Urgent advice

[bab410]

I have search high and low to find some sort of viable information on particular letters I have been receiving. I was initially registered on a dating site in Australia, and 2 weeks ago I was contacted by what seemed to be a member from the site. I wasn't aware at the time that this person was only on the site temporarily. Since then the letters have been coming everyday. I don't see and malice or intent to get money out of me but I am wondering about certain strange occurrences that seem to be taking place in the dialogue between us. St no point in time has she asked for money or made any suggestions of difficulties she might be encountering in her country. However, up to 3 days ago she said that she has lodged applications for a visa and travel arrangements. I am completely astounded by such quick development of a relationship. I do like the person by what I have gathered from the letters I have received. However up to 2 days ago the letters stopped coming when I requested politely her full name and perhaps a telephone number so I could give her a call.
Any help from others who might have had a similar experience would be appreciated. At this point I want her name to remain anonymous because she might be perfectly innocent. My uncertainties have basically been fired by the information I have been looking at on the net - scamming.

[BillyB]

Welcome Bab410,

Most likely you encountered a scammer. He/she is looking for easy men and by you asking for a phone number that he/she doesn't want to give, the scammer probably quit on you. Some scammers can be patient and wait months before asking for money.

The reason you were contacted at an Australian dating site is that these scammers are targeting men who never had the intention of flying to the FSU to meet women. They are more naive when it comes to visas and don't know that RW have a hard time getting one to come to a Western country.

Don't be disappointed you're not going to get hooked up with the woman in the pretty photo. There are plenty of real ones. If you're serious about international dating, do some reading here to get up to speed.

[Turboguy]

I will agree with Billy.   It sounds like a classic travel scam.   Keep your hands on your wallet.

[Jumper]

However up to 2 days ago the letters stopped coming when I requested politely her full name and perhaps a telephone number so I could give her a call.

youhave youranswer.. daily mailings untill askingthat question.
if she was booking a visa to visit you, she would have been happy to speak with you on the phone,
(umm normally LONG before booking a trip to visit, RW while a bit *different* arnt that different from normal women.   )

[Rvrwind]

Can't say as I disagree with those above.
If she was for real & real inerested she wouldn't hesitate to give you her phone #. I'd say its 'Fat Yuri' trying to hook him an Aussi & not a real woman at all.
Don't feel bad your not the first & won't be the last. That being said, don't be disheartened either. If you are really unterested in a Russian lady, asBillyB said educate yourself here & elswhere in the signs to look for. There are plenty of nice ladies in the Former FSU, no point wasting time & energy on those that are less than that.
But remember as long as you never send money to someone you have never met, you can never be scammed! At least not monetarily. Heartstings are another matter entirely.

[Stirlitz]

I am usually suspicious about everyday letters. Scammers are good at it. Sincere people who have another job do not usually have time to mail so often.

Two days is too short, I am sure that she will get back. Just wait.

[Michelangelo]

It's true.  It's a scam.

I know this is dissapointing to you, but you know it seemed too good to be true.

But as Billy said, there are lots of girls out there.  With TIME and HARD WORK, you likey can find a great girl.

[Turboguy]

I have heard many men say that their search for a RW was started by some scammer on Match.com   She is definately a scammer.  There are a lot of gals out there who are not.

[William3rd]

Probably a scammer- since they seldom read the letters that you send, you may get a letter telling you about the frantic 2-3 days thta she spent getting all of her travel plans in order. And she will be short about 900 AU$ so if you could send it to her she will be arriving on the flight to your city next week-even giving you the Flight number.

[TexasBoar]

My last one wrote in text-message shorthand, and in her third 'e' spoke approvingly about my dog.

I don't own a dog. 

~Boar

[Jumper]

she was writing me, and just got us confused texasboar ..

 

[bab410]

I want to thank all of you for your advice. I knew that something was not right when the letters seemed to be too inconsistent. However, I just can't help wondering if the person was a female and she might have needed financial assistance. I know that the method the employed by the person is deceptive, but desperate times sometimes call for desperate measures. I have always been told that I am quite gulable, but on this occasion I followed a gut feeling that I had. I just hope that I have not hurt someone in the process. I have seen a few sites that show a blacklist of these scammers which I personnaly feel that its not fair. The reason I believe that revealing the identity of that person is not right is because most of the time the female in the pictures has nothing to do with the scam. The internet is a wonderful place, yet for a minority it is a place where they can take advantage of the majority of us. There are so many images on the internet that anyone can copy and paste a face of a completely innocent person.
I will be visiting this site on a more regular basis because I have found the infromation and the response from the members quite educational and informative. So thank you all once again. The great thing that has come out of my experience is that I have found other paths and avenues, which have opened my eyes.

[groovlstk]

However, I just can't help wondering if the person was a female and she might have needed financial assistance. I know that the method the employed by the person is deceptive, but desperate times sometimes call for desperate measures. I have always been told that I am quite gulable, but on this occasion I followed a gut feeling that I had. I just hope that I have not hurt someone in the process.

Man, please don't take this the wrong way, but if what you said above is true I strongly urge you to forget about pursuing a Russian woman. You will be taken to pieces.

[Albert]

My last one wrote in text-message shorthand, and in her third 'e' spoke approvingly about my dog.

I don't own a dog. 

~Boar

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Maybe she was talking about your other girlfriend!

[TexasBoar]

- - - - -

Maybe she was talking about your other girlfriend!

Ooooooooh . . . that's gonna leave a mark! 

~Boar