Gram agents in your Country:

1. FNB Bank Money Gram Transfer
2. Bidvest Bank Money Gram Transfer
3. Standard Bank Money Gram Transfer
4. Or any Western Union Money Transfer

Below is the MONEY GRAM /WESTERN UNION Receiver Information
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Name Ambassador Mrs. Taylor Innocence

Address: Bureau 43, Amaville B. P. 5354 Conakry Guinea

Country: Guinea

City: Conakry

Phone: +224657821247
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Once you have paid the fee you're required to scan your proof of payment to our office.




Yours Faithfully

Ambassador Mrs. Taylor Innocence
European Maritime Union


(4) Sender:

From: Club Med Cruise Office <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 30, 2013 1:49 PM
Subject: Hello

??????????CONTRACT LETTER & EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS
?Monday 29th July, 2013
DEAR <Removed - CW>
We are pleased to offer you the position of ADMINISTRATIVE CREW STAFF in "CLUB MED CRUISE LINE" (Club Med Cruise Line International) upon the following terms and conditions:
1 DATE OF COMMENCEMENT
1.1 Your employment will commence on 2nd September, 2013.
1.2 Your Probation Period will be three (3) years from the date of Commencement. The Company may extend the probation period at its sole discretion.
2 SALARY
2.1 Your starting basic monthly salary will be €5,000 /- per Month.
2.2 Any bonus or declarations of bonus shall be made at the sole and absolute discretion of the Company. In determining the amount of bonus, the Company shall consider your work performance, amongst other factors.
2.3 Your performance will be reviewed periodically and the Company shall make adjustments to your salary as it sees fit.
2.4 The Company shall deduct from your salary and bonus all such sums it is authorised to deduct under the laws of Italian, whether for your share of Central Provident Fund Contributions, withholding tax or others
PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL
??
3 WORKING HOURS
3.1 The Company's working hours depends on the Cruise Linear destination hours
Monday to Saturday, from 9: am to 5: pm. You are entitled to one hour of lunch break every day.
3.2 You may be required to work beyond the normal working hours to discharge your duties at the sole discretion of the Company.
3.3 The Company reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to revise, amend or extend the working hours should the need arise.
4 ANNUAL LEAVE
4.1 Besides the gazetted public holidays, you are entitled to twenty eight (28) days paid annual leave upon the completion of one year's service from the date of confirmation of your employment. Pro-rated annual leave before the completion of one year's service is at the sole discretion of the company.
4.2 During the probation period, you are entitled to any leave.
4.3 You cannot carry forward any unutilised annual leave to the next year. Any leave balance at the end of the calendar year shall be forfeited.
4.4 Unpaid leave shall be granted at the sole discretion of the Company. The Company reserves the right to terminate your employment without notice if you are absent from work on unpaid leave without prior approval from the Company.
4.5 You are entitled to Ten (10) days of compassionate leave per calendar year upon the completion of the first year of service. Approval for compassionate leave shall be at the sole discretion of the company.
4.6 All leave applications must be made in writing and at least seven (7) days in advance and shall be approved at the absolute discretion of the Company.
5 SICK LEAVE
5.1 You must notify the Company and/or your immediate supervisor as soon as practicable if you are unable to work for medical reasons. Such notice shall be given within the first four (4) hours of the working day.
5.2 You are required to produce, without demand, a medical certificate in all cases where you are absent from work for medical reasons.
5.3 You are entitled to fourteen (14) days of paid sick leave per calendar year, upon confirmation of your employment. Sick leave during the probation
???
period shall be approved at the sole discretion of the Company.
5.4 If you are hospitalised on a doctor's written order, you may get up to forty-
six (46) additional days of paid sick leave per calendar year. 6 MATERNITY AND CHILDCARE LEAVE
6.1 You will be entitled to the Maternity leave as per Francelaw. Such leave is to be taken on doctor's written orders. The maternity leave will be on a fully paid basis as long as the Employee has served for at least one hundred and eighty (180) days before the date of first confinement.
6.2 A female Employee on leave because of a miscarriage or abortion shall be considered to be only on normal sick leave.
6.3 You are entitled to two (2) days of employer-paid childcare leave per calendar year if you have any child below age seven (7) in that year.
7 TERMINATION AND NOTICE
7.1 During the probationary period, either party may terminate the contract by giving two (2) week's notice or the equivalent of two (2) week's salary in lieu of notice.
7.2 Upon confirmation of your employment, either party may terminate the contract by giving one (1) month's notice or one (1) month's salary in lieu of notice.
7.3 The Company reserves the right not to give any reasons for termination.
7.4 The Company, however, has the right to give immediate notice before terminating your services if you are guilty of misdemeanour, misconduct, negligence or breach of any of the terms of this Letter of Appointment.
7.5 Upon the termination of your employment you shall return to the Company all documents, records, items and materials in your possession or custody belonging to the Company or its clients and you shall not retain any copies (including electronic or soft copies) thereof.
7.6 During your notice period, you shall handover all documents and materials relating to your work and ensure a smooth transition of your duties and responsibilities. If you fail to complete the handover during the notice period, the Company shall be fully entitled to require and compel you to stay two (2) more weeks after the notice period has ended to complete the hand over.
8 CONFIDENTIALITY
8.1 You shall not disclose to any third party any confidential information obtained during your course of employment unless expressly authorised by the Company.
??
8.2 Confidential information for the purposes of this contract includes and is not limited to trade secrets, business plans, strategies, financial information and any other information that will affect the Company's competitive position.
8.3 Your obligations to maintain confidentiality and secrecy shall apply after your employment until such time that the information is no longer confidential or has been made public by the Company.
8.4 You shall not without prior written consent of the Company destroy, make copies, duplicate or reproduce in any form the Company's confidential information.
9 GOVERNING LAW
This Letter of Appointment shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Italian.
Please confirm your acceptance of the above terms and conditions by signing and returning to us the duplicate copy of this Letter within seven (7) days from the date of this Letter.
Yours faithfully for and on behalf of Club Med Cruises Line
Mrs. Leslie Satcher
Recruitment Manager Club Med Cruise Line
CLUB MED CRUISE EMPLOYEE'S ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I accept and agree to the above-stated terms and conditions.
Name : <Removed - CW>
Passport/Phone No: Nationality: Signature:
Date

The contract is obviously written by someone who can't parse sentences and doesn't know how to write sentences. The email looks like it's written by an African, and the request to send money by WU or MG to Guinea proves it. No real employer would require to send anything by WU or MG to get a job; scammers do that.

The amount of salary promised in the contract is also out of the league.
And what employer employs someone without an actual eye-to-eye interview? Only scammers come up with s***ty reasons why they cannot see you in person.

received another one..what can you say about this..

Sender: Office mail <[email protected]>

VERY IMPORTANT TO WRITE BANQUE ATLANTIQUE DU BENIN
[email protected]



BANQUE ATLANTIQUE DU BENIN
EMAIL:[email protected]
WEBSITE:http://www.banqueatlantique.net


> >


> >
***BANQUE ATLANTIQUE DU BENIN MONEY TRANSFER CONFIRMATION***


TRANSFER ORDER
Transfer Order from Banque Atlantique du benin bank Online Banking has been Approved.

TRANSFER NUMBER: SW1100591978KMS

ONLINE PAYMENT FOR TRANSFER OF MONEY.....


*** BANQUE ATLANTIQUE DU BENIN MONEY TRANSFER NOTIFICATION ***

United Nation
Public Inquiries,Visitors Services
United Nations Headquarters
Room GA-0305
New York - NY 10017


Dear Beneficiary

The United Nation in Africans received a report of scam against you and other British/US and Malaysian citizens, Etc. The countries in African have recompensed you following the meeting held with the Africans Countries' Government and various Countries' high commission for the fraudulent activities carried out from the Africans Countries 'Citizens.

This is to acknowledge you that Banque Atlantique Du Benin received your full details from United Nation regarding your said fund they compensate you for your bad experiences got from African,This includes every foreign contractors that may have not received their contract sum, and people that have had an unfinished transaction or international businesses that failed due to Government problems etc.


Your name and email was in the list submitted to our Monitoring Team observers and this is why we are contacting you,this have been agreed upon and have been signed and United Nation Department Benin Republic Center instructed us to transfer to your nominated bank account which you have to visit Benin Republic in person to come and sign the Supreme Court Form in person to avoid any fraudulent activities that happened in all global worldwide or you can fill the supreme court form online and send it back with the requirement and receive your said fund within 72hour as a normal banking system world wide.


Right now we are working in Hand with the Intercontinental-Uba Bank and United Nation Investigation and Benin Republic Police Force Center to track every Fraudsters down,do not respond to their emails,letters and phone calls as long as they are scammed and you should be very careful to avoid being a victim from fraudsters because they have nothing to offer you but to rip-off what you have worked earnestly hard to earn.

You have to disengage from any body or impersonated officers who claim to be in position of your fund,thereby misleading and having the opportunity to extort money from you because some of Africans scammed had heard this new development from BBC for a long time and they are using it to deceive peoples which we advise you to stop contact with any body in regard to any transfer originated from Africa both your local representatives and so here on-now and adhere to our advice to get your fund paid as soon as you Re-Confirm your details below:

We advise you to re-forward us your full details in your next reply to enable us to re-confirm it in our database to know maybe you are the rightful person.

1.YOUR FULL NAME AND ADDRESS

2.YOUR PHONE NUMBER

3.YOUR OCCUPATION

4.YOUR IDENTIFICATION E.G INTERNATIONAL PASSPORT PAGE OR DRIVING LICENSE

Kindly forward us these information in your next reply to enable us to press further with you as soon as possible.

Your urgent response is needed and Banque Atlantique Du Benin Highly Welcome you to our Service at any time.


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Banque Atlantique Du Benin
(Remittance Director BAB)

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------------------ Original Message -----------------

This is a typical Recovery scam, needless to say there is no payment, further down the line there will be a request for fees.

Just ignore them