Russian Women and Stupid Men - Part 2

What's worse than the possibility of being labelled "stupid" by other people after getting scammed?

Knowing you've been scammed, and feeling / labelling YOURSELF as being stupid.

So, just "bury your head in the sand" and "hope for the best"?
I don't think so!

As the wise old saying goes - Prevention is better than cure.

If you haven't already read Part 1 to this, do so now...

http://russianwomen4westernmen.blogspot.com/2007/01/russian-women-and-stupid-men-part-1.html

Now, in this part, let's look at Basic Money Scam Scenarios and Red Flags to watch out for.

Most scams/fraud against men from Western countries by women from Russia or FSU countries, are not too sophisticated in nature, but for the unwary, they could at least waste your time and possibly impact upon your view of the women in general, let-alone take your money.

Picture these scenarios:

You contact a lady, or are contacted by one, and you start exchanging correspondence to get to know one another. After a few weeks everything seems to be going well despite the language and cultural differences, and then she asks if it would be possible for you to send a little money for her to continue to use the "Internet Club" to keep up the emails between you and her.

Is she a scammer?

You're in contact with a lady, and all is going well, then she says she wants to come and meet you in your country. She will organize things. No mention of money.

Is she a scammer?

Again, all is going well, she writes many emails but does not answer any specific questions you ask, or if she does, it is only as a short note at the end of the message.

Is she a scammer?

OK, straight to it -
1st scenario - maybe, maybe not.
2nd scenario - most likely.
3rd scenario - most likely.

In the first scenario, it's not a good sign if any woman is that forward in asking for money, as most genuine ladies would not, especially before you truly get to know each other. Having said that, it's true that many of them do have to use internet cafes to access email, as most people in FSU still do not have internet access at home. The cost is not huge, but compared to incomes, it can be relatively expensive. Still, to always protect yourself, remember "Rule 1" (don't send money).

In the second scenario, if she states her intention to come to you in order to meet, even if there is no mention of money (yet), start running (away)! She can NOT visit you. That's all there is to it. When you're serious about your Russian girlfriend, you'll have to go and meet her, in her country. You can bet your bottom dollar that even though she does not indicate any need for money, things will "happen", just before she is due to depart (and just as you're getting excited), and she will require you to send the dollars! And then some!

In the third scenario, it's a bad sign because it sounds like she could be sending you "form letters", the same ones that every other guy she's scamming is also receiving! If the girl is genuine, she wants to know about YOU, just like you want to know about her. She especially wants to know basic things to determine that you are a "good" man, and want to have family life and children. If the letters are all flattery, romance, and infatuation, but not really practical exchanges to get to know one-another, get ready to be disappointed!

Red Flags!

You need to be cautious when....

• She contacts YOU first via a large, free for all, dating site
• She has great photos but little information in her on-line profile
• She writes of "structure" in her profile or initial contact
• She sends you nude or very suggestive photos
• She specifically mentions anything about being a virgin
• Photos she sends have file names that contradict her story/name
• Her profile location contradicts where she says she is located
• Her childhood friend married a man from Germany or France (not an English speaking country)
• Her English is very good - all sentences make sense (Russian-English translation usually results in "jumbled" English at best)
• She writes poetry - in English (again, translation would ruin it)
• She starts writing very affectionately within a short time
• She declares her love or strong desire for you within a few months
• She asks for money at any time, for any reason, before you have met
• She writes of financial difficulty or crisis (an implied or actual money request is just around the corner!)
• She questions you on your income, wealth, assets, in any way
• She says she has no home phone but can call you from another phone
• She says she can get herself a Visa to come and see you. (NOT possible)
• She says she has family or friend in Visa office, airport, or travel agency
• She changes/contradicts details about her family and life
• She makes a mistake with your (or even her) name
• She knows exactly how Western Union (etc) money transfers work

Many of these appear obvious, but they can often appear quite innocent when combined with a good story.

The issue of photos can be tricky. A photo added to each letter can be a bad sign - part of a "form letter" system. Only ever receiving one or two photos can also be a bad sign as they may have just been lifted from the web somewhere. Ask for more photos, and if she does not have them on computer (which could be most likely), ask her to send by real mail.

As stated above, check the file names of images wherever possible - look for different girls names, methodical numbering system, or file names that sound like statements (to fit the form letters, and different scenarios).

A genuine Russian husband seeker is not going to send you nude or very suggestive photos of herself. Nor is she going to mention her virginity. She is also very unlikely to show her deepest feelings toward you for quite some time, as they tend to be guarded about such things, especially before you have met in person.

Any genuine girl also knows she can NOT get a Visa to visit you in a Western country, whether it be a "tourist", "student" or "fiance" Visa, whenever she likes. YOU have to assist her to get the Visa, and remember Visas can ONLY be obtained through your country's embassy/consulate, not through any "agency".

If someone does not have their own phone, then chances are they can also not afford to make overseas phone calls to you! Yes, it IS possible she does not have a home phone, let-alone a cell/mobile phone, but she should still be able and willing to give you another number, usually of a family member close-by, who does have a phone. She should also be very willing to give you her home address, so you could send her (real/postal) mail.

Remember that some of the above scenarios could come up and she may still be a 100% genuine girl, so be careful not to dismiss someone instantly just because you see a "red flag". If anything looks suspicious - test her out on something, it's not hard. If more red flags appear, then it's time to make a decision and move on.

What if you're still not quite sure?
What can you do make sure your Russian beauty is real and everything adds up?

I will continue with that very theme in Part 3...


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