Welcome to RWD.
I think of the several (RW/UW) girls I've mentioned this to, surprisingly, all seem to think it's 100% scam. They're a stubborn lot sometimes.
Ok, just something to ponder-
Are they stubborn (yes that's entirely likely lol)
or do they perhaps understand their own culture?(just as likely- occums razor?)
Not to be Captian Obvious- but there is a reason they
all feel this way ,so I wouldn't easily dismiss their advice, while taking advice (including mine ) here.
one important distinction:
Where you bringing up pursuing RW/UW in general way? or were their thoughts more towards you bringing up a *tour*?
You are in a position where a big agency tour seems a total waste of time to me ..
despite having done one a decade before , and many of the fundamental "potential land mines " remaining the same, other things have changed,and have changed quite a bit.
Obviously you'll get all kinds of advise ,it's the nature of the beast

mine:
1.As mentioned , I wouldn't easily brush off real UW's/RW's you know and work with, advice.
In fact if i felt them too young, i'd see if they had some more appropriately aged friends that they felt might be a good match,and it is a bit surprising that they havn't already tried to play matchmaker on their own.
2. I wouldn't even think of Latin America, if i was 3 hours from the FSU.
That's just crazy!!!!

(yes i've been to both many times)
3.If possible, I would try and get my deposit back on the big agency tour to Odessa.
If i couldn't, i'd simply and easily write it off as money well spent by
not going, dead serious!!
unless you ARE just looking for fun and wanting to see that popular city,, for itself.
If interested in a tour i'd recommend Jacks./First Dream as mentioned by others,
and at the very least i'd contact him for additional contacts /agencies /terps etc for use while there in
Odessa.
4. I'd take one of the nice flight attendants , to Crimea.

Good Luck!