NO WAY I'm GETTING SCAMMED ... but

[IAmZon]

I know there are instances of fraud and deception. I also suspect that men's unrealistic expectations cause SCAMS too.  I may scrap my knees through this process FOR SURE - ALREADY HAVE... but NO WAY am I going to get SCAMMED   NO WAY!

Having said that ...

I'm at the letter writing stage of a September / October trip - DAMN! LOTS OF WORK.  I am only writing to non-agency ladies in July that give 60- 90 days advance.  Will write to agency girls 15 days in advance.   

I am very good at writing.  I'm not ugly and have good photos.  So, I get a pretty good response.  I was just thinking the other day ... I am not seeing any SCAM stuff?  No HOT girls write me unannounced.  Then ... one girl (non agency;  IQC found) responded to my email, and after 3 letters,  I read this and think hmmm Naive?  Innocent? Scam ??

"You can't imagine how bright you made my day today when I came to my friend and saw your letter!!! I don't want to be wrong but it seems to me that
it is only the beginning of something good and bright feeling:) And
you know I bagan to understand that how it is great when someone
thinks about you and waiting to know about your news, just what you do
during a day. It seems to me that you are a good man and all that
qualities that I usually used to value in a man you have! I mean
kindness, respectness and just to be a good person, when people want
to communicate with you more and more, because all your thoughts are
from your heart, I hope that I am not mistaken and that you are
faithfl with me! I know this as I feel the same from my side and it is
very impotent for me to feel it from you. I can't explain why but I
feel like I knew you before, it seems to me that we have something in
common that helps us to undertnad our souls."

I respond to her advising caution and telling her I have HER best interests in mind ...  we can only become friends until a meeting ... everything else is an allusion.

Next letter:

"I was thinking about you all this
time. I like the way of your thinking and it is easy to communicate
with you. You know when I came to my friend she was surprised why I
can't wait till tomorrow and eagger to answer you right now;))
....

"I understand that I need a man in my life to feel myself completed
because non person on the earth can excist along...he needs a couple
to leave some track after... I would like to be close to you right
now, may be you think that I am rather fast but I feel intimacy in
your letter, it seems to me that I speak with your hear and that is
why my heart is open for you and I want to sharewith you only my
deepest wish! Yes, I want to be with you."

This is not the reserved Russian character that is stoic and described ... In fact I have not found these characteristics to be true? 

So guys, should I fell like a stud?  Or like Arthur in the movie Arthur ... when he was picking up a prostitute .. and realized it "DAMN IT, I thought I was doing good with you!"  Any remarks? ....

[Voyageur]

rivardco,

Has she written any specific responses to your previous letters? Are you sure that the letters are not "canned" responses?  If the letters are specific and you are certain that they have only be written for you, there is no reason (IMHO) for undue alarm. In the past, when I met my wife, I had to ask myself "is this too good to be true?" and I found that it was all true. It did require some self-convincing on my part.  Hope for the best but plan for the worst - just make extra sure that there is no deception involved. Also, don't forget that until you actually meet in person, letter writing really doesn't matter a whole lot. You "may" have instant (or eventual) chemistry or you may have instant (or eventual) non-chemistry. Don't take to heart the "reserved" Russian character bit.  When you find the right woman, you will most probably have another opinion. 

[IAmZon]

NOPE ... each letter is long and truly one of a kind.

HAAAAA!  "Hope for the best but plan for the worst"  Well said.

[MaxxumUSA]

Ahem...

It's real simple.  Ask for her cell number.  If she says she does not have a number - she is not real.  All women in russia have a cell phone.  Most have two.

The letters look very odd to me.  They look like an eventual scam.  But I could be wrong.

- David

[William3rd]

smells like a scammer. How personal and responsive to your questions are the rest of her letters?

[IAmZon]

"The letters look very odd to me."  Exactly ... too much too fast

"smells like a scammer" ... but each letter is long and tailored specifically.  Sure there are canned phrases and sayings.

She did say that she had three off and did not have any plans ...  leading but far short of scammy.

Here is the thing:  It is impossible to differentiate anything to me, personally, in any real sense (my photos; my letters).  So, at best she is naive ...  at worse ... we will see.

One thing I have learned at RWD is not to give these things much line to run. 

[catzenmouse]

Here's a good one for you Riv. I just got this today. The so called attachment of her identification is a .rar file which I will not open. I was just so d@mned surprised to know I was engaged that I'm speechless!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hi my darling, I haven't expected that it can be so difficult to get
all those necessary documents all together. You know they allowed
me two weeks for proceeding of the permission, right now I need to
get your hand written inquiry where you submit that I am your bride
and that we are already engaged. My dear, you will have to write my
full name and address right as it is written in my ID, so I send you
a scanned copy of my passport so that you will be able to copy the
name and the address right without mistakes. Honey, as i archivated
the document here I added a password, so that nobody will be able to
 open
it on your pc. The passw:  975.   Love Ana

[ecr844]

Here's a good one for you Riv. I just got this today. The so called attachment of her identification is a .rar file which I will not open. I was just so d@mned surprised to know I was engaged that I'm speechless!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hi my darling, I haven't expected that it can be so difficult to get
all those necessary documents all together. You know they allowed
me two weeks for proceeding of the permission, right now I need to
get your hand written inquiry where you submit that I am your bride
and that we are already engaged. My dear, you will have to write my
full name and address right as it is written in my ID, so I send you
a scanned copy of my passport so that you will be able to copy the
name and the address right without mistakes. Honey, as i archivated
the document here I added a password, so that nobody will be able to
 open
it on your pc. The passw:  975.   Love Ana

"Catz,"

    You should forward that to your wife and let her handle the reply... :zappedhim:

[catzenmouse]

"Catz,"

    You should forward that to your wife and let her handle the reply... :zappedhim:

It would be a scene! Blood and body parts everywhere! My "fiance's" and then MINE!  :hairraising:

[Mir]

Yes, I want to be with you

Quite typical letters from FSU.
Can be real, but chances of being a time waster are higher.
I would say 70% chance it is a fraud,29.99% a real girl who is interested (may not be exclusive with you) and 0.01% chance that you are a stud

[Mir]

Catch of the day

Hello  my new friend!!!!!!
My apologies, that my answer borrowed such long time, my computer, were
Broken, but today I have found your letter on a site. It was real
Surprise! Thanks for your answer. I was very glad to receive yours
The message.
Thus it is very difficult to begin...
I - from Yoshkar Ola. It is small city in Russia: approximately 1000 km
 to
Northeast from Moscow, It warmly here in
Summer, but cold in the winter. But I love my city very much.
To me 23. My birthday - on August, 10th. I recently have finished
University with the diploma in Marketing. Thus I am an expert in
Marketing. I shall never forget a life of students. I still remember
That big time. I have many friends there.
I am very cheerful person and I like to speak with my friends. I - also
 very much
Sensitive. I try to help to not throw to people. But I still dream
To find that one with whom I could divide all my love and tenderness.
Actually all my life I have lead here in Republic Komi. I love to
Travel very much though never very far from my city. I was
Only a few time in Moscow participating at some student's conferences
And in other several Russian cities. And I never was abroad.
I also as novels. You have already probably noticed, that I
?iiaioee. Till this moment I have found novels only in books. But I
 hope
That this moment will change my life, and I shall get acquainted with a
Decent, loving and the sensitive person. In an exchange I shall give it
I have all in my soul and I shall be the friend and its fan
Life. I believe, that once in the future I be able to take it far
Far somewhere on island with green hills, yellow sand, dark blue dark
 blue color
The sky and warm warm water.
I love music. It accuses me for the working day and allows me to
 survive. I
Usually listen pop, but I love ballads and I shine a rock also.
Mainly I listen the western music in English. At all do not know why.
 But it
It seems for me deeper and brighter. I liked to listen Ayr, Yi?eea
 Yaeanean,
Roxette, the Madonna and some other.
Well, it - in general about me is direct.
I hope, that you will count me interesting to you and will correspond
With me. Please write to me about you to directly, your work and all of
 you
To want. I really am interested to know more about you.

All good!!!
 
                                  Irina

[catzenmouse]

and 0.01% chance that you are a stud

OUCH!

Now Mir, unless you have been intimate with Rivardco and KNOW that he is not a stud that was just plain mean! 

[IAmZon]

.01%  ... come on!  gotta be 10%:)

The thing that is somewhat different about this case ... the reason why it got my goat is that the body of very long letters is very custom. Either way, showing deeper than normal interest is a RED FLAG.

[Kuna]

Rivardco,

Real or not DUMP HER... she can't spell! We can accept poor grammar but bad spelling is a HUGE RED FLAG!  

OK, OK, I'll be serious...

Scammer... if she's not a scammer I'll eat my hat.  

Even if she's "real" it's the type of letter that I rejected in my search because I didn't want anyone that showed any desperation by "moving too quickly".

Out of interest I just went back and had a look at my early emails from My Girl.

Letter #3 basically said (My words because I won't post our letters here):

- Thanks for complimenting me on my English. I speak English better than I write because the grammar is complex for me
- It seems so strange to me that your relatives came from Ukraine but this is a good thing.  It's also good for me that you're seeking out your family history.  Family is very important to all of us.
- When you are in Ukraine you can call me. I would like to meet you.  My phone numbers are XXXXXXX and XXXXXXX. If you would like to call before your holiday it would also be a pleasure to speak to you on the phone.


That was basically it.  I didn't even realise I hadn't asked for her phone number before she volunteered it...  There was no email romance and even though her early emails were short they were to the point and said exactly what needed to be said.

Question for you... are you going to travel seeking marriage, a cultural experience or dating?

If it's not marriage why not just write and say something like:

"Hoi!  I'm coming to a city near you but I've never been to Ukr/Rus so I'm hoping to find someone like-minded who could show me around."

[Vaughn]

Catch of the day

 
Thus it is very difficult to begin...
I - from Yoshkar Ola. It is small city in Russia: approximately 1000 km
 to
Northeast from Moscow,........... Actually all my life I have lead here in Republic Komi.  
                                 
 Irina

Sure smells like a fish to me. Yoshkar-Ola, at least the last time we were
there visiting family, was smack in the center of the Mari-El Republic.

Komi Republic is far to the north.....

Maybe she's real   (and maybe I was Ms Budweiser 1971)
Great catch, though...

[catzenmouse]

and maybe I was Ms Budweiser

And you were HOT back then too! What the heck happened? 

[I/O]

It can be difficult to decern the grey from the gray, however as much as I don't like to reveal too much personal information, perhaps this might give you some idea of how a Russian woman who had no English (To speak of) at the time and was/is genuine would write an early letter.  (This is more than 2 years ago) Note specific mention of daily activities and some explanation.  Note specific mention of time zones.  Note no fancy flowery nonsense. Note nothing suggustive of morally questionable. Note reference to previous letters and chain of events. Note the offer (Which had already been undertaken) to exchange SMS messages.

This particular letter, IIRC was probably a couple of months after first communications, which were very much arms length and irregular.  We had experienced some issues with emails bouncing at the time. 

Hi (My name)

At us now night, but in Australia I think that morning.

I do not know why, but sometimes my letters do not reach you, and to me
inform on it only in 2-3 days, and I all this time wait your answer. Your
letters I receive everything, therefore I again write to you the answer.

I saw your telephone number, in those your letters which I read also to me
it became interestingly possible or not, to send you sms... But you have
received therefore now you can write to me on phone too if there will be an
opportunity that I can, I shall answer, if the computer will be near
to me because I use the electronic translator, but I know a few words of
English, therefore read and understand I can, but I can not speak well, because I
learned German.

You fall asleep earlier than I and rise very much earlier, and I only start to
have a rest at 22:30 because my son at this time goes to bed and I have a
free time when I can be engaged in the things, watch TV or as now I write to
you the letter... But if I get tired at university I too early fall asleep.

In internet I nobody has found and I do not search, I only read there different
information. I there receive some letters, now they do not cause in me any
emotions because that time when I have ceased to trust in the internet I has written
to you and am very glad that you have answered me... Now I do not have
despair as during that moment, but I have become interested to know you. Always
after my letter I wait your answer.

I now think what question to you to set, but I can not think up yet,
therefore if you have to me questions write to me...

I liked yours a photo, I very much love animals and I shall tell about it to
you in the following letter.

Take care
Her Name

I/O

[Kuna]

I/O,

EXACTLY!

When you're getting dozens of letters from different girls and a real one (I mean really a REAL good girl) comes along you can tell them apart like night and day!

[MaxxumUSA]

In internet I nobody has found and I do not search, I only read there different
information. I there receive some letters, now they do not cause in me any
emotions because that time when I have ceased to trust in the internet I has written
to you and am very glad that you have answered me... Now I do not have
despair as during that moment, but I have become interested to know you. Always
after my letter I wait your answer.

I now think what question to you to set, but I can not think up yet,
therefore if you have to me questions write to me...

I liked yours a photo, I very much love animals and I shall tell about it to
you in the following letter.

Take care
Her Name[/i]

I/O

Nearly the same letter my Elena wrote about two weeks into knowing her.


BTW...  Been there three times since that letter and we lived together as a couple those times.  Her Interview for fiancee visa is soon.

Anyway...  Poor grammar and spelling is OK.  Actually...  the accent and cute mistakes are actually sexy in my book.  Drudging on about crap you didn't ask about is NOT ok.

IMO

[Kuna]

Anyway...  Poor grammar and spelling is OK. 

I was kidding about the spelling Maxxum....   

[MaxxumUSA]

I was kidding about the spelling Maxxum....   

Eye No

[DKMM]

If I had a dollar for every time I heard "I'm sorry I didn't reply sooner but my computer was broken"

If she's interested in you, she will give her phone # without you asking.

[IAmZon]

BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ  Letter # 6 she's a ringer!  Kuna - don't eat your hat.  Everyone else don't feed the bears.

I told her that I could care for your well being as a little little sister, and that I she enjoys my continued fondness

 ... AND then I asked her if she had a successful, little more mature, older friend:)

[ScottinCrimea]

The letters from scammers are typically gushing with romance, hopes and dreams, etc as if you are the long sought love that will fulfill their fantasy.  Real RW just don't think and write like that.  Even if one did, would you want such a flake for a wife?

[catzenmouse]

That's why they work too. Mr. LonelyHeart hopeful romantic that he is will eat that up. It feeds into his fantasies, his dreams of that super model who adores him, his life long rejection by the local AW and turns him into "Super Stud"! Cape flying in the wind, mind filled with her love, blood rushing below the belt he will fall right into her trap.

Its rather sad that so many have to learn this way when just a bit of due diligence added to a touch of reality would save them from this fantasy. But, there are also those who will read and learn and still rush full speed into the oncoming train.

Ken