Has anybody used RussianScamCheck?

[PeeWee]

One can't be scammed if one does not send one any money. Phone calls and flowers are almost a given no matter whom it is that you date. In fact I would calculate to date that I have spent much less money on current RW even including phone calls and roses than I would had I dated an AW over the same period of time. At this point were I to be scammed by her I would be out less than a few hundred dollars.

First big expense is the trip to Prague. Even that is not a writeoff by any means if this meeting is a bust because I will still have spent a week vacationing in Prague with a very nice looking RW. No expensive gifts, the trip is the gift.

Ipod, write, phone, a couple of flower and candy deliveries and then go there. You remember that cool air museum near Moscow where they parked all of those retired military and commercial aircraft? Go there and if nothing else happens then that in itself will be worth the trip.

Peewee

[antiscam_advise]

Ok, apart from the difficulty that you must have in knowing that of a woman that you have not met, the point still stands.

It is not normal to take pictures of women when delivering flowers. I guess the truly low-wattage types might not think something odd about Boris the flower deliverer asking for ID before handing over a SINGLE flower, but when he asks to take her picture holding THE FLOWER, well, even the 15 watters are going to think something is odd, eh?

BTW, a really nice single rose is going to cost perhaps $2 at retail, a picture costs nothing and one would probably figure on $6 for the delivery, $10 for outer suburb deliveries. This is a really nice trick to get scared guys to up the ante.

andrewfin, I appreciate all of your comments as it shows me that there are some new opinions around the service and also helps us improve it for a benefit everyone!

I somewhat dissagree however that delivering a single rose looks cheap. I am not sure if you are familiar with the classic literature, but in case you do not remember: many sources from Tolstoy, Pushkin, Nabokov and other famous Russian writers mention single rose as a very romantic gift, especially if it's presented properly wrapped and polutely. Here how it looks in reality:
http://www.russianscamcheck.org/cgi-bin/pics_gallery.cgi

In regards to your comment about the photo being an abnormal act: again I somewhat dissagree.
Surely: not every comopany does it, but companies in marriage/dating/flower industry often do.
So does Russian Scam Check.  We are truly represented by flower delivery company, yet in addition to the regular formal delivery we give far more value to a client...
- Russian Scam Check cares about the woman's reaction and pass it alone (if requested)
- Flower delivery company will not provide details (what is cause of non-delivery ?) - Russian Scam Check staff tells exactly what is a problem: no street, invalid address, whether she is found in public directories or not etc...
Although we do utilize network of gift delivery agents: we make sure that we learn all the details of delivery: failed or succeeded.

I grew up in Moscow, Russia and I know that people in Russia are used to signing receipts, showing passports regardless of what is delivered.

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.

5-10% of profits are donated to American Institute for Cancer Research: www.AIRC.org (I have some personal reasons to do this as 2 of my family members recently passed away from Cancer).

We employ 2 people on full time for customer support on company staff, also have office and other misc. expenses as any online business has.
After all the salaries are paid: the remaining profit margin is below 20%, and less after taxes... well IRS gets some of it of course: you know how this works.

If after reading the above you think this service is unfairly expensive and not valuable: please let me know.

In regards to your comment about other alternatives, like a nice bouquet - we can accomodate for nthat and any other gifts... The reason why single rose was choosen is to save customers' money. We do not want you to spend $60 + delivery fees for a bouquet when you can only spend $44 and then in the future make more sober decision after the report of the initial delivery is provided to you.

I hope this helps.

Damien Shkolnik
http://www.RussianScamCheck.org
admin@russianscamcheck.org
USA toll-free: 1-888-594-3394
Local: 1-206-337-2355

[antiscam_advise]

To some extent wouldn't just sending her flowers prove something even without the photo.  At least you would find out if her address is real.

It absolutely would!
This is an alternative way of doing it: you can order anything anywhere and get some results...
What matters is how much information about the delivery can you get back.

I operated flower delivery service initially and many people used our service exactly for that: to check ladies... Later we developed the network and trained people to get more info, then found connections with white pages directories.
So, this service is created specifically to deal with the prooblem of Russian Scam.

If you have a friend in Russia or someone you can trust: they can do a job for you too, I am sure.

Damien,
http://www.RussianScamCheck.org
admin@russianscamcheck.org
USA toll-free: 1-888-594-3394
Local: 1-206-337-2355 

[antiscam_advise]

If you have not met there is no such thing as a 'genuine' address now is there?

If you consider being accurate and realistic as negative then so be it. Just bear in mind I already have what you want and it works. But if you mess things up, then you mess them up.

You are being scammed, or at least heavily over charged, by a firm because you are paranoid.
Assuming that your penfriend exists you were about to appear to be a real cheapskate.

Sorry for being so negative as to point these things out. At least you are now planning to modify and imporve your tactics in one regard. Had I joined the boys in the cheap seats, you would have been happy to have been given positive reinforcement and almost certainly unhappy to have lost your penfriend.

andrewfin, this last comment was right into the heart!
I feel somewhat personally offended by your recent comments ...
Partially because I strongly dissagree: we helped hunderds of people and saved them a lots of money and will continue doing so:
http://www.russianscamcheck.org/Customer_Testimonials.shtml

Let me ask you: what would you do if you were on my place?
Perform scam checks for free ?

I am truly interested to learn your point of view as so far I only heard critics, but not much of an alternative ideas...
Do you have any?

Damien,
http://www.RussianScamCheck.org
admin@russianscamcheck.org
USA toll-free: 1-888-594-3394
Local: 1-206-337-2355 

[antiscam_advise]

Just the fact that one is doing a scam check implies that he hasn't spoken to his penpal on the phone yet. If a rose is to be delivered to someone, and you don't have their phone number, how can you ensure that the recipient will be home?

What happens if someone else answers the door? What if 'Mama' or 'her sister' or 'her brother' or 'her friend' answer the door? Does the delivery service inform that they must deliver the single flower in person so that they can verify the cheap delivery by photo? That would come across as extremely odd and suspicious. Do they stalk the address until the recipient is found at home? What if 'Sexy Olga' is never at home? At what point do they decide that the recipient is a scammer?

I've had plenty of packages and flowers delivered in Russia, but none with conditions. Typically the intended recipient isn't the first one to receive the gift.

In the best case, the woman that sent the photos you admire picks up the flower and is naive, desperate, or crafty enough to ignore the insult.

What does this tell you? That the woman in the photos exists? Of course she exists. She still might be a scammer, a scammer's girlfriend, friend, or sister. More scammers know about the flower-photo check than normal women, and they know how to pull it off correctly if they wish to do so.

Great comments!

I'd like to respond and clarify the procedure.
Firstly, Russian Scam Check does not report 100% prooven results: we simply report what we found.

In more than 60% of the scam cases the address turns out to be invalid and in such case we request that customer checks with the lady that the address is real... Scammer often tells a new address, we check this one as well: free of charge.

In other cases we visit the address and make 3 attempts to reach the recipient during the 3 different days (at different time). If none of them is succesfull - we inquire neigbours whether the person by that nam leaves there, we check postal box inside the building, we check public records.
If none of the above returns positive results: we conclude that she is "most likely" a scammer.
Of course it's still a low possibility that lady is not known amongst neigbours, she has no label on the post box and and she is unlisted... and also while expecting your gift after giving you this address she dissapears for 3 days ...

In some cases other people live in the place - we do not deliver it to them as we only require our agents to deliver personally hand-in-hand. We then schedule time to deliver to a recipient whenever possible.
This is part of our arrangement with delivery agents.

When the woman is found, we politely ask if she doesn't mind to be photographed. If she doesn't mind: we proceed with the picture. Otherwise we can not do anything about this as this would not be legal ...
In most cases however lady agrees and picture is made. We explain this as a 'proof of delivery' service.

Regards,

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

[antiscam_advise]

Similar for me... never use a Scam check AND never use flower/photo/passport check...

I simply join a copy of my passport with my introduction letter and ask the lady to join a copy of her national or international passport with her reply if she have some interest in me... Of course, with these method, the reply ratio is very low, maybe around 10%... but your are almost sure that these who reply to you are not scammer...

Not scammer but it is always possible that you have a gold digger or GCG... these two last are other type of predator... and you can only detect them by using your mind and not beeing blinded by a beautiful body...

Bruno,

I wish this would be that easy...
Unfortunately most scammers today have their fake passport scanned and ready to be sent to you before you even ask for it...
Visas are fake there too... 

I know exactly how good it feels to eventually see the US visa in your loved one's passport. My current lady lives wioth me in US and she is from Estonia. When she got her visa to US I felt  am on heaven.

Damien

[antiscam_advise]

I agree with jb.  You need a way to verify her veracity and existance.  To me the flower ploy is a little too tactless.  If you want to find out if she is real, call her then go meet her.  You will find out for sure if she is real.   Phone calls can weed out the gals a bit but there is nothing that substitutes for a face to face meeting.

I agree with most of the opinions here and completely on your side with thr face meeting and phone calls (when number is available).
We offer advise to many callers...
Folks on this forum are very knoweldgable: I truly wish everyone was as knowledgable in online dating as you are. This business does not make me living. Organization was created for those who are not PROs, who are naive and time constrained or simply do not want to wait.
The Scam Check service is not a solution for all problems: it's just a flag as Dan mentioned. "Red flag" or i some cases "no flag at all".
As many folks here mentioned: potential clients of Scam Check have no phone number, therefore already very likely to be scammed. This is just a way for them to confirm their firm or to learn the opposite.
Even if woman is real and address is real: she still maybe a scammer that wants to come to US, get a green card and half of your money and divorce ...
Is that a scam if this is a planned action? - Probably...
Can this be checked - of course not by simplistic checks like the one Russian Scam Check provides.

I can not save the world from scam: there are too many evils out there... Yet those that can be categorized and easily uncovered: we should try to fight.

p.s. I am sorry of my English is bad (I am US citizen now, but originally from Russia).

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

[antiscam_advise]

Well, it is unlikely that a picture avoiding scammer is going to be meeting you at the airport is it?

This is the odd thing about the flower checking. What does it give you?
1)Somebody who knows the game and is dishonest will be there, billing and cooing over her single wilting rose.
2)Somebody who is genuine is likely to be insulted.
3)The only person it catches is the woman/man who is into scamming but does not know the rules - an unlikely sort of sausage given that one can buy a mail-order course in the bloody subject!

Chances are that the scammer who is present for the flower will also turn up at the airport to meet the man who now thinks the sun shines from her fundament. The insulted party is off the radar now and the bloke who spent out to send the paltry bloom is convinced she was going to be a scammer.
The one who might have been caught, well, she was never going to be at the airport, his/her game is money in advance of a meeting. The way to deal with that is ageless and 100% effective - don't send any money!

So, why to bother with a flawed strategy. Send flowers if you must, but do it right and don't pay extra to somebody who tells you his independent local florists are part time detectives - I have a metal tower in Paris waiting for their clients!

andrewfin:
Again, I am not against flower services. I actually manage one of the largest flower delivery network in Russia: www.RussianFlora.com
and I welcome any business from bouquets, cakes, to gift baskets and gift certificates or even custom orders.
We are as reputable as Interflora, FromYouFlowers.com both of whom by the way uses some of our florists in Russia and Ukraine.

But this is if you sure that she is out there and that she is "HER", she did not lie to you about silly thing like an address and her appearance...

Yes, some scammers could learn this trick and appear upfront of the camera... Yet it would be very risky for them. Here is why:
1). Most scammers do not have the appearance of the photos you received (many are actually not even ladies).
2). Scammers of 2 major types:
- Organized criminals (working in groups), will never expose themselves on the photo...
- Non-professionals: just trying the grounds... - you do not need to be detective Holmes to spot them even without using Russian Scam Check.
3). Most scammers end their journmey with large WU payment, then change identity.
It'll become extremely risky to expose their real appearance upfront of the camera or even agree to meet someone.

And finally they are scared of being spotted by police or somone hired to track them.

They are just not as soficticated as you may think of most scammers...  Especially today when we all know how most of them operate.
 
As a result there was no single case when the scammer of this type was photographed by our staff. If this was to be a case: I am sure our clients would let us know about that. We do not say "she is not a scammer". We just find no evidence that she is, if we met her and checked her id, and took a photo with her permission.

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

[antiscam_advise]

I love the way Andrew depicts the hypothetical flower as 'wilting' and a 'paltry bloom' 

Hmmm, imagine the conversation.............The scene is the 7th floor of a concrete block of flats, our intrepid investigator/florist has took himself up the stairs single, wilting, paltry bloom in one hand, camera in the other...........

Knock Knock! Steel door swings open (after 3 minutes of unlocking)
Delivery Guy: I have a single rose for Smokinhotkova!
Fat Yuri: She's out meeting an American at the Airport.
Delivery Guy: Well I am supposed to take a picture of her receiving it.
Fat Yuri: How much did Fat Joe from Texas pay for that?
Delivery Guy: $40
Fat Yuri knocks on a neighbours door, Tatiana answers
Fat Yuri: Tatiana, do me a favour, stand here, look dreamy, hold that rose in front of your face........
Delivery Guy takes picture, Tatiana gets a free rose for her trouble
Fat Yuri: OK, delivery guy, you have your picture, make sure its nice and grainy when you e mail it now........
Delivery Guy: OK Yuri, no problem. See you next week with another rose!
Fat Turi: Keep collecting those $40's mate!

Clearly this tale illustrates how foolproof the plan is! 

Manchester,

Sounds like a great script for Simpsons !
Yet we are not of "this" kind.

This sort of evil story could be told about any business you can imagine: sky is a limit for a fantazy.
You have absolutely no grounds to assume that representatives of company does something like that.

Maybe we can extend your fantazy little further and also assume that our company hires scammers to scam people? Then gets paid for its own services? This would be another great story, wouldn't? Why did not you come up with that?

People that work for us are reliable and we cooperate with them on flower delivery for over 4 years now...
We are US-based Corporation, paying taxes to US government and have only positive comments to BBB and online boards about our services.

As Dan mentioned: I welcome critical comments, but please have grounds on what you are saying. If there was even a slightest chance for this sort of scenario with our own agent: I would replace the regional agent at no time.

Damien

[PeeWee]

I have a friend who is a friend and has been for 4 years now but if given a chance she is certianly a pirate. I sent her flowers for the first time and she asked the florist if she could have the money instead of the flowers. The florist emailed me and asked what to do. I told them to give her the money but then I called her and told her that if there was a next time that if she asked for the money that would be the last time that I would send flowers. After setting her straight she always enjoyed the flowers when I sent them. I could not figure out why she wanted the money in the first place as her income is at least five times that of the normal Russian woman.

Peewee

[antiscam_advise]

I could not figure out why she wanted the money in the first place as her income is at least five times that of the normal Russian woman.

Peewee

Peewee,
Some women in Russia want to feel taken care of financially...  The stereotype of US people in Russia is that they are rich...  In reality the disposable incomes are comparable if not higher in Russia today in relative units of spending for many young professionals.
Women may want to check that we are not cheap ...
Yet this incident shows an extreme case that must have spoiled the surprise.

Damien

[Bruno]

Bruno,

I wish this would be that easy...
Unfortunately most scammers today have their fake passport scanned and ready to be sent to you before you even ask for it...
Visas are fake there too... 

Agree that some scammers can send false copy of the passport... it have happen one time to me... but i have detect it...

I have run a marriage site and i was with a very big collection of passport from lady's... with time, i was able to detect bad fake very fast... for good quality fake, it ask more time but you have a lot of information embedded in each JPEG... program like photoshop keep a list of last operation in the jpeg header... when "copy and paste" function, "blur" function, etc... was used, i become suspicious...

Until now, my own investigation method have always protect me against scammer... unfortunaly, my previous method for GCG or gold digger was not very good... A flower check is not something bad but it is a very limited tool... and in some way, my post office make a similar check when i send a gift by post... the person who receive the parcel need to show passport and sign a paper...

In any way, people who feel fully secure after a scam check are fool... so check can help for build a little trust but it is not a 100% bullet proof method who certify that the lady is honest... combine the check with phone call, web-cam session or long chat, etc... and you will be a little more sure...

In any case, trust is something build very slowly, same after marriage... you can only be sure after several year, when you know very good your partner... if people wish be sure at 100%, the only good method is never start a relationship and stay alone.

[PeeWee]

Peewee,
Some women in Russia want to feel taken care of financially...  The stereotype of US people in Russia is that they are rich...  In reality the disposable incomes are comparable if not higher in Russia today in relative units of spending for many young professionals.
Women may want to check that we are not cheap ...
Yet this incident shows an extreme case that must have spoiled the surprise.

Damien

I can understand that. I recall one time that she asked me to send her $4,500.00. She did not say what she needed it for but I sent it to her and never asked her about it. I suspect it was a test, be it to see if I was cheap or if I really could support her financially, as you suggest. Yet another time I had told her that I went fishing. To which she replied, "Peewee, if you are hungry and need money for food then I will send to you money for food. How much do you need?" The concept of sportsfishing was truely lost on her. Another time I told her that I was one of 7 finalists in a contest two win a new PT Cruiser. To which she responded, "Peewee, a PT Cruiser is not a good car for you. What do you want for car and I will buy it for you!!"  She is an unusual RW to say the least...a pirate to be sure but for her friends her heart and her generosity is as large as the Motherland itself.

Peewee

[andrewfi]

Les, I agree that what I have written is a matter of opinion, but informed opinion; not the maunderings of a lovesick mind...

In general, the three scenarios I suggested are not far from the mark. I am not entirely devoid of 'local' knowkledge. It is entirely obvious that women seeking to take advantage of men are photgraphed, there are plenty of guys misled in this manner. If I tried to justify an identity check disguised as a mean gift I think I would be unable to successfully justify it on the basis of Russian classic literature... Nice try though!

It seems to me that you are offering a value added flower delivery service, it is more profitable to you and possibly has a more profitable backend. But perleeze, checking an address? That is not detective work, it is what a professional delivery service does! And does it normally take an hour or more?

You offer a service to the paranoid and worried, that is fine. Detectives, your florists are not! You will not see me criticise people who deliver flowers, but I am of the opinion that your service whilst providing ressurance to the frightened actually does nothing to protect men and in fact by giving a false sense of security misleads them. To say nothing of the insulting nature of your primary offering!

Les is correct in his assumption that I think that acting in this manner is tawdry and cheap. I think he is wrong in his assumption that it is an accurate determinant of the intentions of a woman.
Given that intentions cannot be accurately divined from the delivery of the solitary bloom, but that inferences can be drawn about the intentions and attitudes of the giver, it would seem to be more of a liability than an asset in the courtship process.

[Jooky]

I admit that I'm not on the same road as many of the guys out here. Aside from my first trip I never went to Russia to meet a woman. I met women because I was going to Russia. I have never stepped foot in an agency, and only one of the women I met online had. The rest placed online ads from their home or work computer.

But my opinions aren't pure conjecture either. I have met women insulted by penpals insinuating that they might be scammers (including the flower photo check). I have met scammers that know their way around this check and who use it to their advantage. And I have met guys who've ended up wasting a vacation to meet a pro dater despite these types of checks.

Giving a false sense of security misleads them.

Right on the mark. I've seen this happen over and over. A scammer writes to some clueless guy. He checks the scam sites. All is clear! Her IP matches her town. She sends normal photos. No bikini shots. She must be real! He does the photo flower check. She's the hottie in the photos! She writes for three months. She must be interested! She asks for some money. Well, why not? She is real. After all she's passed all the tests.

Likewise a pro dater can pass all these types of tests to lure a poor guy across the pond for a shopping spree or worse.

Good scammers are clever, and they learn to adjust. They make a great living off of this.

My observation is that the guys who don't get scammed, who avoid the pro daters, and who are happy in the end do so not because of their rigorous tests and background checks.

They do so simply because they have experienced good and happy relationships in the past and know how to recognize the signs of a real relationship for the future.

If anything I feel that the successful guys out here would do better by helping the inexperienced to recognize and seek signs of a meaningful conversation, real affection and a true connection, rather than encourage them to count red flags and administer tests.

And even will all this, it's still a crap shoot. 

[PeeWee]

A woman can wear a lot of dresses but if she has not scammed you then she is not a scammer in your experience with her. The flower check may be an indicator if she is the woman who she says she is, after all  you were going to send her flowers at some point in time anyway. Short of hiring a PI is there any other way to reasonably satisfy your mind, early on in the communication, that she is who she claims to be? I'd recommend that you send the flowers and then take the results for what you think they are worth to you.

Make a phone call. She has no phone? Someone, a friend, a family member must have a phone. Until you are reasonably sure about her it would seem that you should be writing to a number of women anyway. If she proves no to be who she claims to be then drop her from your lineup. If she asks for money and you have not yet met her then that is almost a sure sign that she is setting you up for a scam. You won't be scammed if you don't send the money.

What the flowers can accomplish is to inexpensively verify that she might be who she really claims she is. Some information is better than no information at all. Knowledge is power so to gain some knowledge at the very least gives you a clue as to what your next move with her might be. To know this information early on will serve to speed up the weeding out process, or she may turn out to be a suspect and one worth a trip to the Promised Land for the final verification.

Peewee

[Jooky]

she might be who she really claims she is.

You already know that she might be who she really claims she is. 

[SANDRO43]

Make a phone call. She has no phone? Someone, a friend, a family member must have a phone.

I understand that in Russia you can have a phone installed at a very low rate that will allow you free urban calls, but no other types of call at all, even when receiving.

Any idea of how widespread this practice is ? It would make international phone conversations impossible.   

[Admin]

I understand that in Russia you can have a phone installed at a very low rate that will allow you free urban calls, but no other types of call at all, even when receiving.

Any idea of how widespread this practice is ? It would make international phone conversations impossible.   

Not sure about Russia - but I understand that the time to receive a landline-based telephone in Ukraine is VEERRYYY long indeed. Count the wait in months, not days or weeks. Maybe someone can update with current information - but this was true the last time I checked about a year ago.

For that reason, the purchase of an inexpensive cellphone *may* be helpful. Also, the cellphone service is usually far superior to the landline quality. Not always, but very often.

FWIW

- Dan

[jb]

Dan,

Same for Russia.  Those old concrete block apartment buildings were not wired for phones when they were build.  It takes lots of money and lots of time to get new landline service in most cities in Russia.  Moscow is getting better, maybe Petrograd as well, but the rest of Russia is still living in the stone age.

[BillyB]

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.

Dan, Spellcheck malfunctioned. I know I misspelled "knowledgeable" once after writing it twice. I let spellcheck correct it but it didn't point out any errors. No big deal but you might want to use a better scam spell check service.

[antiscam_advise]

You offer a service to the paranoid and worried, that is fine. Detectives, your florists are not! You will not see me criticise people who deliver flowers, but I am of the opinion that your service whilst providing ressurance to the frightened actually does nothing to protect men and in fact by giving a false sense of security misleads them. To say nothing of the insulting nature of your primary offering!

Andrewfin,
Thanks for clarification... yet nowehere I say that Russian Scam Check is detective service. It's not reassuring someone of no-scam scenario, yet in case when there is scam: it can bring some light to the situation and many realized the benefit.
By all means this is not the "business" really, it is something we do to help people to understand more, educate them etc.   Site has tons of info that will help newcomers, not ONLY paranoid people...

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

[antiscam_advise]

If anything I feel that the successful guys out here would do better by helping the inexperienced to recognize and seek signs of a meaningful conversation, real affection and a true connection, rather than encourage them to count red flags and administer tests.

Great point Jooky!
Yet how can such service be organized online? Any suggestions?
With check there is a good chance of following the formal procedure and do things right... Subjectivity is removed from it: we report what we learn.
In the case of meaningful conversation there is no objective way to proceed. Or there are 100s of them...

Damien

[antiscam_advise]

A woman can wear a lot of dresses but if she has not scammed you then she is not a scammer in your experience with her. The flower check may be an indicator if she is the woman who she says she is, after all  you were going to send her flowers at some point in time anyway. Short of hiring a PI is there any other way to reasonably satisfy your mind, early on in the communication, that she is who she claims to be? I'd recommend that you send the flowers and then take the results for what you think they are worth to you.

Make a phone call. She has no phone? Someone, a friend, a family member must have a phone. Until you are reasonably sure about her it would seem that you should be writing to a number of women anyway. If she proves no to be who she claims to be then drop her from your lineup. If she asks for money and you have not yet met her then that is almost a sure sign that she is setting you up for a scam. You won't be scammed if you don't send the money.

What the flowers can accomplish is to inexpensively verify that she might be who she really claims she is. Some information is better than no information at all. Knowledge is power so to gain some knowledge at the very least gives you a clue as to what your next move with her might be. To know this information early on will serve to speed up the weeding out process, or she may turn out to be a suspect and one worth a trip to the Promised Land for the final verification.

Peewee

Thank you for realizing the value, Peewee!
I could not say it better

[antiscam_advise]

I understand that in Russia you can have a phone installed at a very low rate that will allow you free urban calls, but no other types of call at all, even when receiving.

Any idea of how widespread this practice is ? It would make international phone conversations impossible.   

SANDRO43,

In Russia it is very hard to get a landline installed. Usually few months unless someone wants to bribe the adminstrators... and even then not too quick.
Most scammers get cellphones, use calling cards.
Most cell phones in Russia have sim-cards (GSM technology) - and can just replace the card, keeping the phones virtually untrackable.

Damien

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