Is this Russian girl scamming me? How to recognize scammers

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Are you an American or Western European man exchanging emails with a girl from Russia? I was contacted by a girl who turned out to be a scammer. Reader Derrick put together some great advice how to detect scammers.
I only have one advice (#8) to add: If a Russian girl tells you that she will get a visa to the USA instead of inviting you, that is - under the current immigration law - a SURE sign that SHE LIES.

Here is the process how a Russian woman can come to the USA:

If she is considered a relatively young/ attractive woman (let's say under 40, hope I don't hurt anyone's feelings here), then there is virtually NO CHANCE THAT SHE GETS A TOURIST VISA TO THE USA. First the Russian Federation will not allow her to leave the country. Then, even if she was getting out, the USA will deny her admission. The reasoning is that she is considered a risk. How could she not be a risk? If she had family in Russia (husband, children) or a valuable business or real estate. Most likely the woman who writes you will be considered a risk. The only way for her to get a visa into the USA is this procedure:

1. GOOGLE or websearch the first part of the scammers first emails and/or 'profile'. SEE HOW MANY OTHER SITES their listed on! RECORD THOSE SITES FOR FUTURE REFERENCE. THAT alone can give you a good idea IF your dealing with a scammer OR not.
   
2. GOOGLE or websearch the return email address. See how many 'hits' come from that search and also note all the sites. (many times you'll see the email end up on a 'scammers list') IF YOU FIND THE EMAIL ADDRESS LISTED ON A SCAMMER LIST - don't bother further, your only fooling yourself - no matter what excuse they might give you.
   
3. FROM THE START - ASK FOR SPECIFIC INFOMATION! A full name, address, phone number - something. OFFER THE SAME in exchange, except make it a P.O. box and a CELL PHONE rental card that will protect your identity. If you see your requests ignored, which you usually will, don't waste your time further.
   
4. ALWAYS ASK SPECIFIC QUESTIONS that would REQUIRE A SPECIFIC ANSWER outside the use of FORM LETTERS. IF YOU FIND your questions go unaddress in your reply emails from 'them/her' - YOUR DEALING WITH A SCAMMER. Again, don't bother further.
   
5. DON'T WAIT 6 MONTHS to offer to talk with the PROSPECT by phone! WHAT A TOTAL WASTE OF TIME! IF THERE IS CHEMISTRY OR APPEARS 'INTEREST' BETWEEN THE TWO OF YOU - then sieze the opportunity. ARRANGE A PHONE CALL! International rates to Russia and most places are reasonably cheap. IF YOU GET THE REPLY ' I'M SO POOR I DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO A PHONE' - drop the whole thing, your only wasting your time and WILL BE SCAMMED at some point in the future.
   
6. PHOTO FLOOD! IF IT/SHE/HIM/THEM - LOOK TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE - THEN IT PROBABLY IS! MOST IF NOT ALL OF THE SCAMMES USE PHOTOS OF MODELS IN THEIR HOME COUNTRIES TO POSE ON THE NET IN THEIR PROFILE(s)! Consider this - IF THEY LOOK like a MODEL then tell you they're so poor they don't have access to a phone - YOUR BEING SCAMMED!
   
   ASK FOR A SPECIAL PHOTO TO BE TAKEN. IF YOU SENT YOURS, HAVE THEM TAKE A PHOTO SHOWING THEM HOLDING UP YOUR PHOTO IN THE PICTURE! That is a good 'scammer filter' - even the most adept with Photoshop will easily be spoted.
   
   BETTER STILL - ASK THEM TO TAKE A PHOTO THAT SHOWS THEM HOLDING A CURRENT NEWPAPER OF YOUR CHOICE OR THEIR COUNTRY, WITH A RESOLUTION THAT YOU CAN READ THE DATE! NOT some low grade - grainy photo! FEW WILL EVER DO THAT.
   
   AT THE LEAST - ASK THEM FOR A PHOTO of them wearing a specific combination of clothes and/or colors - something different then the usual 'model clothing' - most use to send out. OR AN OBJECT - TOASTER, ELECTRIC CLOCK, BY A COUCH, IN A ROCKING CHAIR something that would be very hard to use PHOTOSHOP to just PUT in another FILE PHOTO.
   
   *** IF this person is real or sincere, they won't mind doing this for you! ALSO - offer to do the same for their comfort also - that is only fair.
   
7. IF THINGS GET SERIOUS - then ASK THEM TO DELETE ALL THEIR OTHER WEB PROFILE POSTS! CHECK ON THE ONES YOU NOTED EARLIER! Again, IF THEIR SINCERE - they will - happily as your their DREAM and future!
   
8. If she talks about getting a visa or that she needs money to get a travel visa to the USA, she lies. See the proper course of action described at the top.

Comments:

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2006-09-04, 11:59:55

sand445@attglobal.net from United States

To all of us who are asking, Is she a scammer?, I propose the following thoughts. Over the course of the past year, I have corresponded with more than two dozen Russian women. After the first, Elena Kuklina, turned out to be a scammer, I did not take the others seriously. All of them have turned out to be scammers, even those that did not fit the pattern. By this I mean things such that, unlike obvious scammers, they did seem to read my letters, they did answer questions, etc. Most scammers will not answer questions and do not read your letters. To prove this to myself several times, after corresponding for a while, I inserted into my letters the Declaration of Independence, the Gettysburg Address, and other public quotes. In each case, the woman responded like I had just written her a passionate love letter. Once I repeatedly asked her, Stop writing to me, and in each case, simply she wrote like she loved my letters. I have come to the conclusion that the Russian woman is a scammer if any of the following is true: - the woman contacts you (outside of a formal agency), especially if she does so through a public dating service like Cupid or Yahoo personals; - she asks you to correspond to her personal email address; - she says she is from some city like San Diego or Schenectady but is really from a Russian city like Kazan; - she will not give you her address; - the address she gives you is a phony, like Lenina Street; - she does not want you to visit her and insists she has to visit you; - she falls in love in any short period of time; - etc. If she asks you for money to travel, then she is (in my view) absolutely a scammer because a true Russian woman would not do that. They have more pride and dignity than that. I have corresponded with a dozen women through an agency (which I paid to join) and they all gave me their address before I asked for it; not one has ever asked me for money; and when I sent them a gift, such as flowers, I requested and got a picture of the same woman. I think that it is a mistake to think that this beautiful young woman who contacted me and writes me these wonderful love letters (in broken English) is really in love with me -- after two weeks. Correspond with them if you want, but it is more for entertainment value than romantic value. I've been following this (very helpful) website for almost a year now, and it is the same pattern over and over and over again. The number of happy endings for those writing on this and similar websites, I could count on my dick. There are some to be sure, but they are the real rarity. In addition, consider that in reality you are probably not corresponding with the woman in the pictures but with a man (who has hacked the woman's pictures), or some old couple (again who have hacked the pictures), or some group who bulk mails, or some young kid who is computer savy and has figured out how to make an easy buck and have a good laugh at the same time. Even if you ask for a picture, saying something like I Love You Sandy, and she sends it, it is most likely a pre-made picture with the words overlaid on the picture. It takes about 30 seconds with PowerPoint or Adobe to achieve this. If you want a real Russian woman, my advice is to pay to join a legitimate Russian dating or marriage agency where you will meet real, dignified Russian women, and all this frustration and uncertainty will go away. As the saying goes, this is my story and I'm stickin' to it.

2006-09-04, 13:00:12

anonymous from United Kingdom

Do you think that this one might help her to get the hint?

2006-09-04, 14:35:32

anonymous from United States

I mistakenly posted my email address could you tell remove it please

2006-09-04, 14:57:08

anonymous from United States

The operation announced over control by Lyudmilla Putina (Putunia) during the 1970's called Tricky Dicky (subverted cop) and associated it with its start during the administration of Richard Nixon has to do with corrupting law enforcement so they conduct themselves as if organized criminals as away of subverting the justice system and with their authority continuously being expanded. The reason for the name Tricky Dicky was because Vladimir Putin, now President of Russia, was starting to have a difficult time getting an erection and resulted in his wife starting to use a strap on dildo on him so he could get an erection to have sex.

2006-09-04, 18:01:38

anonymous from United Kingdom

2006-09-04, 18:42:11

anonymous from Canada

Hey guys Here's one I haven't seen on this site yet Galina email: galina2006@gawab.ru How come I get the ugly ones? Keywords:

2006-09-04, 18:44:49

anonymous from Canada

Another Galina Keywords:

2006-09-04, 19:02:20

anonymous from Canada

Here's a little gal that tried to play me...Too bad,I wouldn't mind playing with her. Liliya email:lilykiss@gmail.com I have another three girls on the go but they haven't asked for the cash yet. This image was also posted here: Dating scammer Natalia Nikolaeva, Liliya Faizrahmanova, Oksana Baranova Keywords:

2006-09-04, 22:41:40

anonymous from United States

just antother pic any ideas Keywords:

2006-09-06, 00:33:08

Mrs. C from United States

Hi Manchester the pic of the car does make me wonder too. Toyota Camry 199? maybe? in Her pic it looks like it is driving on the side of the road that you do in England. in russia thay drive on the other side of the road just like in the U.S.A Keywords:

2006-09-06, 08:15:28

anonymous from United States

Keywords: man white pullover

2006-09-06, 17:03:48

anonymous from United States

Same old 'The computer in service of acquaintances found to me Some profiles of people which coincide with my inquiry.' message. From a public profile on match.com. Second message in I realized something wasn't right. Didn't send any cash, but feel stupid even sending a pic of myself before realizing. This image was also posted here: Dating scam artist Anastasiya Romanova Keywords: brunette white pullover sky

2006-09-07, 04:37:37

anonymous from United Kingdom

My Friend, You guys are realy good in exposing this robbers. I had found on the picture sent to me on this site and also 2 similar letters. Only the name is different. I had also seen the fake passport scanned and sent to me. The name on this website is Natalia. The name she used for me is Tatjana. She want me to send 700$ to her to complete her journey from Moscow to Nigeria. What pains me most is that, transparency international will over look this and pronounced erroneuously that Nigeria is the most corrupt country in the world. I an not aware of any dating scam in Nigeria. This girl sent her travel details, but forget to show me the visa she got from the Nigeria embassy in moscow. I sent e-mail to Nigeria embassy in Moscow but I am yet to receieved their response on it. I discovered this site just about 30min after sending a mail to Nigeria embassy in Moscow. Thank you. Keywords:

2006-09-07, 13:38:06

anonymous from Canada

Hi guys This little number said she was from Russia but when I tracked her email she was actually from California.I didn't bother writing back and now she's upset with me.She calls herself Ksenia Thanks Jason, that's good advice for everyone (track their IP address) Keywords:

2006-09-07, 15:12:46

anonymous from United States

Dang, forget the internet. Ukraine no longer requires a VISA. Just find a friend with a Ukranian connection already. Make arrangements and skip the internet all together. Didn't take me long to figure out the scammers. Sorry to say I've deleted all my pictures but one. Here she is. New old? Don't know? But she pulled out the tricks already. Said, done and over. ; ) Actually, I'll get the other pictures from my email again of a couple more. BE WARNED ALL. Keywords:

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