Has anybody used RussianScamCheck?

[antiscam_advise]

Damien,

Maybe you should surprise Andrew with a rose and scam check. That'll make his day and our day too if you can get a photo of him smiling. There are some red flags about Andrew, he says he lives in Estonia but he writes English too well.

You have a business because there is a need for the service you provide whether we agree with it or not. Of course most of your customers are not as knowledgeable as the pros here at the forum but I believe you want to help others and making a buck isn't your only objective. After all, the forum you have on your website is RWD and this is a place a guy can get advice from knowledgable people without having to spend money on you. One thing I noticed on your photos of ladies receiving a rose is that the older ladies don't smile as much as the younger women. After a hard life, one forgets how to smile.

BillyB, great idea !
What is his address?  
I'll get our people right on it ...

Yes: younger people, especially women are more westernized than the older ones.
When I came to US 10 years ago (it was in Portland, Maine), I was shocked how many people of all ages are smiling in public places and also for some reason asking me "How are you?" - I was wondering why do they all want to know ...

Damien

[BillyB]

Damien,

I'm glad you met a lot of friendly people in the States and had a pleasant experience. I'm also Impressed that you opened up a business within 10 years of living in a foreign country. I've noticed a lot of Russian and Ukrainians living in South King County. Many have quickly moved out of apartments to become homeowners. I'm impressed by the work ethic of the older generation. The younger generation, especially the males get in trouble with the traffic cops.

As for Andrew, he won't give me his address. RED FLAG. He won't give me his phone number. RED FLAG. Use your best guys when looking for him. He is extremely unstable and dangerous. Pack some heat. P.S. I'm not cheap, send him an even dozen roses, make them black.

[PeeWee]

Damien,

I'm glad you met a lot of friendly people in the States and had a pleasant experience. I'm also Impressed that you opened up a business within 10 years of living in a foreign country. I've noticed a lot of Russian and Ukrainians living in South King County. Many have quickly moved out of apartments to become homeowners. I'm impressed by the work ethic of the older generation. The younger generation, especially the males get in trouble with the traffic cops.

As for Andrew, he won't give me his address. RED FLAG. He won't give me his phone number. RED FLAG. Use your best guys when looking for him. He is extremely unstable and dangerous. Pack some heat. P.S. I'm not cheap, send him an even dozen roses, make them black.

Most living in Kent and Auburn I suspect. Kent has at least 3 Russian/Ukraine markets and I spotted a new Ukraine rest. the other day across the street from one of the markets.

Peewee

[BillyB]

I agree Peewee, Kent and Auburn is the place I've seen FSU citizens. Besides the opening of some markets, the FSU community has opened many churches.

[antiscam_advise]

Thanks to everyone for a great fruitful discussion about Russian Scam Check.
I learned a lot and will soon update the site with more offerings for people who prefer to send bouquet of dozen roses, mixed flower bouquet or gift baskets.
This would of course be somewhat more expensive, yet I think it may better resonate with some desires of the posters here.

If you have any other ideas for improving the service: please let me know!

Damien,
http://www.RussianScamCheck.org
admin@russianscamcheck.org

[Bruno]

I learned a lot and will soon update the site with more offerings for people who prefer to send bouquet of dozen roses, mixed flower bouquet or gift baskets.
This would of course be somewhat more expensive, yet I think it may better resonate with some desires of the posters here.

Will be good... specially for people who use special date for make the scam check... date like Christmas, St Valentin, Women day, birthday, Holly Easter, etc... for so event, a single rose is too much greedy... and nothing shocking for the lady when a men wishing a photo ( the scam check ) when he send a gift basket for the birthday of his "beloved"...

[antiscam_advise]

Will be good... specially for people who use special date for make the scam check... date like Christmas, St Valentin, Women day, birthday, Holly Easter, etc... for so event, a single rose is too much greedy... and nothing shocking for the lady when a men wishing a photo ( the scam check ) when he send a gift basket for the birthday of his "beloved"...

Thanks Bruno!
Here it is: http://www.russianscamcheck.org/
I added options for: Mixed Bouquet, 11 Roses (aka russian dozen) or Gift Basket.

All prices include deliver fee and picture (if needed).

Not to overload the site with too many options: this should be sufficient.

Any other suugestions ? - just let me know!

Damien,
http://www.RussianScamCheck.org
admin@russianscamcheck.org

[Bruno]

Any other suugestions ? - just let me know!

Nope, just one question... on a other topic, you write :

The site we have for St Petersburg is:
http://www.FlowersToPetersburg.com
Also does 30 secs movies of delivery, digital pictures etc...

These site is owned by "russianflora"... who use the following URL :
- http://www.russianflora.com/ (  Russia,Latvia,Lithuania,Estonia,Belarus,Kazakhstan,Uzbekistan,Azerbaijan,Kyrgizstan,Georgia,Tajikistan,Turkmenistan )
- http://www.flowerstoukraine.com/ ( Ukraine/Moldova )
- http://www.giftarmenia.com/ ( Armenia )
- http://www.flowers2moscow.com/ ( Moscow )
- http://www.flowerstopetersburg.com/ ( St Peterburg )
- http://www.israelflorist.com/ ( Israel )

Do you mean that you are owner of all these site ? If so, it will not be a problem to use the full catalogue from these site on the antiscam site...

In a other post in these topic, you wrote :

Now in regards to your pricing breakdown: here are actual numbers - I think it may be beneficial for everyone to know:
- 1 Single Rose: $3
- Gift wrap: $1
- Gift Card: $0.50
- Checking public directory (from $5 to $10, depending on the detination)
- Delivery fee to a gift agent: ($10-15+ depending on the destination)
- Photo service: we pay min of $3 for the photo (sometimes as much as $6) - many people do not have digital cameras, so processing takes their time and money.

- Credit Card or PayPal Transaction fee: $1.90

Total COSTS to Russian Scam Check: from $25 to $37 depending on the destination.
Russian Scam Check charges flat fee of $44 fopr a Basic Check, which leaves an average of 30% gross profit margin.

It seem to me that you have forget something in the cost... a lot of your customer are certainly send via referal/affiliate system ( banner on other site )... the earned money by these site are 10% of the total amount pay by send customer... It mean that you need lower your estimation of your average gross profit margin... Sorry to inform you that you earn lower money that you have think 

[andrewfi]

Excuse me for being at something of a loss here.

You don't do anything unusual, you just hire folks to deliver your expensive blooms. Anti-scam? Where?

The odd thing is that you say don't check directories before making deliveries. Whoda thunkit? Normally one does that first. No id check. Just some kind of floral offering and a picture (sometimes & if the woman agrees).
If a client was lucky enough to use this URL:http://www.flowerstopetersburg.com/cgi-bin/store/index.cgi?cart_id=2654074.79383&pid=73 apparently your company, the cost for the same service -  picture and single rose is under $26.00.

[jb]

I'm having trouble remembering if I ever saw a phone directory in Russia.  Maybe they exist, but I haven't seen one.

[Bruno]

I'm having trouble remembering if I ever saw a phone directory in Russia.  Maybe they exist, but I haven't seen one.

Site with a lot of links to several FSU phone directory
http://www.uka.ru/realty/telephone.htm

Similar too :
http://weblist.ru/english/Reference/Phone_Numbers/

For Moscow and St Petersburg :
http://interweb.spb.ru/phone/

[antiscam_advise]

In a other post in these topic, you wrote :

It seem to me that you have forget something in the cost... a lot of your customer are certainly send via referal/affiliate system ( banner on other site )... the earned money by these site are 10% of the total amount pay by send customer... It mean that you need lower your estimation of your average gross profit margin... Sorry to inform you that you earn lower money that you have think 

Yes, Marketing expenses are whole separate topic: we usually loose money on the first 1-2 orders, and the only way we make money on flower/gift delivery business now with prices in Russia constantly increasing is by getting returning business and referrals from satisfied clients. So essentially we have one chance to do a job right and when we do: we get a lots of returned business. Majority of it is coming from referrals. Our customers rarely leave our site as choices of products we offer far exceed that of a competitors: spa baskets, chocolate baskets, more uniqiue gifts than just floral arrangements.

Damien

[antiscam_advise]

Excuse me for being at something of a loss here.

You don't do anything unusual, you just hire folks to deliver your expensive blooms. Anti-scam? Where?

The odd thing is that you say don't check directories before making deliveries. Whoda thunkit? Normally one does that first. No id check. Just some kind of floral offering and a picture (sometimes & if the woman agrees).
If a client was lucky enough to use this URL:http://www.flowerstopetersburg.com/cgi-bin/store/index.cgi?cart_id=2654074.79383&pid=73 apparently your company, the cost for the same service -  picture and single rose is under $26.00.

Anti-scam is simply in the intend to help people to put the idea that "flower delivery" helps to uncover some of the simple truth.
The  $26.00 is a price that doesnt include delivery fees and picture, so the end up price is around the same.
In flower delivery case the directory and public records search is also not part of the service.

I hope this clarifies it for you, Andrew!

Damien

[antiscam_advise]

Site with a lot of links to several FSU phone directory
http://www.uka.ru/realty/telephone.htm

Similar too :
http://weblist.ru/english/Reference/Phone_Numbers/

For Moscow and St Petersburg :
http://interweb.spb.ru/phone/

These are public directories online, mostly available for Moscow and St.Petersburg and other larger cities, but for most towns there are not.
Here are some:
http://www.mark-itt.ru/jwz/WWW_list/Reference/White_pages/

We use public records sources via our Russian lawyer connection: we have a deal with them and we are also their client as legal entity.

Damien

[Manny]

Maybe you should surprise Andrew with a rose and scam check. That'll make his day and our day too if you can get a photo of him smiling. There are some red flags about Andrew, he says he lives in Estonia but he writes English too well.

That would be because Andrew is British but living in Estonia! 

And I can confirm that he is indeed real as only last week whilst visiting Estonia with my lady we had a meal in a restaurant and the three of us were sat together and he was wearing no red flags! 

[andrewfi]

Damien, unlike your impression of your clients, I did not come up with yesterday's turnips! The link and price I showed did include the photograph and anyone willing to suspend their disbelief long enough to give credulity to the idea that you do not check addresses before making deliveries deserves everything they get.

We have a saying in English 'don't try to kid a kidder!'

You are simply running a nice value added service that plays/preys upon the fears of lonely men. Nothing wrong with that at all but don't try to tell me that your site does not carry words that it quite clearly does!

[antiscam_advise]

Hi Kidder Andrew,

In Russian we say: "Ne uchi uchionogo ... "
Which means "Do not teach a teacher" so English one is very close by meaning!
Thank you for enriching my knowledge of English ...

Also thank you for finally admitting that the service is indeed valuable.

Btw, my girl-friend is from Estonia, so I've been there few times.

All the best to you!

Damien
http://www.RussianScamCheck.org

[antiscam_advise]

And I can confirm that he is indeed real as only last week whilst visiting Estonia with my lady we had a meal in a restaurant and the three of us were sat together and he was wearing no red flags! 

Manchester ,
Where in Estonia did you visit?

Tallinn ? Any other places?

Damien
http://www.RussianFlora.com

[Manny]

I first went to Estonia in 1998. I have visited Tallinn, Parnu, Rakvere, Paldiski, Saku amongst other places.

This visit it was just Tallinn and Parnu. I have friends and property there.

I have also driven there a few times and entered through Latvia.

So your point is?

[andrewfi]

I have not changed my position.
You offer a service that is misleadingly described to the scared and paranoid. I am happy to recommend it in those terms.

Simply put, you have a network of flower sellers who you pay to do their job. You charge extra to some people, for the same same service, by describing the service in different terms.

As a marketer that is just fine with me.

The paranoid man sending a single sad bloom to his inamorata might be a tad discomfited to discover that she was no rejecting him because he is a selfish man, of little taste and less culture. He might feel a little disappointed to find that your service actually offers him nothing but the opportunity to insult his penfriend.

If one needed to send flowers and get a photograph of the recipient, having checked the address beforehand, one need do no more than use your more realistic (and significantly less expensive) genuine services.

[andrewfi]

Anti-scam is simply in the intend to help people to put the idea that "flower delivery" helps to uncover some of the simple truth.
The  $26.00 is a price that doesnt include delivery fees and picture, so the end up price is around the same.
In flower delivery case the directory and public records search is also not part of the service.

I hope this clarifies it for you, Andrew!

Damien

BTW, this post from you is factually incorrect. It is for a single long stem rose, delivery, a digital picture and includes delivery and your surcharge due to the low order value. One can only assume that your minions would also have checked the delivery address before attempting delivery.
Do these services you claim as yours actually belong to you? You seem to have but a fleeting acquaintance with them...

[PeeWee]

BTW, this post from you is factually incorrect. It is for a single long stem rose, delivery, a digital picture and includes delivery and your surcharge due to the low order value. One can only assume that your minions would also have checked the delivery address before attempting delivery.
Do these services you claim as yours actually belong to you? You seem to have but a fleeting acquaintance with them...

Andrew, I believe that I had questioned the cheapness of the single rose early on in this thread, I am with you in that regard. I wonder now if you would view this service as at least "better than nothing" attempt to validate her real self and what alternative would you recommend, short of an actual visit to meet her?

peewee

[andrewfi]

If you feel you 'must' do this then simply use their normal service. Not their paranoid special for which they charge extra.

The proprietor was incorrect when he suggested that the prices for the two services are about the same.

If you want a picture of your penfirend with her flowers simply order through the link I supplied above.
They will do the following:
1) Check the address (otherwise how can they give instructions to the delivery boy)
2) Deliver the flowers
3) Take a picture
Cost: Slightly less than $26.00

or pay the higher fee and get the following:
1) Check the address (otherwise how can they give instructions to the delivery boy)
2) Deliver the flowers
3) Take a picture
Cost: $36.00

[BC]

I always wondered how many of these 'verification' flower deliveries supply the corner flower kiosk.

An enterprising RW could probably open a small scale gift & flower shop.

[beattledog]

i have not

beattledog