I have decided to write this detailed report about my experience with a Pro-Dater. I will tell you about the red flags in the correspondence and give day by day account of my experience. Then anyone else who reads this will have a good idea of the type of scam it was and hopefully help them. You may have read my topic in the Introduction section of this site "Hello from Handycam"
I know Pro-Daters read these kind of forums, so maybe I will be just teaching them . But if it helps other people then that's a good thing. Advice to anyone that is reading this don't let this experience of mine put you off FSU Women, I did find during my time in Odessa that the people there are very friendly and helpful people, and they also have a very low opinion of these kind of people.
The Correspondence Red Flags. (Correspondence Started August 2008)
Other Peoples Name in the Letters.
This happened a few times from memory. One name that came up several times was "Josh". When challenged she put it down to translators have so many letters too translate its an easy mistake to make. (I still got the site to confirm if she was real person) She was not too impressed. She then told me about how someone had taken photos from her Vkontakte (Russian Facebook) Profile and set up other profiles, they changed her date of birth and used it to extract money from men. She thought this was terrible that such people would do such a thing. How's that for being a hypocrite!!!!
Flowery Love Sections
This did not happen with every letter, maybe 1 out of every 10 (There are over a 250 Letters) I would get normal response in first part then it would go very loved up almost poetic. In fact they read like they were taken from a letter received from a man, copy and pasted and then stuck into her reply. The letter I received after meeting her is a classic example. About 90% of the letters were just like a normal stream of letters between 2 people, just like a normal conversation.
Letter Signed Off with a Different Name.
Now this did not happen that many times, mainly instead of "Many Kisses, Your Nastya" it would just be "Nastushka", but I couldn't really call this an alert because Natushka is Nastya, like William is Bill. It just seemed odd when nearly all of the time she signed off Nastya. Some I am sure I received before with completely different name (I can't check my early correspondence due to me deleting my account on AnastasiaDate at the end of about March 2009, correspondence restarted on Natashaclub in April. Read "Profile Photos" for the red flag I got in my first letter there).
Photos.
I requested photos from her birthday celebrations, her answer "my brother has deleted all the photos on the camera, I'm really upset" She has a set of photos which get sent out to everyone, one includes a photo of her and 3 "friends" the "friends" all wearing large sunglasses, the cynical in me says this is to act as some disguise. I asked what there names were "They just friends from academy, we sat drank coffee" more like other girls from the agency doing exactly the same thing. Eventually she comes up with the excuse the camera is broken.
When I started corresponding on Natashaclub (after I deleted my anastasia account) she had a couple of different photos to the ones on Anastasia, but they were from the same photo session which had been done on October 3rd 2007, these are photos on the beach, with her wearing a white shirt with bikini underneath. Now she said to me in her first letter on Natasha site "I have a surprise for you. This site doesn't allow to attach pictires to letters. That;s why I ahve made new photosession and decided to out it here! I know you will like it!" these photos are from the same photo session as the others.
Sexual Content.
Now this is not as clear cut as it sounds. Her first letter talked of her love of dancing and how she has learnt the art of "Strip Dance". This of course is a dance saved especially for the special man in her life (Clearly a hook to get you interested). Now after about 2 months of correspondence (wrote nearly everyday to each other) I decided to push the sexual content in my letters and see what reaction I got, my theory if she comes back with lots of sexual talk and sends me pics of herself looking near naked or naked I know I was talking to a scammer. The reaction was "you very experienced lover, I like that in older man" also "You make me shy and blush with your letter" and "I'm very shy girl, you need to know I am still a virgin". The sexual letters lasted about a week to 10 days, after that, it was never really mentioned much. It seems now they go the opposite way on this subject. I never believed the Virgin story, I justified this to myself by her telling me indirectly (if you want to meet me, there will be no sex, stops the Sex Tourists) I have since learnt you can meet her 4 or 5 times and you still be lucky to get a quick kiss.
Sending of Gifts/Videochats
Now these were never requested or even hinted at during my correspondence. I did send her flowers and a teddy bear for her Birthday last year, I got a photo of her receiving it and a big Thank You letter, the second flowers I sent, now this was a little different, again photo but no thank you, no mention of it in her letters after receiving them, not until I mentioned it in 3 successive letters did I get a small thank you. Now on both occasions I sent my e-mail address with the flowers together with my cell phone number, but she claimed she never received my email or cell phone.
I never did a videochat or call through the site.
Family Background
No alarm bells here. States her Father owns a successful business. This could be a cover story so if asked questions about the Prada Boots she wears or the Fur Coat or any other expensive item she has, it can be easily explained that her Father bought them.
Letters about Meeting and just before First Meeting
Talked alot about going to many places in Odessa and doing alot of sightseeing, not much about the 2 of us spending time together getting to know each other as a couple would do. As for arranging my apartment, she did ask me if I wanted her to arrange my apartment for the first night as I told her I was having problems finding one for my first night, I refused, saying its all being arranged elsewhere and I should be ok (I already knew to arrange my own accommodation for a first meeting). Now on July 17 a month before my visit in August,she tells me she is leaving natashaclub site because she is receiving too many terrible letters with vulgar words and how she plans to save her profile only on anastasia site. I thought odd, maybe its Pro-Dating Peak Season at that time of year and she needs alot of time to meet all these people, or the vulgar letters are coming from someone she has met, realised what she was doing and making her life hell. I rejoined anastasia site, talked of where we should go, restaurants were mentioned, I mentioned going to the concert on independence day, her response "too noisy we wouldn't be able to talk so we should not go," important day in Ukraine history and she does not want to share with her "beloved man". Also says agency will send a translator to help us communicate.
Now Our Meeting in Odessa
Day 1
Receive SMS message (text) from the interpreter (Yulia Deviatkova, known as Julia) "I am interpreter of Nastya. Is it ok to meet her at 2pm" and "please take swimming shorts with you and Anastasia changed time of meeting-at 4pm"
Interpreter arrives first at the meeting point alone, she phoned me so she could spot me in the crowd, (it was at this point the only beggar I ever saw in my time Odessa started hassling me, the powers above trying to stop the meeting taking place haha) Nastya was arriving in a Taxi. Lots of small talk with interpreter "is this your first meeting blah blah" no discussion about her rates, I asked the question her response "we can discuss that later". I did ask where the agency was in Odessa and that I would like to visit it, response "its about 10 minutes away but we can't go today, maybe another day" we never went there.
Eventually the Taxi arrives, Nastya does not get out the Taxi and strangely the interpreter gets in the back of the Taxi with Nastya (I was never allowed to sit next her in the Taxi my entire time with her) I was greeted with a smile, hug and kiss......on the cheek. Of course you usually meet your "beloved man" for the first time with a kiss on the cheek.
On the 45 minute journey lots of small talk, usual question and answers (now to me its unusual to sit in the front of a car and spend your first 45 minutes with each other after a year correspondence, to be getting to know each other his way). Now of course they need to get me away from where I am staying , thus I will not know where I am, so cannot get away if I feel its going no where, I am totally at their control. Also they were very keen to tell me the Taxi is expensive but Nastya likes using this firm as she feels safe with them. I was asked if I had plans to meet anyone else while I was in Odessa, no I didn't (my mistake, I had no plan B or C) then asked had I eaten, I had not eaten much since my flight the previous day, although I did have a few drinks the night before when I met a couple of guys and we went to Arcadia Beach, too the Night Clubs
)) (Just so you know ,it costs about 50-60UAH (6-7 dollars) from the centre of Odessa by Taxi). It was on this night I met a couple of girls who wanted to practice their English skills, I told them I was meeting a girl, there advice was very interesting, pity I didn't listen to it "if she is with an agency, she will not be honest, agencies hire girls, it is a job. They give the honest and sincere people a bad image" they then both went on a 5 minute talk about how much they dislike the girls who use these agencies and what they think of them.
Got to the Restaurant. It was situated amongst alot of very big executive housing, (possibly a gated community) the restaurant looked like a small castle. We went upstairs where there was no-one else (better to talk). Now the interesting part about this is the Waitress, her reaction to Nastya or should I say the looks she gave Nastya were a very big red flag. If looks could kill, Nastya would of been dead there and then. It was not just one small look it was a big evil stare. Obviously she knew what her game was, chances are ,she goes there alot with Western men, and of course in July - August its Pro-Dating Peak Season so had probably been there alot in the past 6 to 8 weeks. The drinks I ordered for myself did not come to the table, had to remind the waitress about them. I did try and go and get it myself, but I was quickly stopped by the interpreter. I did try and hide my amusement when Nastya asked what I thought of Ukrainian beer, I was drinking a German beer, she always asked this question when I was having a beer. I did drink any Ukrainian beer. I did try and show some affection towards Nastya but this was quickly stopped with the phrase "I'm Shy" all I did was put my arm around her while we were there, stroke her neck, Obviously that's not a good thing to do. Now Nastya and the interpreter would have long conversations between themselves, often using the excuse she was translating what I was saying, unknown to them I do have a basic understanding of Russian (my speaking Russian is not great, but listening, I can pick out certain words). Of course I never let them know this. Here comes the first big shock of the day, The Bill for the meal 1474 UAH ($173 US Dollars). Now I was not expecting to be spending that much money on my first meeting, so I didn't take my wallet with me which had all my cards in it, I just had cash. Nastya and the interpreter didn't seem too concerned about the problem, while I was trying to see if I had enough cash on me ,the interpreter casually asked "Is there a problem" a phrase I would hear alot of while I was with them. I told them "I don't think I have enough cash on me" now rather than being concerned and looking to see if they could add anything to the pot, I was asked "What are you going to do about it?", it was at this point I was getting very annoyed, and told them "I was not expecting to be going to an expensive restaurant on our first day" I also added "This is what Pro-Dating Scammers do" at which point they changed their tone completely and became very helpful, I think it was at this point I killed any chance of going too expensive restaurants with them for the rest of my trip.
We eventually leave after being cleaned out of all my cash, and I was shocked to discover the Taxi Driver had been waiting for us all the time, we were there nearly 2 Hours.
Now onto our next destination. We go to the Beach House of the Interpreters "Grandmother." The subject of boats came up, asked if I like boats I said "I love rowing boats and little boats" (Because of the area I live, it attracts alot of girls who want men for their money, so I learnt along time ago never talk about your real financial position. I knew of the type of boats she was talking about). I was then told that I can hire a yacht from the Marina for a day. This subject came up everyday. Nastya and myself had about 30 minutes alone together on the beach, but no intimacy. After a few hours here, we decided to leave, and guess who was sat outside, you guessed it, the Taxi. But it was at this point I was stood around for about an hour, while Nastya was chatting into one of her many phones. We got into the Taxi eventually, we didn't go far before the girls said they needed to go to this bar (needed to use the bathroom), we waited for them for about half an hour, I put this down to girls visiting the bathroom together and taking along time, as normal.
Now the journey back to my apartment, this is where it gets interesting. On the way back I get told via by the interpreter "Nastya's Mother has called and said her Grandmother is sick and needs medicine, is it ok for her to go and see her Grandmother and give her the medicine. If you do this kind gesture her Mother will let Nastya stay with you for another 2 hours." alarm bells, sirens and all sorts were going off in my head at this point. It was discussed at length before I decided it was ok. I wanted to see if a request for money was going to be made as I was well aware of the sick family member scam. She got out of the Taxi (probably just stood somewhere out of sight and had a cigarette, she smokes alot) the interpreter told me its ok she has money for the medicine. She came back to the Taxi and hugged me for being kind, well I say hugged, of course I was sat in the front of the Taxi as usual. While she was gone the interpreter used this moment to discuss her fees. She told me that I should of been informed of them before I arrived, but Olga the agency manager was away on holiday for all of August so the office is in chaos at the moment, it was $15 US Dollars per hour for the first 5 hours and $10 US Dollars after that. Also said if I contacted her direct for my next visit, it would be less. Now we get back to the apartment, spend a couple of hours there, then its time for them to leave, now of course I have to pay the fees for the day. So I needed to find an ATM machine, now here comes my biggest shock of the day. the Taxi was 1700UAH ($200 USD), (I did make a comment about the high Taxi fare,) Interpreter fees 638UAH ($75 USD) and the big shock, Nastya needs money for Taxi home, she uses 2 different taxis for her 1 hour trip home (this story changed later in the week) so 400UAH (about $50 USD). I checked her address (Or the one I was given) when I got home, turns out it was near the airport. On questioning her on this when I got back home she claimed she does not live there but in a place called Sanzhiika, 30km away. Of course I had to find an ATM for the cash, so off we go again in the Taxi, I said we can walk and find an ATM, answer "Driver knows where one is" yes it was about a 5 minute walk away, but of course we had to get there by Taxi.
Red Flags from Day 1
Pre-Arranged "Taxi".
Sometimes these are not actual Taxis but Family, Friends or Boyfriend/Husband. Taxi with you at all times. Same Driver.
Expensive Restaurant
Any Restaurant that serves the Top End Market or would seem to expensive for the average person, it does not mean expensive with regard to your budget.
Requests Money for Taxi home.
Not always a Red Flag, Get her Address before you meet her and have it confirmed she lives there by a good RussianDetectiveAgency. Insist on taking her home first.
Lots of Private Conversation Between Your Date and the Interpreter.
Best advice, Hire your own Interpreter, but don't inform your date about this, get to know some of her Language, again don't tell her.
Medicine Needed for a Family Member or Friend.
Very common in letters, but can be used in actual meetings, you can add crashed the car, medical emergency etc.
Total Fees for Day 1
Taxi - USD $200
Interpreter - USD $75
Restaurant- USD $173
Nastya - USD $50
Total - USD $498 (340Euros)
Day 2
I was not sure whether I wanted to meet her after the previous days exploits, so I thought long and hard and made my biggest mistake, even though the evidence pointed so much to her being a Pro-Dater I went into complete Denial and only saw what I wanted to see. My gut instinct was telling me not to see her again, I ignored it, bad bad mistake.
I got a call from the interpreter (Yulia Deviatkova, known as Julia, yes that's the same one as the previous day) at about 12:30 asking if I wanted to meet her again, then followed by an SMS at 1pm saying "Hi, called Nastya and she said that we meet at 4pm at your place, wait for us". I hear an argument going on outside my Apartment, so I go onto my Balcony to have a look what is going on, and who do I see, Nastya, the interpreter (having the argument). Nastya gives a half hearted wave and a look of disgust, the interpreter (Julia) is still arguing. Who is she arguing with? The entrance to my apartment is via a courtyard which has a gate, and everyone who comes in is met by someone at the entrance wanting to know who you are and who your visiting (I was asked by the interpreter later to make a complaint to the owners to get them to stop questioning them, I told her, they are just doing their job). Obviously didn't like being questioned. Nastya greets me with a half hearted hug and smile, then wonders off into the lounge of the apartment looking like a teenager who can't get her own way, then sat and sulked for a while and wondered off onto the balcony for a cigarette (she smokes like a chimney). She said she wanted to be left alone, the interpreter said she is a very sensitive girl. I was thinking she was not making very much of an effort considering this is only our second day together.
I needed food and supplies for my apartment, so I told them we need to go shopping. Of course, she is very happy to help, every girl loves to shop. After about an hour and Nastya had stopped sulking we left the apartment to the waiting Taxi (The taxi would always be nearby wherever we went, also had the same driver as the previous day. Of course I am sat in the front, Nastya and interpreter in the back). We get to the supermarket and get all the usual things, most of what is chosen is done by me. Although she loves caviar (red), I can eat it, but I'm not crazy about it. So I saw what they had and looked at the prices, it was reasonable so I thought why not. Then she saw some cute teddy bears, and said how much she loved them and would it be ok if I would get her one, they were not expensive, I got her 2 (Read day 5, and you will see why I believe I get a request to buy the teddy bear). Now we go to the till to pay for it all, Nastya lets me use her discount card. While I am paying for all my food, Nastya then goes off to put money on her phone. The interpreter tells me its so she can call me and send me SMS when I am back home. She asks for 400UAH, I tell her I have no cash on me, I say I have got my card I can get cash on that. The interpreter then goes to this little office where someone sits asking if I could get some cash, the woman in the office replies "The internet is down" then as the interpreter turns her back to the office, the woman smiles at me and shows me her computer screen, the internet was working fine. So now I'm stood in the middle of this shop, all eyes on me and I am asked "What you going to do?" I told them "There is not much I can do is there, you should of asked me before going ahead with it", I held out a little longer, then went ahead and paid for it with some of the cash I had in my pocket. Now we go back to the apartment and on the way back phone up for a Pizza and we decide we need to get some drinks in, first though we take the food to the apartment
We get back to the apartment, and the Taxi Driver goes off with the all the shopping lol. So he gets called back (which takes some time) and then the Pizza arrives. We get to the apartment, wait for the Taxi Driver with the food. When he arrives with the food myself and the interpreter go out again, leaving Nastya in the apartment to sort everything out (I was abit nervous about leaving her in my apartment on her own, so I was sure to take all my credit cards, cash and valuables with me.)
We get to another supermarket get the drink and the interpreter gets her shopping done (although she had the cheek to say to me "its ok I have money for my shopping you do not need to pay"). Get back to the apartment and pay the Taxi 900UAH (comment made by the driver "much cheaper today")
So know we are eating pizza and chatting. The subject of the Yacht hire came up again and again I said I would think about it. Nastya asked questions about my apartment and how it compares to my apartment at home.
It gets to 9pm and its time to go home (she always has to leave by 9pm). I tell them I need an ATM again, so we go in the Taxi (yes he was there waiting already) to get the money. I pay the interpreter and Nastya. I wanted to walk back to my apartment but Nastya wanted me to go back in the Taxi, as she was worried about me walking back alone on the night of Independence Day with lots of drunks around. So I go back in the Taxi. As I get out the Taxi I heard the interpreter say something but didn't quite understand it, so I quickly turn around and ask what was said, I must of been very blunt and slightly aggressive when I said it (It was not intended to sound that way) they had a look of shock on their faces. I think its because of this, the next day we had a different driver.
Red Flags from Day 2
Shopping
Going to a shop and then being put into a position where you will be asked and made to feel pressured to pay.
Often you will not be asked directly, but hints will be made or suggestions of what buy.
In hindsight this day was a softening up exercise ready for an attempt the next day to go for a big hit.
Total Fees for Day 2
Taxi - USD $105
Interpreter - USD $75
Nastya - USD $50 (The money for phone credit, no request for money for taxi journey home)
Pizza - USD $24
Shopping - USD $200
Total - USD $454 (317 Euros)
NOTE - I was not sure whether to add the food shop onto this as I would still had to buy food if I was with them or not, so you could half it if they were not with me.
Day 3
This is a day of high drama. I get an sms from the Julia the interpreter at 9:55am saying Nastya wants to meet at my apartment soon, I call her and she says she will be there in an hour. An hour goes by and she doesn't show up, another hour goes by and still no sign of her. Eventually I get a call from the interpreter saying Nastya has had a huge argument with her Father because her younger brother has dropped the new expensive phone her dad had just recently bought her in some water and its now broken and she is very upset. She eventually arrives with Julia the interpreter and her friend Kristina. I open the door and she grabs hold of me and starts "Crying", I introduce myself to Kristina. We go into the lounge where Nastya sits and "cries". I get the story of what happened, basically she is upset because her Father (He is very strict with his daughter who is 20 in November) has been told by her Father and Mother she cannot come and see me unless she has a phone which they can contact her on, and she is desperate to be with me on my last days in Odessa. She was in her bedroom crying for 2 hours before leaving the house after her Father went out, she was trying to think what she should do. I was constantly told if she does not have a phone, we will not be able to see each other again. The interpreter was constantly leaving the room going on her phone, then had to go out (turns out she was having drama at home) I told Nastya I did not come to Odessa to go shopping for phones, so the best thing she should do was to go back home and sort out the problem with her father. I told her I had a budget for my visit, she then said if you have a budget we will not use an interpreter. I thought it odd that her Father would try and control his daughter when she is a young woman and not a little girl. I did notice when she wiped her eyes with the back of her hand there was make up, but no tears on her hand, she had been crying for 30 minutes, then she got up saying she is going to the bathroom "she wanted to look beautiful for me" she never let me look at her face when she was crying. She came back from the bathroom and I looked at her eyes, there was no redness in her eyes like you would expect from someone who had been crying, they looked normal, of course they would though, because she had not been crying. I asked her where is her red phone that she had the previous day? "that is a friends phone, I had to give it back". I tried to hug her a few times, but anytime I made any attempt at physical contact I was quickly pushed away. It all calmed down eventually and we go out.
We get in the taxi, a different one to the previous 2 days but the same taxi company. The driver was a big guy, who you could say is the twin brother of a certain Russian Billionaire with initials RA. As we got in the Taxi I questioned why we have to go everywhere in the Taxi, I have the door open with both my feet outside. This is at the entrance to my apartment where the Police always stand about 10 meters away, and they are very careful to make sure it doesn't become a heated discussion and attract the attention of the Police. (they were always very nervous around the Police) Nastya has an "argument" with her Father on the phone, she was hoping to speak to her Mother before her Father got home, of course more like there was no-one else on the other end of the phone. Julia the interpreter then turns up, and I discover we are going to visit the Catacombs but first we have to drop off Kristina at work. On the way to taking Kristina to her work I asked Nastya if she is ok, in return I get my head blown off with "you don't talk to me, you were rude to me earlier and I expected more from you" well first of all, as you probably guessed I'm sat in the front again and Nastya in the back, now its not best position to be in if you want to talk to someone. I asked her what she meant by me being rude, she told me "you did not support me, or hug me", I told her I was offended, in fact I was fuming with anger, I was close to telling them I'd had enough and telling the taxi driver to take me back to my apartment. I repeated what I said to her earlier that "I have not come here to go shopping for phones, clothes or anything else for that matter" her reply "I do not want material things from you, I need your emotional support"
We go to the Catacombs, of which I had no idea how far they were from the centre of Odessa. On the way the taxi driver makes a phone call and tells them there is "a Western Tourist" with them. We arrive and the interpreter tells me its a private tour which is a little more expensive but better, we have the tour, Nastya is still sulking, or acting is a better word. I pay the Guide of the Catacombs 400UAH ($50 USD) for the tour for the 3 of us (Myself, Nastya and Julia the interpreter) I get some soft drinks and a booklet/leaflet on the catacombs. On the way back we visit the Marina to look at the Yachts, and yes the subject of Yacht hire came up again. While I was there I had a look to see if I could find any Sunseeker Yachts. They are very nice yachts, the driver then told me how much these yachts cost to buy, my response was "I Know how much they cost, I have been on a few of them in my time, I have a friend who is licenced on them" oh how Nastyas eyes lit up. I noticed while we were there that Nastya and the driver went off together in front of me and the interpreter, she was very friendly with the driver. Something I noticed more and more over the next 2 days.
Now we head back to the centre of Odessa to pick up Kristina. On the way Nastya cheers up, and tells me that the day out made her forget her "problems" with her Father. Its decided we going to have a Sushi take away and for some reason we did not stop off and get this on the way back, but myself, Nastya and Julia the interpreter get dropped off at the apartment. It was at this point I had to pay the Taxi, and I said that the price seems very high and I sense you are charging me Western Tourist Rates, his response "The rates are set by the company, not by me, I only take a certain amount. It is not my problem, I will make a phone call and it will become your problem" So with that threat I kept my mouth shut. I had to get some money from my apartment to pay him, for some reason I went there on my own as I looked back at the Taxi, I noticed the driver had the leaflet in his hand that I got from the Catacombs and pointing something out on it, to the girls in the back of the Taxi, much to his amusement. I looked at it later and found a small part of it had been ripped off on back the page. So I get my cash, pay the Taxi the money and him and Kristina go get the Sushi, I give her 600UAH ($70 USD) for the take away. Myself, Nastya and the interpreter go to the apartment. Eventually they turn up with the Sushi, and the taxi driver gives me a gift of a big melon (I no idea what he expected me to do with it, probably part of his humour, "get the idiot Westerner a melon") I noticed at this point the Taxi Driver would never look directly at me, there was no eye contact what so ever. There was when he talked to the girls, but not with me. He knew what he was part of yet did not have the courage to look right at me. They came back with receipts too with what the money was spent on, of course there was no change from the 600UAH. We ate the sushi, and Julia the interpreter was going on her phone most of the time. When it came for them to leave (9pm again) we had drama from the interpreter (genuine I think this time) I paid the interpreter, I paid Nastya her 400UAH and then I get a request from her friend Kristina for 400UAH (she lives in a different direction)
Red Flags from Day 3
The High Drama incident with her Father.
You can put anyone in this, it does not need to be a father. (they will create this situation to make you feel guilty into paying for an item, you will feel obliged to sort out the situation) Says you are rude, do not care for her and you are greedy if you refuse to purchase anything.
The Private Tour (genuine girl would not want you to spend money on a private tour)
Relationship with the Taxi Driver.
Nastya and the driver knew each other very well, in fact on day 5 on the big tour she showed more interest in him, than me her "beloved Man"
Request for money from the friend for Taxi home.
This is an indirect payment for her to be interpreter the next day.
Total Fees for Day 3
Taxi - USD $250
Interpreter - USD $105
Tour - USD $50
Meal - USD $70
Kristina - USD $50
Nastya - USD $50
Total - USD $575 (400 Euros)
Day 4
She arrives at my apartment at around 1:25pm with her friend Kristina (she acts as interpreter for the day, hence the $50 request the previous night) There was no call prior to their arrival, so it was pure luck that I was in the apartment. I had been out all morning and only got back about 10 minutes earlier to their arrival. I was on the phone when they arrived to America trying to find somewhere to cash my Travelers Cheques. I was made aware after I got them that these are very difficult to cash in Odessa. I thought as I have them I might aswell try and cash them. When they arrived I got the idea to play the "I have ran out of money" card, and see how they would react. Also I had quite a few mosquito bites on me and needed something for them.
So we go out to the waiting Taxi, same driver and company as the previous day. We go to the old market and get something for the mosquito bites and something for the apartment to make them go away. Now here is the shock, Nastya actually paid for these items. Then its off to find a bank so I can cash my Travelers Cheques and Kristina needs to get the internet connected at her new apartment. This seems to take forever, as anyone who has been too Ukraine will know, there is no rush. After all this is sorted we get back in the Taxi and go visit a church. Then after discuss what to do for the rest of the day, we decide to get a couple of DVDs and watch a film back at the apartment, we also discuss where to eat, I also suggested we go have a walk round the centre of Odessa and get something to eat there. This was met with refusal and a "I not know where to go eat in the centre of Odessa", strange considering she has lived there all her life. I didn't push this, so it was decided to have Sushi again at the apartment. When we get back to the Apartment I pay the Taxi driver.
Now this day feels very different to all the previous days I spent with her. She seems alot more relaxed, I actually felt like she was genuinely interested in me. There was more hugs, playing around with each other. The kind things a couple would do together. It felt great to be with her on this day, I had a 2 conversations with her friend Kristina alone, she told me "do not mention to the agency that you have met Nastya today, everything is to go through the agency, they must not know about this meeting, they are a business after all". But its the other conversation that got my attention. We were stood on the balcony of the apartment and talking about Julia the interpreter from the first 3 days, she was saying how she is always happy, singing when she is with us and the men Nastya meets, but the last 2 days seemed very distracted and not her usual self. She immediately realised what she just told me (she claimed it was the first time she met Julia when I met Kristina the previous day) she went very red, started looking down at the floor and said "I have only known her 2 days" then she quickly went back into the apartment. I just smiled to myself and said nothing.
We sat and ate the Sushi and watched the film. While in conversation the subject of English lessons came up for Nastya, and that Kristina know a good instructor with good rates, I said I would think about it. The subject of Yacht Hire comes up again aswell. Then all of a sudden at 6pm Kristina tells me Nastya has to go home to look after her little brother. There was no phone call from anyone. I was stunned she needed to go. Of course Kristina received $50 the previous night, they arrived at 1:25pm and decided they need to leave at 6pm, they actually leave at 6:15pm, thats nearly 5 hours which makes it $10 per hour, the normal interpreter rate. We had the hugs at the door to my apartment, I asked Nastya if she had enough money for the Taxi, her reply "yes, it's ok". I decided to walk with them to the taxi, more hugs at the Taxi and Kristina telling me she hopes to see me again soon. Then Nastya asks for money for the Taxi, I didn't say anything, I just smiled and gave her the money. I stood there and watched them leave, now it was this day I decided to also watch the body language of Nastya. Now when someone goes they will look back at you when they go, especially if they are your special girl , Not Nastya, not even a turn of the head.
This day was another softening up exercise for the next day.
Red Flags from Day 4
Body Language.
Although you may get hugs and little kisses here and there. It is the small body language signals that give it away. I won't say here what signals to look out for, PM me and I can tell you.
Conversation
Think of a question you need to ask, but know if you ask it directly you will most likely be told a lie. There is a technique to get a truthful answer, I won't say what it is here, PM me if would like to know what it is.
Total Fees for Day 4
Taxi - USD $140
Meal - USD $55
Nastya - USD $50
Total - USD $245 (171 Euros)
Day 5
I get a knock on my door at around 12:30pm, I look through the spy hole in the door and see Nastya stood there on her own, i think to myself great we are going to have a day on together on our own. I open the door and see Nastya and then appears the Taxi driver (same as the previous 2 days). My heart sank. I invite them in, they look through the door to the kitchen and Nastya points out the 3 bags of Rubbish (I had no idea where the rubbish bin was for the building) and they have a little laugh together. I offer them a drink. They go into the lounge together and I go get the drinks from the kitchen, I half expected Nastya to come see me in the Kitchen so I delayed a little bit, she stayed in the lounge chatting to the driver. I went in with the drinks sat there for a few minutes, then she asks for a different drink, I go get it and come back, she is now on the balcony with the driver having a cigarette. They have their own private conversation, its as if I was not there. I give the driver a tour of the apartment, when it comes to the bedroom he makes some comments to Nastya, she gets embarrassed.
We leave the apartment to go and pick up the interpreter, I have an idea where we are going on this day. We eventually go meet the interpreter, the driver gets out the car and goes and meets her (On this day I am sat in the back of the Taxi, Nastya is in the front) while he does this Nastya makes a signal that as he has left the keys in the car I should get in the drivers seat and we should drive off somewhere, I tell her he is a big guy and could hurt me, she said he is like a big soft bear. The interpreter arrives and starts asking if I have had an official tour while I been in Odessa (I thought strange question for an interpreter to ask). We go to a Mcdonalds (Drive thru) to get something to eat (we pass three on the way, I pay of course for everyone including the driver) then the interpreter gets out a map and shows where we are going. We are going to the Fortress in Belgorod-Dnestrovsky . (80km from centre of Odessa) On the way Nastya asks what I did the previous night, I told her I went to the Irish Bar for a couple of drinks then had a walk around the centre of Odessa, I told her I wish that she was with me when I was walking around the centre, I got no reaction from her. Later I talked about where I lived and said that I hope I would be showing Nastya my city one day soon, again, no reaction. While on the journey and the interpreter (actually discover later she is a Tour Guide) is telling me all about Odessa I begin to notice that Nastya seems to have no interest in what is being said, and zero interest in me. In fact she spends most of her time playing with the radio in the car and having quiet conversations with the driver.
We get to the fortress eventually, we are there for about an hour and a half, again all the time we are there I grow increasingly irritated by her lack of interest in me and her interest in the Taxi Driver. We leave the fortress and now head off to the Shabo and a tour of the wine making place. I pay for us to have the tour with a large group of Russian Tourist (Driver included, he is videoing the tour). Now during this tour I am getting increasingly irritated by Nastyas total lack of interest, its as if I wasn't there. It even gets to the point I am thinking more about what Nastya is doing than what is being said. At the end there is a tasting session, which is good, until Nastya again starts showing more interest with the driver, asking if he wants a drink. I was close to getting up out my seat and asking Nastya if she would prefer the driver to be sat with her instead of me. Eventually her attention got back to me and wanted to raise a toast to me and her, at this point I was almost boiling over with anger, which showed when we touched glasses for our toast, I am surprised I didn't smash the glass. We finished the wine tasting and as we all started walking out the room, Nastya and the driver again go walking off together, it was then the Interpreter distracted my attention by pointing out a spelling mistake on one of the signs that had been translated into English. I thought of questioning Nastya about her complete lack of interest in me and then thought better of it as it would result in a big argument which could end up with me in the middle of no-where.
We leave the wine place and we get back in the Taxi, we stop, while the driver and Nastya get some drinks, I ask the interpreter how long she been with the agency, which was met with confusion. She told me she does not work for any agency, she is a tour guide. At this point I became very concerned and asked what was going on, who hired you? She replied I am the wife of the drivers best friend, Nastya asked if he could help her find someone to be interpreter for the 2 of you. So thats where she came in.
On the way back we stop at a small bar/restaurant to get a meal, lots of conversation (the taxi driver does not eat with us.) its during this conversation that the subject of the Irish Bar in Odessa comes up. Nastya was looking at the video I had made of the centre of Odessa, she saw the Irish bar on it, and said said she does like this place, in fact I would say hates it with a real passion. I asked her why and the response was "its where all the foreign people go who live in Odessa" I asked whats wrong with that, you not like foreign people? I got no answer, just a blunt "I not like this place" Anyway after a while we leave, and head back to Odessa and my apartment. I was asked what time my flight was the next day, and that Nastya wanted to come to the Airport with me and see me go. I said I was not sure what time I was getting picked up. She got concerned I did not want her to come with me to the Airport, the interpreter then told me its a very good sign that she wants to see you to the airport, I said ok, knowing it would be a driver arranged by me to take me there. Although there was alot of laughter when they discovered I was going to be picked up in a Lada. Also on the journey back, I noticed Nastya pull out of the door pocket a 70% discount card from the Taxi firm, she showed it to the driver who made a signal to give it to me, she never did, just folded it in half and put it in her bag. This 70% discount is an interesting number later.
We get back to the apartment and it comes to the fee for the day, I mention how much I hate this part of the day. I then notice the driver write in his phone 120*8 which is 960. There is a small discussion between Nastya and the driver, I can't hear what they are saying, but Nastya tells him no and shakes her head. He asks for 3100UAH, now remember the 70% discount card, 3100 minus 70% is 930, now is it me or is that near enough the 120*8 he put in his phone which equals 960. I go up to my apartment on the idea I need more cash, so I sit and have drink, watch abit of TV then after a while walk back down again and pay the driver and interpreter. Nastya gets out and gives me a hug, then the driver gets out and shakes my hand, again no eye contact. There was no request for taxi money from Nastya, but of course there is no reason to say this has not been included in the taxi fare thats already been paid.
Red Flags from Day 5
Her friendly nature with the Taxi Driver
Lack of romantic interest
Total Fees for Day 5
Interpreter/Tour Guide - USD $120
Taxi - USD $364
Meals - USD $75
Entrance Fees - USD $35
Total - USD $594 (416 Euros)
Day 6
This is the day I'm leaving to go back home, she arrives with another Interpreter from the agency called Natasha, she arrives with a gift of a teddy bear with her perfume (I have since discovered its a popular leaving gift from her, no doubt the 2 I bought will be leaving presents for some other guys) We chat for a while, Nastya tells me she wants me to return very very soon, I tell her I hope to be back for her Birthday in November, her reaction was one of concern not happiness and excitement like you would expect. She mentioned on my next visit I would meet all her family.
My taxi arrives and we leave for the airport, and guess who is close behind, Nastyas Taxi friend. We get to the airport I pay the Taxi (Nastya watched the money leave my hand and go in the Taxi Drivers hand like a bird of prey) When we are in the Airport, Nastyas body language concerns me again, I pay the interpreter and again Nastya requests her Taxi money. I get up to go to the check in and now her reaction to me leaving is very cold, we hug, and I kiss her on the cheek, never any kisses on the lips. She claims she has to go before she starts to cry, if anything she was more concerned with what was happening outside. I then go Check in and fly out.
Red Flags from Day 6
Complete Lack of Emotion that her "beloved man" is going home
Total Fees for Day 6
Interpreter - USD $15
Nastya - USD $50
Total - USD $65
NOTE- Not included the Taxi Fare to the Airport as this was arranged by me and had no connection with her. (It was USD $6 for those who are interested)
Total Money Spent While with Nastya (31 hours in total) in Odessa - USD $2,431 (1702 Euros)
A significant sum of money. Consider that in her letters she stated she did not want me to spend much while I was with her. It works out at close to USD $80 (55Euros) per hour to meet this girl.
Red Flags to Note During Our Meeting.
She had no camera to record our meeting, remember she is meeting her "beloved man" for the first time but yet does not want to have pictures for herself. (Usual reason given for this is that her camera does not work)
Total lack of any affection while together, almost cold and distant except for the occasional 10 minutes we had alone together (NOTE - this can go the opposite way where they jump straight into bed with you)
Body Language showed complete lack of interest.
The High Drama Incident.
Other Red Flags to Look Out For.
Correspondence After Visit and Resulting Fall Out from Complaints to Sites.
Her First Letter after my Visit.
This was a very big red flag, it had a few words at the beginning that related to my visit, then it was a standard copy and pasted format letter, they were to lazy to even remove the name of the last guy who they sent it too. Very flowery, but said very little.
Comments I Made Regarding my Next Visit
I made several comments in my next letters to her about how I would like us to have days alone together on my next visit, these were completely ignored.
Contact Outside the Agency/Sites
This was done on Vkontakte, it was the same as before we met. Letters often ignored, if I wrote while she was online I got one word answers or very little in the way of conversation.
This changed when I made a complaint to the sites about her being a Pro-Dater, letters would flow backwards and forwards and when she discovered she was on this site we had chat that lasted for 3 hours. Just proved if she wanted too she could communicate outside of the agency/sites.
Reaction To Complaints
Claimed it cost $35 USD to have a simple email translated that she sent me. (Text translation of that size would cost no more $4 USD max)
Claimed to have spoken on the phone to me, then changes her story when I tell her I will send confirmation from my phone company to the site that no phone calls took place.
Claimed she made a mistake and it was some guy from her University pretending to be me, saying he loved her and that me and her should not be together. (How can you not tell the difference between someone who has English as their natural language and someone who does not)
Claims if she was using me for money we would not be sat in the apartment eating Pizza, we would be shopping and eating in expensive restaurants, well I made it clear on the first day I knew about expensive restaurants and shopping trips. She already been accused of being an Actress before I arrived.
Attempted to make me feel guilty about making the complaints, used many different tactics such as "how can I explain to my parents that the man I love has turned against me" "You have upset me, I have done nothing but cry" "Please make this situation good, how could you live with yourself in a week, a month, or years from now knowing that you let happiness slip through your fingers by destroying our love" "You have stuck a knife in my back"
Making you feel guilty because you questioned her motives is very common, they play on your insecurities
Requests that I come back to Odessa and meet with her Father like a real Man.
The Insults and Threats
This happens after they realise you will not back down on your complaint, now you will get what they really think of you.
You will be called "a pathetic man, like the rest of them on the internet"
More Requests to meet her in Odessa (or whichever City she lives) to face up to her and be a man.
Occasionally you might receive a phone call from some angry guy, who will make threats. (Its all scare tactics to make stop your complaint) Ignore them and carry on what your doing.
My Advice When Meeting.
Research the city you are meeting, check out local restaurants, etc, find out where the ATMs are, speak to locals especially Foreigners who live there.
Be in total control of your date, do not let your girl and especially the interpreter decide what happens.
Use your Brain, listen to your gut instinct, if it tells you to walk away, Walk
But most of all RESEARCH is the most important thing you can do
I hope this very lengthy report is of help to people, not just in the case of people who have had dealings with Anastasia (I have had messages from quite a few) But also gives people a clearer understanding of how a Pro-Dater works.
