Plane Tickets

[Turboguy]

Here is the deal.   I will be spending a little under two weeks out in LA next month.  I have a Russian gal from Rostov-on-Don who says she has a multi entry visa to the USA and wants to meet me out there.   She has sent me a photo of the Multi-entry visa and it looks real enough.  I work in photo shop enough that I think I would spot a fake.

Are there any risks in getting an airline ticket for her.   I was hoping to do an e-ticket so that she could only fly on it and only someone with her exact name could fly on it but it might need to be a paper ticket.  The impression I have is that if I buy the ticket with my credit card the only refund would be to my credit card and that only the person who the ticket is made out to could fly on it.  Am I correct?   Are there any other risks? 

By the way, in case jb reads this she is not a young hottie.

 

[jb]

Does she need travel money to the USA????

If you need to send her a $1,000 or so for her to meet you in LA, the  photoshopped visa is probably fake and you'd be left standing at the  airport gate empty handed on the appointed arrival day.

Not saying this is the case, but be very careful, this is a common scam.

[al-c]

You can even get her a paper ticket usable only by her and refundable only to your credit card.  She can pick it up at her local airport.  But it is stil not risk free.  She can always switch to a different flight to thwart any presence by you at the airport.  How well do you know this lady?

What travel expenses does she have?  She can get to L.A. in one day of travel because the time zones run in her favor.  Other than a bite to eat here and there, I cannot imagine other travel expenses, so $100.00 is more than enough.  If she needs an overnight stay, you can order the hotel over the phone or on the interet with your credit card, again for the named person only.

The visa is the red flag to me.  A multi-entry visa by a single FSU woman?  Such a visa is almost impossible to get.  Ask her what it is for:  Business or tourist?  Does she have family here to visit?  If it is business, what business?  Ask her about her divorce, as well.  You can make it look like you are just being curious about her life instead of questioning her motives, but I would be quite full of questions at this point.

If it seems too good to be true, it is usually because it is.

 

[Dutchy013]

I suppose the visa is a fake, check with your embassy in Moscow if they have issued it.

If you really want to meet her, I suggest you go there first.

 

[Turboguy]

Thanks for the good suggestions.   The visa is a business one.   I think she got it through her work.   She is not asking for any travel money or any cash at all.  I don't know her at all.   I have sent maybe 10 e-mails to her over the past month.   Any more comments?

[Dutchy013]

Check with your embassy anyway, they should have a record of it.

Some women tell you they do not need any money, make you crazy in the mean time and at the last moment they are short in money.

You are all fired up by that time and will transfer the money, being afraid to lose this golden opportunity

[ConnerVT]

There have been many reports of bogus visas recently.  This is the easiest thing to do if someone sends a copy of their visa to you:

Please keep in mind that, while the U.S. Embassy in Moscow does not have the authorization to initiate investigations of these scams, the Fraud Prevention Unit can verify the authenticity of any U.S. visa via e-mail at FPMM@state.gov.

(Source : US Embassy Moscow http://moscow.usembassy.gov/consular/acs.php?record_id=datingscam)[/b]

[BC]

Risks.. hmm

lets say you find a way to get a non reimbursable ticket and the visa is kosher..

Having never met her she could just walk right bye bye in the crowd and go on to the purpose the visa was applied for..  family, friends etc.  Maybe her and  BF  figured out a way to save the price of a ticket hugging each other right next to you at arrivals..  Quite easy in fact to wait a bit for a crowd to build in the baggage hall and walk right out talking to someone else. Haircolor, glasses etc all easily altered.  Heck even if you think you recognize her and asked.. 'are you XXX?' she could just say 'no' and that's that..

I would be asking her more about who what the purpose of the visa was and if she had already entered the US before.. Considering the difficulties reported getting a visa, I wouldn't think it's something usually done on a lark.

Lots of possible risk scenarios..

I have seen some threads somewhere where copies of the visa were emailed to the embassy to confirm as Dutchy stated.  IIRC Bruno has a pretty good eye for faked visa's.

Considering the above IMHO there isn't much difference between sending money or tickets to someone you haven't met yet.

Of course I could be totally wrong on any or all of the above.

I do personally know that Rostov and surrounding area is a pretty nice and well worth a visit for those who want to get off the beaten path. Best time is late spring early autumn.  Is also near the Ukraine border and catching a train to/from is not so difficult.

Airfare RT Moscow Rostov apr. 230 EUR www.aeroflot-don.ru

[al-c]

One more thing:  Is she supposedly making a special trip just to see you, or is she going to LA anyway for business?  If it is the latter, why does she need you to buy her a ticket?  The cost of the ticket should be part of her business expenses.

I'm not saying don't do this; but I am saying watch out for the red flags.  Definitely verify the authenticity of the visa with the Embassy and then take it from there.

 

[Turboguy]

Thanks for the good suggestions.   LA was my idea.  She originally wanted to come and visit me where i live except I am either traveling on businss or traveling to meet ladies the whole months of January and Febuary.  I will just be home long enough to change the clothes in my suitcase and post a few things here.  

I gave her three choices.  Put off her visit till mid March and visit me here.  She is an accountant and she says she must work in Mid march and April which probably fits.   Choice two was the two weeks I will be in LA with a lot of free time.  Choice three was to fly into Altanta, and ride with me accross the whole USA and see a lot of the USA, (long ride though) see LA together for a while and then fly home.  She picked LA out of those choices.   

All in all, I think she probably got the visa for her job and wants a free vacation as well as a chance to meet me.   For me, it is a chance to meet her and will make LA a lot less boring.   Assuming since she did not know about LA that she does not have a boy friend there, yes, she could just walk right past me at the airport, but then she would have to buy her own ticket to Disneyland.   I have a feeling I am not the only one she made that offer to.   She will probably get to see as much of America as a one year multi entry visa will allow.

Thanks for all the good ideas.  I will check out the visa and likely buy the tickets.  Any more comments are welcome.

[Shadow]

Turbo, unless she is working for an international company as chartered accountant she would not be able to get a business visa on that job.

You have made enough mistakes in the past not to fall for a woman who wants to meet you after 10 e-mails, that you admit you know nothing about. What woman would ask a man she knows nothing about to spend the cash for a ticket on her ? I would expect some last minute problems as having to show some cash amount to customs etc.

While you are checking, also check her IP for origin.

[START2]

Turbo, I had a friend that was recently offered the same kind of deal. I came to this forum and asked and had sound advice and passed it on. The woman had sent a copy of the visa stamp. It loked real and impressive but you could tell a fake pic had been added if you looked close. The most telling sign was that there was NO RED NUMBERS  IN THE BOTTOM RIGHT HAND CORNER. I  believe bruno may have pointed this out to me. This gal did the same thing. promised to come, then at the last moment plyed on his emotions with a friends sick son and her using her money for that and if he really wanted to me her, he'd fork over some money for a ticket. If she has a work visa, any reputable firm would take care of that for her unless it's to work in a seaside cafe for the summer. I met many students who did this .  Beware. Now, if she wants to meet you, it shouldn't cost you a dime other than your trip to LA.

[Turboguy]

Thanks for the input.  When I get back to my e-mail I will look for the red numbers, but from memory they are there.

I would be flying her from her home town so there would be no reason for any costs other than the ticket.  If she can't afford the cab ride to the airport she is out of luck.  Any sob stories are going to fall on deaf ears.  I like the gal and want to meet her but if it fell through, I would not fell it was the loss of anything I could not get over. 

I think she is on the up and up but have been scammed enough that I like to be safe.

[START2]

I'd like to know why she already has visa. Who set it up? who sponsored her?  What they asked her at the embassy?  If you're decided that the ticket money means nothing, and that it's ok to lose it, then that's your business. Life's an adventure. If it's legit, then get info to shre with the forum. If it's not, then you'll still have info to share. Sounds like you've talked yourself into this so, Good Luck and snovum godum(sp)

[Albert]

Turbo, I have already done this a couple of times with different gals.  Despite what many think, there are quite a few professional gals (mostly in late 30s to 50s) in FSU countries who have multi entry visas to visit USA.  They really aren't that hard to get,  if the gal is in the right position.  i.e. She works for a solid FSU firm who has business dealings with firms in USA, or she works for the branch of a USA firm.  The businesses do all the leg work to get these visas for the gals.  Yes, the original purpose of visa was for business, but once the visa is in hand, the gals can come and go to USA and usually the USA immigration people don't even ask them what they are doing for any particular visit.  If they are asked, they can simply state what company they are visiting in USA and even provide a name and phone number.  (They should have planned this out ahead of time, of course.)

Put the ticket on your credit card and get instructions from airline on how the gal can pick up the ticket at a local outlet in or near her home town in FSU.

Sure she could be planning to meet someone else, but I think that is a pretty long shot.  What gal and guy will spend all the time and energy on many e-mails with a second guy (you) just to save a thousand bucks or so.  Plus, as I understand it, she didn't know at the beginning that you were going to offer LA as a choice so, again, what is the chance that her other guy would just happen to be in or near LA?

If you are going to have the spare time in LA anyway, then I say go for it.  Always fun to be with a new gal in a place where there is a lot to do and see.  And, at most, you will be out a thousand bucks or so.  If that happens, just pretend in your own mind that you lost the money at the Santa Anita racetrack there in LA.

[Turboguy]

Thanks Albert,  You got the age range right, She has asked me for what you said she would need to know and I think you have the situation figured out, at least that is what it looks like to me.   I think she had to make a business trip to Chicago for the company she works for and that is where the visa came from.  She has free time and a visa, so why not.  I have free time and it beats watching old Humprey Bogart movies in my hotel room

I did go ahead and buy the tickets.  ( a nightmare of it's own but not her fault)

Thanks for all the good advice.  I will send all the single guys here a post card from Fredricks and all the married one a postcard with a pacific sunset.

[BC]

Wow.. the perfect opportunity for a betting pool!

Does she show or is she a no show..

If she shows winnings go to Turbo towards a dinner for two, no show it goes to Dan to support hosting costs.

bets anyone?

I like long odds.. my 20 bucks are in that she shows

 

[Turboguy]

Sounds like fun to me.  I already placed my bet.