Just getting started.

[ericdraven]

Hi to everyone,

I'm an airline pilot living in the United States. I mention this because I can fly to other countries for free, I just have to pay the taxes. So going to meet a girl is not that big a deal for me, I just need the days off to do it. A friend of mine found his wife on Cherry Blossoms dating web site and convinced me to sign up. That site is mostly Asian girls, which I like, but I kind of have a thing for Russian girls. I also like Latin girls and South America because I don't have to deal with the jet lag. But I am getting off topic. Eastern European is my favorite type of woman.

So there are some beautiful women from the Ukraine on Cherry Blossoms. I have been emailing 3 trying to figure out if at least one is not a scammer. Two of them only send me pictures that look professionally done. I asked one of them to send a picture of her holding a piece of paper with my name on it. She got offended and said "What next? Do you want me to send you a photo of me sitting on a refrigerator?" So she is not legit. The third sends me normal photo's of herself like you would find on a facebook page. Of course a scammer could just download pictures from somebody's facebook page and use them. She has not asked me for money or anything but then I get this email:

We  notify  you  that  this  client  of  ours  -  miss  Anna
xxxxxxxxxx@gmail.com is currently off our service as her paid contract
with  us  is  over.  We  have  been providing her Internet access to a
mailbox  that  we  set  up  for  her  and we have been translating the
correspondence  between  you and her. Unfortunately at this moment her
financial  situation  does  not  allow  her  to  enrich her account to
continue your correspondence.

If  you  have any questions or you want to set up another contract for
correspondence    -    feel    free    to    contact    us    at
azbuka.pereklad@gmail.com


Yours sincerely,


Maria  Sokolova
translation  agency
azbuka.pereklad(professional translations).


Nobody has asked me for money but I think it is implied by the email that somebody needs to pay if I want to keep talking to her. To me this is a red flag but not necessarily proof of a scam. I tried to look up the translation agency and it seems to be legit from what I can tell. At least I could not find anybody saying it was a scam. So in my searching for answers I eventually land here. So I am asking for help/advice. If I cut all three of these women loose as scammers I still don't know a reputable site to find a legit Russian/Ukrainian women. Can someone point me in the right direction?

[ML]

Welcome to the board.  You need to take the course: Pursuing FSUW 101.  Below are the basics.

First, avoid all agencies and any websites that require pay per contacting each woman and/or pay per each letter.

Second, go to these websites:

http://singles.ru/
http://www.luckylovers.net/
http://www.rbrides.com/
http://www.ukrainedate.com/
http://www.allsinglerussiangirls.com/
http://freepersonals.ru/
http://bride.ru/
http://fdating.com
http://www.1vipdating.com/
http://freeukrainianwomen.com/
http://okfreedating.net/
http://luckylifepartner.com/

The below are in Russian language.
 
 http://www.edarling.ru/
 http://vmireznakomstv.ru/
 http://www.your-ideal.com/
 http://www.24open.ru/
 http://loveplanet.ru/
 http://www.maybe.ru/
 http://znakomstva-sitelove.ru/

Go to the above free and monthly cost ($19-30) dating websites.  Make up a nice profile of yourself.  Use the search engines to find about 800 - 1,000 women who are in the age range you want and have the education, height, weight, language, children, drinking, smoking, etc., parameters that you desire and are in a single target geographical area.

Do this screening first rather than look at pictures first.  After you have done the screening; then look at the pictures.

When you are two months away from your trip departure time, then start sending out your first message.

Send a generic but well written introductory message to all with each individual name typed at the top.

Of those  who reply, filter out all who make you worry in any way or give you concerns.

Send second generic but well written letter to all with their individual names typed at the top.  Modify it a bit to answer any questions that an individual woman may have asked.  Yes, this takes a lot of time.

Repeat these procedures over about 6-8 weekly emails and you will have narrowed down your list to 15-30 gals.  You can continue to use a generic letter for each successive mailing, but be sure to modify it a bit to answer specific questions any gal may have asked and to ask specific questions of your own related to the family, interests, jobs, etc., of each individual woman.  Yes, this takes a lot of time, but each week you will be cutting your list down. 

Finalize your trip plans and start scheduling the women into time slots.

If you follow the above procedure, you will not have the need to ask us questions about scammers, etc., as you will have filtered out all scammers.  And if any of the women you are writing to give you any sheeeeet or cause you any concern at all, or ask for money for ANYTHING you simply drop them off your lists and continue on.

[ML]

And next, not to be rude, but I am surprised that an airline pilot would be referring to 'the Ukraine.'

I am not aware there is a county on the planet earth that is called 'the Ukraine.'

Is it on another planet containing countries such as the Germany, the Japan, the Brazil, etc.?

[ericdraven]

Thanks ML. That is a lot of good information. I guess looking at pictures first is what gets you into trouble. I had found a huge list of Russian agency sites not to go to but just because something is not on the black list does not make it legit. This is a big help.

I don't know why I think of it as "The Ukraine". It must have been how I first heard it. Calling it Ukraine just sounds odd to me. Kind of like "The Bahamas" or "The United States of America." Technically wrong but that's how I hear it in my head.

I really appreciate the great information.

[veritas]

I don't know why I think of it as "The Ukraine". It must have been how I first heard it.

Perhaps you first heard this line by the Beatles:  "Well, 'The Ukraine' girls really knock me out" ...   

Kevin

[Kuna]

And next, not to be rude, but I am surprised that an airline pilot would be referring to 'the Ukraine.'

I am not aware there is a county on the planet earth that is called 'the Ukraine.'

Is it on another planet containing countries such as the Germany, the Japan, the Brazil, etc.?

Best not to forget THE Unites States either, or THE Philippines.   

I don't know why I think of it as "The Ukraine". It must have been how I first heard it. Calling it Ukraine just sounds odd to me. Kind of like "The Bahamas" or "The United States of America." Technically wrong but that's how I hear it in my head.

I really appreciate the great information.

Eric,

I think we (in the west) were referring to Ukraine as The Ukraine during Soviet times,  as if it was a region of the Soviet Union, not a country.

My grandfather was Ukrainian and we all grew up calling it The Ukraine too - so don't feel bad.

ML is right though...  people will just refer to it as Ukraine but I don't think anyone (except a Westerner on an Internet forum) is ever going to be offended if you call it The Ukraine. 

Likewise you will see it written in Cyrillic as Ukrainia too at times, the OTHER way we referred to Ukraine when we were kids.

The word Ukraine means (loosely) border-land.  Some in the west would prefer to think as Ukraine being a borderland of Europe...  those in the east would prefer to think of it as a borderland of Russia.  This is another area some people will LOVE to debate.   

The info ML has given on agencies is generally good.  The main thing to remember in my mind is not to be paranoid...   just be alert that there can be some scammers out there.  It's probably best not to try to expose them as it could offend some genuine ladies.  They tend to expose themselves over time.      It's impossible to get scammed if you don't send money...  it's really that simple.



Question for you... or perhaps something to think of...

If you DO find a lady in RU/UA that you click with and you eventually marry - you will have to consider how to best support her in the early years.  If your job keeps you traveling constantly it could be very difficult for some women to settle in because they will have no support network while you are away... and the loneliness could drive them made.

Before marriage I changed jobs and did a significant career downgrade to accommodate the extra time I would need at home - and thinking back I don't think we would have "made it" if I was away as much as I use to be.

Just a thought...

Kuna

[ericdraven]

Thanks Kuna. I have thought of the effects of my job on someone transplanted to the US. Going out of town all the time is the worst part of my job relationship-wise. I can make some adjustments to make it work. I could switch my schedule to all "out and backs". Those are one day trips so I am home every night. I would just head out to the airport in the morning, fly two or four legs and be home that night. That would give me around 14 days off per month to be with her all day long.

[Turboguy]

First, avoid all agencies and any websites that require pay per contacting each woman and/or pay per each letter.

Second, go to these websites:

Nice post and good advice ML but there is one agency that I think should top anyones list since I hear more guys say they met their wife on it than all others combined and it is not on your list.  That one is Elena's Models.
 
 

And next, not to be rude, but I am surprised that an airline pilot would be referring to 'the Ukraine.'

Don't feel bad about the Eric, last week I heard Diane Sawyer call it "The Ukriane"   I think someone must have corrected her.  She did that on the lead in and then when the story was covered in more detail she said it correctly.
 
 
 

[sniper]

I'm an airline pilot living in the United States.

I hope you will finally find the woman of your dreams! I met my husband on rosebrides.com by the way
Whats the problem with professional pictures? I had ONLY professional pics on my profile, simply cuz I dont like 'look-how-hot-I-am-standing-in-front-of-my-bathroom-mirror' pics.
Oh and since you are a pilot...cant help it(suffer from TERRIBLE aerophobia) - could you please tell me my plane wont fall to ocean during my flight back home to Russia....pleaaaaase 

[ericdraven]

Maybe professional pictures is not the right word for it. I mean a picture that looks like a model posing for a magazine taken by a professional photographer. Let me see if I can upload an example. This is one of the photo's I was sent.

Oh, and if you make it to the airport alive the most dangerous part of your flight to Russia is over. Trust me, I'm a professional.

[sniper]

Maybe professional pictures is not the right word for it. I mean a picture that looks like a model posing for a magazine taken by a professional photographer. Let me see if I can upload an example. This is one of the photo's I was sent.

Oh, and if you make it to the airport alive the most dangerous part of your flight to Russia is over. Trust me, I'm a professional.

Ok so here are the pics I had on my profile. Did I look fake?) What do you say?

Cant trust anyone...cant sleep since I bought the tickets. And really mad at Lufthansa cuz they dont tell me what kind of Boeing 747-400 its gonna be so that I can search for accidents and incidents

[jeff9556]

Ok so here are the pics I had on my profile. Did I look fake?) What do you say?

Cant trust anyone...cant sleep since I bought the tickets. And really mad at Lufthansa cuz they dont tell me what kind of Boeing 747-400 its gonna be so that I can search for accidents and incidents

IMO your pictures do not look fake, they look professional but not "fake". Perhaps the OP, like me, has received pictures of women in their underwear (appears so), generally girls don't send sexy hot pictures of themselves in underwear to complete strangers, not ones they're intending to marry at least.

Good luck with your flights, don't worry too much about Lufthansa, I've always had impeccable service out of them, including going way out their way to retrieve some hand-luggage I forget in the overhead compartment in Frankfurt. Not the most luxurious airline but very dependable and they're Star Alliance so can't really go wrong there.

[ericdraven]

I agree. Your pictures look professional but not fake. The 400 is the type of 747 it is. There is the original 747 the 200, 300 and 400. The 400 is the newest and largest of the 747 line. It's a tried and true aircraft. I would be more worried if it was something brand new like the A380. Don't worry about your trip the 747-400 is a good airplane and Lufthansa is a solid airline.

[sniper]

IMO your pictures do not look fake, they look professional but not "fake". Perhaps the OP, like me, has received pictures of women in their underwear (appears so), generally girls don't send sexy hot pictures of themselves in underwear to complete strangers, not ones they're intending to marry at least.

Good luck with your flights, don't worry too much about Lufthansa, I've always had impeccable service out of them, including going way out their way to retrieve some hand-luggage I forget in the overhead compartment in Frankfurt. Not the most luxurious airline but very dependable and they're Star Alliance so can't really go wrong there.

Yes, you probably right on that. The example that ericdraven provided really does look sorta fake. And I agree, a woman who s interested in long termed serious relationships wouldnt send her pictures in underwear.
What I meant is simply professional pics cant be(or shouldnt be) red flag. All girls I knew who wanted to marry a foreign guy had at least one photoshoot to have good professional pictures on their profiles.
Thank you! I seriously think I will die out of panick attack or smth. But unfortunately its the only way to go home...( Yeah I think they are pretty reliable, I flew Lufthansa on my first trip to USA. Certainly better than Aeroflot.

[jeff9556]

So there are some beautiful women from the Ukraine on Cherry Blossoms. I have been emailing 3 trying to figure out if at least one is not a scammer.

Hi ericdraven, first thing is relax. Running around trying to figure out who is a scammer and who's not will drive you bonkers. Yes read the 101 guides and do your due diligence but don't get all hypo on it - you'll start seeing red flags where there are none and potentially jeopardize a perfectly good relationship.

Dude -  asking a women to take a photo of herself with your name is rather degrading and I don't blame her for objecting. There are better ways of confirming her identity etc, and a certain amount of finesse is often required, sometimes not though - quite a few RW I have met on EM simply gave me their Skype details in the first letter.

Also three is really nothing, I have probably contacted over 100 on EM alone, and several hundred on Mamba, and a few more on other sites - you have to screen heavily (and you will be screened also). It takes time so don't get too wound up if a few scammers come your way - just brush them off and get on with your life.

[sniper]

I agree. Your pictures look professional but not fake. The 400 is the type of 747 it is. There is the original 747 the 200, 300 and 400. The 400 is the newest and largest of the 747 line. It's a tried and true aircraft. I would be more worried if it was something brand new like the A380. Don't worry about your trip the 747-400 is a good airplane and Lufthansa is a solid airline.

Yeah the one you showed looks fake...
meh...http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_747-400#Variants which one?)

[sniper]

There are better ways of confirming her identity etc, and a certain amount of finesse is often required, sometimes not though - quite a few RW I have met on EM simply gave me their Skype details in the first letter.

Thats right! Just ask for Skype and try to chat. Thats what I did.

[Daveman]

Hi to everyone,

I'm an airline pilot living in the United States. I mention this because I can fly to other countries for free, I just have to pay the taxes.

BWahahaha!  Have you seen how the fares are structured?  It only costs like five bucks to fly anywhere in FSU, just add $3000 in taxes... 


Okay, so I'm exaggerating.... a little...


Lots of great info in the thread already so I'll just sit over here and continue laughing at that "free" and "taxes" line...


and...


WELCOME! 


Dave

[SANDRO43]

Sniper, 50% of fatal airline crashes are due to pilots' errors, according to statistics (http://planecrashinfo.com/cause.htm). So, rather than worrying about planes, have a close look at your perspective pilot after boarding .

[sniper]

Sniper, 50% of fatal airline crashes are due to pilots' errors, according to statistics (http://planecrashinfo.com/cause.htm). So, rather than worrying about planes, have a close look at your perspective pilot after boarding .

Yeah, I know) I am almost an expert in plane crashes. But believe it or not, they dont want to provide me with such an info about pilot and crew! I called ans asked about the pilot - they say they dont know and they ccant tell me about whoevers experience! I think its bull***. So I guess...have to just become a fatalist)

[Vincenzo]

Have you ever met red Aeroflot hammer-and-sickle girls?

http://www.freepersonals.ru/profile?id=397403;pid=833404;


http://www.elenasmodels.com/index.php?ap=5655674

[SANDRO43]

Yeah, I know) I am almost an expert in plane crashes.

In the sense you survived one ? I did, while taking my first seaplane lesson in 1984 - again due to a pilot's error - but that did not stop me from flying in the 27 following years, so don't worry, the odds are against your perishing on such occasions .

[Faux Pas]

Yeah, I know) I am almost an expert in plane crashes. But believe it or not, they dont want to provide me with such an info about pilot and crew! I called ans asked about the pilot - they say they dont know and they ccant tell me about whoevers experience! I think its bull***. So I guess...have to just become a fatalist)

The chances are quite good your pilot has never been in a crash. 

[sniper]

Have you ever met red Aeroflot hammer-and-sickle girls?

http://www.freepersonals.ru/profile?id=397403;pid=833404;


http://www.elenasmodels.com/index.php?ap=5655674

Thats not even a cute girl) Well, met many and not impressed

[sniper]

In the sense you survived one ? I did, while taking my first seaplane lesson in 1984 - again due to a pilot's error - but that did not stop me from flying in the 27 following years, so don't worry, the odds are against your perishing on such occasions .

Wow...! No, in the sense of how much research i did. I think I m ready for some kind of scientific paper on that)

The chances are quite good your pilot has never been in a crash. 

Haha thats right)