Starting out

[mendeleyev]

New seekers will often chafe when more experienced guys caution using advice like "don't fall in love with a photo," for example.

Photos are easy to fake when the new guy is using a pay-per-letter service. He has no idea if the girl is real and worse, he has no idea if the girl in the photos is really the girl to whom he is writing. All he knows is that a new photo, often more sexy that the one before, seems to magically appear with each letter.

One of the most common tricks of the pay-per-letter sites is to purchase photos from studios. Imagine this scenario: a hot young girl is walking near the Metro and sees a poster advertising free photo sessions. The deal seems fairly simple--she poses and receives a free portfolio, or sometime she pays a small fee for it. The photo agency gives her a copy of the photos and she signs an innocent looking "representation" agreement in which the agency promises to distribute her photos in the hopes of landing modeling opportunities for her. She likes that idea, who wouldn't? So she signs.

There are many reputable agencies that will indeed shop her portfolio to various advertising agencies but some of the smaller agencies are fronts for porn operations and are looking for new stars, not to mention looking to make a quick buck on photos taken from various girls.

So, the photos are sold and sometimes to marriage agencies, many being the pay-per-letter type.

A profile is created, the girl is given a fake name and before long guys across the pond are falling in love and writing their hearts out, paying letter by letter.

In many cases the girl in the photo has no idea that she has a profile. She often has no idea that she has a fake name and that her photos are used to write letters. Were she to meet the guys who write to her, in many cases she'd have no idea who they are.

The marriage agency has purchased anywhere from 20-50  of these photos, including outtakes, so it is very easy to include a new photo with every letter. Affiliates of the marriage agency pay the parent agency to use the profiles so everyone is making money--except for the girl in many cases.

So how does something that could possibly be similar to what I've described work in real life? Watch carefully the poses of the very attractive girl. She is asked to pose from innocent to very sexy, from formal to informal, and even holding a teddy bear as if it was a treasured gift from someone special.







In no way am I accusing this photo studio, Real Russia, the photographers or model Yana as contributing to dating scams. But I think that upon watching you'll see how easy similar photos can be made, obtained and misused.

Remember, don't fall in love with a photo.

The antidote is a modern invention known as Skype. Skype is your friend.

[JayH]

The photographers are very active in recruiting girls. This point needs to be understood by people who condemn the  girls themselves prematurely as being complicit in "the" scam and must be complicit ;Photographers sign girls up-- some actually do go to websites and participate in "chat" and actual contact including real life. Now-- some photos either get onsold-or placed by 3rd party( maybe photographer) -- 3rd party gets paid--that passes thru system to the girl . So yes-- she is getting paid -but may have no idea whatsoever the type of site that generated that payment to her.Chances are she believes she is on the way to a modelling career and has someone paving the way for her.
Mende mentions so of the very serious potential hazards girls can face-- that is very, very real and dangerous aspect.

[mendeleyev]

Next we'll talk about Stereotypes.

In the video Sergei will pronounce that term like a Russian and it is the same, Стереотипы, just spoken with an accent.

Sergei has compiled 12 Stereotypes and you are free to comment on the YouTube channel if you'd like to add to his list. Among the ones he lists as silly and outdated (his words) are that most Russian men are drunks and that most Russian husbands beat their wives.

The two groups promoting these stereotypes are:

- Marriage agencies (it gives you a feeling that since you're not one of those, your chances are good).

- Russian women looking for a new husband (sure beats having to explain her part in what really went wrong).





So, Sergei is "killing these stereotypes" or so he says. I agree with his perspective because despite what many RW say, he is telling the truth. As for anyone really killing the stereotypes, well I'm not holding my breath.

[TS]

Photographers also give free modeling shoots and portfolio that the girls can use to get modeling jobs.  In return the photographer gets the rights to the pictures.  This photographer then sells to the agencies.  Some of the agencies to save money have their own photographer on board.  The girl has no clue her photos are on internet dating sites.  She does not really care because she needed the portfolio to get a modelling job and does not have the money to pay for it.  Or she gets a bunch of nice photos for free even if not a model.
Don't assume all these girls are real models as a charming photo guy can get the ugliest of them convinced their models and photo shop the photos and sell to agencies.
Best advise is visit often and never write.  Face to face has always been the best way to meet someone.
 
 
 

[cc3]

I was entranced by my fiancee's appearance in the photos I saw before I met her. To me, she was the quintessential, mysterious and exotic Slavic beauty (photo in family/friends area of the Gallery). When, after ten months of digital communications (both of us were ending unsatisfactory relationships), we finally met, I was amazed...she was even more alluring in reality than in her photos. But, her remarkable inner beauty was something that no photos ever revealed and never could exaggerate or falsely enhance.

I know that I am extremely fortunate. I can only wish that those on this forum who are deserving and discerning (as opposed to the playboys/sex tourists) find what I have found in this far away and culturally alien, but provocatively magnetic, land.

[Daz0187]

I was entranced by my fiancee's appearance in the photos I saw before I met her. To me, she was the quintessential, mysterious and exotic Slavic beauty (photo in family/friends area of the Gallery). When, after ten months of digital communications (both of us were ending unsatisfactory relationships), we finally met, I was amazed...she was even more alluring in reality than in her photos. But, her remarkable inner beauty was something that no photos ever revealed and never could exaggerate or falsely enhance.

I know that I am extremely fortunate. I can only wish that those on this forum who are deserving and discerning (as opposed to the playboys/sex tourists) find what I have
found in this far away and culturally alien, but provocatively magnetic, land.

CC3

I am also a very lucky man I think.
After meeting a lot of FSU beauties online and the continued photos that you can see def look like they are taken in a studio, then everything is going well with communication between you both until the money email comes through.

I was lucky enough to find My girl. She had only joined Free personals 2 days prior and had only been chatting with a couple of guys during this time.
As soon as we met online we hit it off, Within a week we were on skype almost every morning and evening so I knew she was real.
At the start I explained to her where I was at with trusting anyone that I had met online and thought that all girls were scammers. She def changed my mind on that subject and now we are getting married which I'm over the moon.

The way I got past the scammers was to set up a different email & Skype account so that even when you get comfy with a girl and get off the chat sites you still can be safe from being scammed after you hit the delete and block button.

I hope my input helps any newbies to the world of online dating.

Daz

[cc3]

Fantastic, Daz! Congratulations!

[Daz0187]

Thanks CC3

Im really happy at the moment and My girl is climbing the walls with excitment.

I asked her to start looking for a ring yesterday so now she is telling all her friends.
Its just her mum that she hasn't said anything to as yet

[Gator]

Mendy,

Splendid!

Real Russia is a fantastic YouTube channel for learning about Russian culture.   Thanks for calling attention to it.  Two guys from Ufa (Sergey) produce  videos showing slices of life in Ufa and Moscow.   


Men who never have traveled to the FSU will learn much from watching the videos. Here are the four I watched. 

Video 43 - Sergey visits a provincial girl, Katya,  living in Moscow.   Katya works at BTB Bank where she earns $1,400/mo.   She gives a tour of her apartment.   The rent is $1,300 which she splits 4 ways with her three roommates.     She spends $450/mo on payments for her Kia  (even though she works for a bank she has to pay 17.5% interest!!!!!).   Her apartment is possibly better than average given the ample parking available. 

Video 33 -  Sergey visits a Ufa nightclub.  This is for the young men who would like to go to a nightclub in the FSU (plus horndogs who enjoy leering at pretty girls).  There are far more women than men at the club, many dancing without men.  The women are attractive  wearing fashionable clothes while many of the guys are in casual clothing, even T-shirts.  A few women like to show their tongues, and one woman complete with tongue piercing demonstrates her oral sex skills. 

Video 50 - Sergey visits a Moscow park with apple trees blooming and young women relaxing in spring attire after a long winter  I have been to this park in South Moscow.  I concur with Sergey that it is full of women.  RWD men who do not want to use a bridal agency nor go to the nightclubs,  this is a fine example of where you can just walk around and meet young women.  Some may even speak some English, and some of them may even find you interesting enough to talk for a while. 

Video 60 - Sergey visits a barbershop in Ufa.  The stylist named Nina is a fine looking woman with a glowing personality.  IMO this type of RW should be at the top of a man's search list.  They are out there, but not too many listed with bridal agencies because the RM like them too.   The co-producer gets a $7 haircut (including shampoo).  The haircut resembles what I got at my Ft. Bragg ROTC summer camp with the 82nd Airborne Division.   

[Shadow]

I would like to caution the use of Skype as 'holy' way of communication.
While it is indeed a good way, at the same time there are some tricks.
With relatively cheap software it is possible to emulate a female voice and manipulate a video that makes it seem a woman is communicating with you.

The old caution remains: do not send money to someone you never met in person. Including the tax officer 

[JayH]

Men who never have traveled to the FSU will learn much from watching the videos.

I have often commented that generally speaking the fsuw are way to sophisticated for most( not all-- but most)  of the searchers &  mob aspirants.
Videos can help dispel the idea that western guys are "saving" girls from a life worse than death.far to many guys seem to be still thinking like that.
The slice of real life in videos should help prepare a guy -- at least a little !!
 

[mendeleyev]

This video accomplishes several things.

- First is the use of an apartment. I don't know how the young man traveled on his earlier visit but think that you'll enjoy this visit to Belarus from a young man from the UK. On his second trip over he had his girl arrange an apartment and for guys who've never traveled to the FSU you'll get a tour of apartment living in Eastern Europe.

We speak on the forum about apartments versus hotels and here you can see the obvious benefits of one over the other; such a privacy, freedom to come and go, ability to prepare and enjoy meals, etc.

- In addition the young man has done a nice job editing and explaining his experiences. You'll see a slice of life in Belarus that is very representative across the region. What he experienced there is very much like life in mid size Ukrainian and Russian cities. For those who are interested in Belarus but have never traveled there, this is a nice way to see what you're missing!

[mendeleyev]

If staying in a rented apartment you'll need to purchase food. For someone who has not yet traveled to the FSU, remember that the packaging may be very different from back home. In this video you'll see milk for example, in a plastic package instead of a sturdy waxed container. Milk in Russia can come in a variety of packaging but for many this will be the first time to see milk like this. Mayo and ketchup very often come in the same type of packaging with a plastic spout for pouring.

Janna shows us eggs in a package of 10, normal in this part of the world. But don't be surprised in some small markets and kiosks to see elderly pensioners purchasing eggs 2 or 3 at a time. For many Russians, eggs aren't always cooked for breakfast but often are used as ingredients for other dishes. Unless you're shopping in one of the regional "big box" stores when are generally on the outskirts of most cities, vegetables and fruits are usually sold by the piece instead of being distributed pre-packaged by the pound.

To relieve any fears, Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, etc, are modern countries and you really don't need to bring supplies from home. Just about anything you enjoy at home can be found locally. That being said, some travelers do bring some very small amounts of selected items just as starters until they can get to the local markets to buy staples but in most cases even that isn't always necessary. From coffee to toilet tissue to soap to food items--they're here waiting for your first visit to a local market which can be a very cool cultural experience in a new place.

Our guide Janna speaks English, heavily accented, and that is how you'll most often hear it spoken here. With a little patience you can train your ears to recognize what is spoken and understand her dialogue. Janna is going to illustrate prices based on a trip to the local market in autumn 2013 so the prices are fairly representative of what to expect.

[fathertime]

I would like to caution the use of Skype as 'holy' way of communication.
While it is indeed a good way, at the same time there are some tricks.
With relatively cheap software it is possible to emulate a female voice and manipulate a video that makes it seem a woman is communicating with you.

The old caution remains: do not send money to someone you never met in person. Including the tax officer 

interesting shadow....i cant imagine being fooled by software during webcamming...i would think that it would be totally obvious...but some guys may have real bad vision or something...


Fathertime! 

[JayH]

Mende's comments about the packaging  are quite funny-- I spent a lot of time in the supermarket trying to figure out what things were.As I have repeatedly found asking others can lead to a fun experience-given my lack of Russian.In Ukraine I cannot ever remember not being able to find what I wanted to buy-- so have confidence that it is an easy enough place to shop. Checkouts display amounts as per west-- so you can see how much to pay-- and as far as I can remember-- I used credit cards to pay in supermarkets -- so all in all-- no big deal.The bottled water is very cheap in supermarkets--make sure you have researched brand names and source of water!
As an aside--- I think I have probably learnt more Russian while shopping than any other way!!

[JayH]

interesting shadow....i cant imagine being fooled by software during webcamming...i would think that it would be totally obvious...but some guys may have real bad vision or something...


Fathertime!

It is not so much a Skype type thing--but on notorious mob sites where video is used on webcam. It is not universal-- but on any given day I could find examples if I tried.
Combine that where multiple web chat is happening and the per hour income being earned is astonishing