Written by: Svenja Meismann, Member, Board of Directors, World Assocaition of Detectives
Have you ever heard of a scam involving an alleged oil rig engineer?
In recent years, internet fraudsters have become increasingly sophisticated, often assuming fake identities to deceive their victims. One of the most common tactics is posing as an oil rig engineer and targeting unsuspecting women, with the ultimate goal of extorting money.
You are going to find out how this works when they pretend to be an Oil Rig Engineer.
How the Oil Rig Engineer Scam Works
Imagine this scenario: a man claims to be working on an offshore oil rig in the North Sea. He reaches out to you via social media, dating apps or a dating platform, presenting himself as charming and trustworthy.
If you, as a woman, use certain online platforms, receiving messages from unknown men may not seem unusual. Whether you’re active on:
- LOVOO
- Finya
- Other social media or online dating websites
it’s only a matter of time before you encounter such a message. Many of these online interactions may be genuine, but unfortunately, some are part of well-crafted scams.
The Scam
They create fake profiles using stolen photos of real people. They invent a backstory – a hard working petrochemical engineer on an oil rig – and send messages to multiple women at once, hoping to catch someone off guard.
What makes this scam so good is the story. They claim to be unable to leave the oil rig due to work or bad weather. Over time they build emotional trust and then concoct a crisis that requires emergency funds – to fix equipment or pay for an emergency trip home.
Here’s What the Scammer Does
The profile picture is usually an attractive man so his message won’t get deleted or ignored straight away.
Let’s call him James Curtis although he could use any name. He speaks English or another language, often using translation software. He introduces himself as a subcontractor engineer working on an oil rig – often mentions a location like the North Sea.
After a few messages he suggests moving the conversation to Google Hangouts or email.
Widower or Divorced
The scammer will often claim to be a widower or divorced for many years. His backstory will include deceased or elderly parents with dementia in a care home. He has no siblings but mentions a young child in a boarding school or with a nanny.
To gain the victim’s trust scammers will use fake or stolen ID cards that look official. They will often be from countries like England, USA, Ireland, Canada, South Africa, Australia or even Germany.
He then tells her he’s lonely and looking for the perfect woman to spend his life with. Conveniently the woman he’s messaging is perfect for the job.
The communication becomes frequent with multiple messages a day. Emails get more personal and soon he’s declaring his love for her.
He ups the ante by sending romantic messages, love poems, YouTube video links and sometimes even small gifts or flowers.
He’s moving fast, talking about a future together.

Something Happens on the Oil Rig
Suddenly something goes wrong.
One of the most common stories is the blocked credit card. In this scenario disaster strikes after he’s supposedly sent flowers to his beloved. A hacker attack on the merchant’s payment system has blocked his credit card for security reasons.
Now he’s out of money and because he’s on an offshore rig getting a new credit card is complicated and time consuming. And to make matters worse he needs to order new materials and tools for his work.
This puts his project in jeopardy and if he can’t finish on time he won’t get a big bonus. And if he doesn’t finish his work he won’t be able to visit his supposed soulmate.
They Ask for Money – It’s All a Lie
As the story unfolds he asks for money. He says it’s a loan and he’ll pay her back as soon as possible.
He may even try to set up a video call but due to “technical issues” the video doesn’t work or only works for a few seconds before freezing.
He’s sounding desperate and says it’s the only way to get out of his situation and be with her.
The Money Needs to be Transferred Fast
To fix the so called emergency he wants the money sent to his supplier. This is usually done via a cash transfer to an account in another country.
Methods to transfer the money:
- MoneyGram
- Western Union
Common destinations are major cities like London, Rome or Istanbul often under a different name.
He’s getting more and more urgent, the money needs to be sent ASAP so he can finish his work and be with his “soulmate”.
After the Payment: More Lies Unfold
After he gets paid, the oil rig scammer will find other reasons to ask for more money. He will keep asking until you realize you are being scammed.
But everything – every single thing he tells you – is a lie.
Scammers will tell you oil rigs have internet and telecommunication services. Workers on the rigs can use video chat or make phone calls. Tools and supplies are provided by the company. No one needs to bring personal tools to an oil rig.
Red Flags for Oil Rig Romance Scammers
Here are the red flags to help you spot oil rig scammers before it’s too late:
1. Stolen Photos: Scammers use photos of attractive people from social media or professional profiles. Do a reverse image search on Google Images to see if the photo has been used elsewhere.
2. Working Offshore: The scammer claims to work on an oil rig offshore, so it’s hard for them to meet in person or receive mail. They use this as an excuse for not being able to send real time photos or have regular phone calls.
3. No Video Calls: Although they may promise to video chat, scammers will often claim technical issues such as poor internet or device malfunction. This is a pattern of avoiding live interaction to maintain their fake identity.
4. Asking for Money or Gift Cards: A common trick is to create an emergency situation that requires immediate funds. Whether it’s asking for money to buy tools, solve a temporary crisis or buy gift cards, these are major red flags.
5. Too Fast Too Soon: Scammers will often claim to have deep feelings or love in a short span of time. This is to get you to let your guard down and build trust fast.
Manipulation Tactics Within an Oil Rig Scam
Romance scammers are masters of manipulation. They use words to appeal to emotions to create a bond that makes you overlook the red flags. Their goal is to build trust fast then exploit it for financial gain.
Many get manipulated to the point they abandon their initial caution and eventually send money. That’s why our top advice is:
Never send money to someone you have only met online.
Contact with an Alleged Oil Rig Worker
- Never send money or gifts to people you have not met in person.
- Don’t share intimate photos – they could be used for blackmail.
- Don’t send copies of your passport or ID.
- Don’t send gift card codes like iTunes or Amazon.
- Never agree to transfer money on behalf of someone else. You could be unwittingly involved in money laundering.
For more information about romance scams visit our website: Romance Scam.
Reverse Image Search to Verify Identities
Using Google Reverse Image Search is a simple yet effective way to verify if a profile picture is genuine.
To begin, save the image you want to check or copy its URL. Then, go to Google Images and click on the camera icon in the search bar. You can either upload the saved image or paste the URL. Google will display visually similar images and websites where the image appears.
If the photo shows up on multiple unrelated profiles or stock photo websites, it’s a clear sign that the image has been stolen or is being used fraudulently. This method helps quickly uncover fake identities used by scammers.
Don’t Share Your Personal and Financial Info
To not get scammed never share your personal or financial info online. This includes:
- Bank account numbers
- Copies of ID or passport
- Passwords or other sensitive info
Sharing this info can lead to identity theft or financial fraud. Always be cautious when communicating with someone you haven’t met in person.
Consult Private Investigators for Verification
If you’re unsure about someone you met online, consult our private investigator agency. Our investigators are experts in uncovering scams and verifying identities privately. This proactive step can save you from emotional or financial manipulation.
Our expertise costs little but offers invaluable security.
In some cases, private investigators may be able to trace the fraudster’s activities and recover your losses, especially if cryptocurrencies were transferred. While there is no guarantee of success, professional assistance greatly increases the chances of identifying the perpetrator and minimizing further damage.
Unsure About Your Online Friend?
Do you have doubts about your online friend? Is he an oil rig scammer? Our team of experts can help.
We can expose the truth behind online identities and protect you from emotional and financial damage from romance scammers.
Our services are affordable and give you peace of mind.
Get in touch today. Send us a message or call us now:
+49 2369 20 30 490