another new one, I guess

[gerusnow2009]

Well, in a nutshell. I am currently writing back and forth with this Russian girl. I don't think she speaks much English...her letters look very much done by an online translator. She sounds like someone you would warn me about. Her pics are genuine though, they don't look like these manufactured ones you see all over. Anyway, that's why I joined to learn more, as simple as that.

[TwoBitBandit]

From this simple description, it doesn't sound like you're dealing with the "letter scam."  Not many Russian girls speak English well (although most can speak simple phrases because they studied in school.)  The fact that she's using an online translator doesn't mean much and isn't a good indicator of sincerity.

If you're truly dealing with the "letter scam" the girl will make up some story about losing her job or her grandmother being in the hospital, and then one or two letters later she'll hit you up for $1000.

The easiest ways to ferret out the "letter scam" are:
1.  Google some phrases/sentences in her letter and see if you can find copies of it.  Professional letter scammers send out lots of identical letters and they often end up posted on the internet.
2.  See if she gives on-topic questions to the questions you ask.  If you start asking her questions about her years in the university or her job or her little sister but then she doesn't talk about those topics at all in her reply, it's quite likely a scam.
3.  In the "letter scam" she often tells you that she loves you by the fourth or fifth letter.  Watch out for that.

I'm only talking about the "letter scam," the "professional daters" and "green card girls" are whole different topics.

If you go to the FSU, don't take any wooden kopecks.  Kopeck coins are made out of metal.

Good luck.

[Turboguy]

Without knowing why she sounds like "the kind of woman we would warn you about" my gut feelings are she is a real woman looking for a good guy.   I have had lots of letters from scammers and very few wrote letters that sounded like they were done with an online translater.  Yes, a few would come up with a "problem" after writing for a while but that was a small minority of those whose letters were written with an online translater.

My suggestion is to not worry about it, write her and get to know her and just keep the rule to never send money to someone you haven't met in mind.  If that emergency pops up in the future, just move on.  You will only have wasted a bit of time.

[kryten41]

I would add that reading/writing English, and speaking/understanding spoken English are not the same thing.  If you think you might be interested in her, get her phone number as soon as possible and call her.

[janic]

First of all: Welcome to the board!

She sounds like someone you would warn me about.

What makes you think that?

I am currently writing back and forth with this Russian girl. I don't think she speaks much English...her letters look very much done by an online translator.

Starting (and maintaining) a relation under such circumstances (I assume you don't speak Russian) are difficult.


Would be nice if you would tell us a bit more about you and maybe also of her....
(We're all big fans of love-stories... )

[gerusnow2009]

There isn't much to tell yet. We exchanged 3 letters back and forth and she sent 4 pictures (like I said they looked normal). The contents of the letters are along the lines of what women normally would write if they are interested...honesty, being sincere, wanting a serious and lasting relationship, kids and family...etc. I don't think she has internet at home. This actually started a few days back and she would write every day until yesterday. For her it was friday (for us thursday) so I wonder if she doesn't have access to internet over the weekend. I'll know on sunday I guess.
I am also pretty sure that I may not be the only one she is writing to. As with everything on ether-space, anyone can do anything.
So until I have a longer train of emails and exchanges I won't really know if this is for real or a scam. She did not ask for money anywhere in her letters. And I did ask for a phone number. I have a friend who is a professional translator for russian/english so I could cover that area if I needed proof via a phone call (I assume they have a landline at home). And yes, the comment about me not speaking russian is an issue and I am aware of it. I dated once a girl from Brasil and she only spoke her language and french. I couldn't do much with my two languages.
I do have one advantage: I am german (therefore european) and I can easily travel over there and arrange something. Interestingly enough my mom (who lives in germany) speaks russian to a degree. Not fluent or anywhere close to normal but she understands it and speaks it a little.