Is this a scam?

[americanbob]

names changed to protect the innocent!.....
This person contacted me from a personal on friendfinder.com

Hello ZZZZZ!!!! Have good day. I hope, that you remember me because I have written to you recently on a dating site and you
answered me. I am sorry, I did not write to you back at once.
You see, I live in Russia, and I was busy, organizing  all my preparations for travel.
You know, it is my first time when I try the correspondence
with the man in virtual space. I am not so good user Intenet, but I hope that I shall have chance
to meet the good person.I think, that I shall explain to you why I do it. I shall work in
the USA approximately three months or more and I wish to meet a good person to be my guide or be the good
friend with whom I can spend time together when I am in the USA. I think
it is very difficult to live in foreign city without friends and besides I never were
abroad. You know, I live in small city in Russia andI am afraid to be lost in your country.
I also wish to see a real life (not the TV shows), and it is impossible to see a real life without the person, who
knows all parts of a life.
Also I do not wish to live in Russia because I have no opportunities here, it is
hardly possible to explain in a few words, but I want you to know all mine
plans. When being in the USA I shall work in any shop or I shall be the baby sitter in some family. I shall know
details later. Except for that I love English language and it will give me chance
improve my English.The agency helps me to receive the visa, the permission to work
and all travel documents.It is their business, and I shall pay for their Services.
One of my friend worked in the USA for three
months in the past to year, and she loved it very much, and she wishes to repeat this trip again.
She has met the right person in Chicago, and they are good friends now and he will marry her if all will be
good between them. In Russia we have special programs for work in the USA and other countries and I think,
that itis the right way for me. I feel lost here, and I hope, that I shall be able to change my life.
I have many plans and dreams...
I send you my pictures, and I hope, that you like me if we meet in real.
Please tell to me what you think about this.I finish this letter, and I hope, that you write me very soon.
Probably you think, that I am little bit crazy, but I am sure that it is the right way to meet good the man without
meeting personally in a real life and besides knowIt is my first try on the Internet.
I shall leave my city in some days to fly to Moscow again to finish all things for travel. Agency
will arrange this trip for me, and I shall work all the day long and I think, that we can spend evenings together and the know
each other better. If you have any interest to meet me I shall be very happy!!!
 
I do not want to be lonely in the evenings, and I want to know for sure if somebody waits for someone me! It is just a woman's wish!
I shall tell to you all details about my life and about me later.
If you are also lonely, you can be with me for the few Months or so.... Who knows???!
 
With the best regards from Russia
 
XXXX (this my name)

[Phil dAmore]

Based on this letter I'd say it's a scam.

It has all the hallmarks of a classic boilerplate scam letter.  If you reply to it you will almost certainly be asked to pony up the cash for the visa and plane tickets.

Single women of marriagable age do NOT get visas to visit the U.S. except under very certain conditions. 

Run the name through any of the scam-check sites.  Which city did it arrive from?

[BillyB]

Most likely a scam Bob. Friendfinder is geared for people looking for a local date, not international. Scammers know most that American men who have never left the States are gullible and don't understand the difficulty of FSU women being allowed to come to the States easily. First comes the letters with travel plans from a hot woman and the men start thinking it's easy to have this hotty land at his doorstep, not to mention the sex will be fantastic. It's okay to dream as long as you wake up to reality. Not to wake you up from this fantastic dream but most likely you're trading love letters with another man.

Do some reading here to get an understanding of dating/marriage sites other men have used. When you do find a woman or women you're interested in, call them often. If their not a scammer and they are sincere in knowing you, they will welcome your calls anytime.

[Simoni]

I shall work in the USA approximately three months or more and I wish to meet a good person to be my guide or be the good friend with whom I can spend time together when I am in the USA.

Bob-- it's definitely a scam.  100 %

I've received several varations of the letter.  The dead giveaway is that she can't come to the US. 

Or, if she is well connected and can, she would not be writing a stranger.

[William3rd]

Scam for sure. I have received that same letter in the past. The only question would be which pictures arrived with it.

[DKMM]

I wonder how someone could even possibly think it might not be a scam?  No wonder these girls are successful.

[Kuna]

Actually... it's not a scam until a man sends money... but I have no doubt the point will come where money is needed or requested!   

[goforit]

She/He is setting you up for a scam. Say buhbye - in a hurry!

[viking]

Scam. No doubt. Give it about 2-3 more lettters and then comes the request for money to come and visit, which she cannot do. If you want, I can give you my bumber sticker and T shirt. I've been down this road before.

[I/O]

Scam.

I/O

[Ladagirl]

The letter is published as scam on the Internet already.

http://www.antiscam.net/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=558

[Simoni]

Good detective work, Ladagirl 

[americanbob]

Thanks guys.... I have always suspected ANY foreign emails to be scams.  I received one from a person calling herself Tatyana and one from a Maria.  Amazing how they both use names that I see very often on the Russian women sites.  Tho' we all dream, it is always worth checking out responses and not being skeptical.  Once I have replied to any of these letters and follow up that I will not or am unable to provide money then I generally do not receive more replies.  These guys are good!  They have tell tale signs by not replying to the questions I ask and not staying on subject of my conversation and only reply every few days.  The whole scenario definitely has plenty to make even the uninformed  suspicious.... otherwise, I probably would have never come to this site.  I'm a very giving person but not quite a fool.

[Simoni]

Thanks guys.... I have always suspected ANY foreign emails to be scams.  I received one from a person calling herself Tatyana and one from a Maria.  Amazing how they both use names that I see very often on the Russian women sites.  Tho' we all dream, it is always worth checking out responses and not being skeptical.  Once I have replied to any of these letters and follow up that I will not or am unable to provide money then I generally do not receive more replies.  These guys are good!  They have tell tale signs by not replying to the questions I ask and not staying on subject of my conversation and only reply every few days.  The whole scenario definitely has plenty to make even the uninformed  suspicious.... otherwise, I probably would have never come to this site.  I'm a very giving person but not quite a fool.

Actually, a good principe to follow is that you should pick out the women you are interested in and YOU contact her.  Not vice versa.

Ignore letters that come to you unsolicited.

[americanbob]

That is a good idea but then again that defeats the purpose of posting a profile on a dating site.  I am now a bit concerned about identity theft only because I didn't see any harm in giving my real name and mailing address which is also my physical address... so, I'm keeping my eyes open for any changes... however, I did send the author the following link and asked them to read it.  In the future I'll be sending this link to anyone who sends me an email as a Russian woman wanting to come to America.  http://www.womenrussia.com/scammers_caught.htm

[Lily]

Actually, a good principe to follow is that you should pick out the women you are interested in and YOU contact her.  Not vice versa.

Ignore letters that come to you unsolicited.

Simoni, I am so glad that my friends who I find at friendfinder did not listen to this advice. Otherwise poor Lily would never get noticed on site.. 

I also agree very much with americanbob that not answering to people who contacted you on site defeats the very idea of finding friends online.

May I respectfully disagree about friendfinder - my impression would be that it is rather internationally targeted. However, it is true that there are not many FSU women listed there, but there are still some.

Ladagirl, great job indeed! 

[Eduard]

Hi Bob,
if I may, my 2 cents
Firstly, I will say that answering that letter would be a total waste of time for a couple of reasons.
There are a couple of programs that will allow girls from the FSU travel and work here for a period of time.
One is a "work and travel" program for students, where they can come here to the US and work for a few months, gaining American work experience.
The other one is called AUPAIR.
Usually these girls a quite young 19 - 20 y.o. and the furtherst thing from their mind is marriage, particularly to a guy who is 35 years older...
Sometimes these girls are a bit opportunistic and will try to "hook" a guy. They will ask you to pick them up at the airport and use you for as long as you will allow yourself to be used. Some will date you if you are a cute 25 yo guy, but let's face it - they are not marriage or girlfriend material.
I actually had a 30 year old client who met with a 20 yo girl who came here on this "work and travel" visa, and got a job at the casino in Atlantic City...I explained to him what the deal was and what to watch out for and on the first date he quickly realised that she had an ulterior motive. Seems like from the very beginning of their communication she was looking to "hook" him so she could stay here and not go back to Moldova, where she was from.
One thing to keep in mind that majority of women who are looking for a serious relationship on local Russian dating sites (not agency sites) limit their preferred partner's age to 10-15 years older. In some cases if you are a handsome/very interesting man 20 year gap will be accepted, but more of an exception, not the rule.
I actually know of a couple that has 40 years difference, and they are happy together apperantly! They were introduced when she was 19 and he was 59, and they've been together for almost 10 years now! I would say that the fact that he is very wealthy, fullfills her every whim, brought her family to live in the USA and is putting her through law school doesn't hurt a bit...he calls her: "My little Viagra"
Well seems like it works for them, and really I don't think there is anything wrong with that as long as they are happy. But just keep in mind, it's an exception and not a rule. If you are 55 I wouldn't recomend looking for a woman younger than 35 y.o.
hope this helps,
Ed

[KenC]

The letter is published as scam on the Internet already.

http://www.antiscam.net/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=558

Hey, waddup Manny?  Things a little slow on your forum to be posting here?
KenC

[Serebro]

She isn't a scammer, she is a GCG.
The girl is probably going  to the USA on one of famous student's/young people's programms like work and Travel/Au Pair.She mentioned that her friend'd spent a few months in the USA before.
Work and Travel students normally start the process in autumn/winter time if they want to go to the USA in summer, AuPair people do it at any time.It's December. The girl is going to start the Visa process soon and she is looking for some man who will meet her in the USA so she will be able to stay in the USA after her student's visa expires.
She hasn't asked for money so far so she isn't a scammer.
But she is a GCG100%.
What is worse?!

[Mir]

May I respectfully disagree about friendfinder - my impression would be that it is rather internationally targeted. However, it is true that there are not many FSU women listed there, but there are still some.

A few years ago when I was looking to date different girls friendfinder was the only site I used. So I have corresponded with a few FSU girls from there and have actually dated 3 Russian and 2 Ukrainian girls from this site.
At one time there were many real FSU girls listed there, now I think it is full of scammers from FSU, but maybe some real gems are still there (as we can see Lily is there)

[Serebro]

A few years ago when I was looking to date different girls friendfinder was the only site I used. So I have corresponded with a few FSU girls from there and have actually dated 3 Russian and 2 Ukrainian girls from this site.
At one time there were many real FSU girls listed there, now I think it is full of scammers from FSU, but maybe some real gems are still there (as we can see Lily is there)

I agree.
I was a member of friendfinder a few years ago, too(later they destroyed my favourite chat room )and I have met a few american girls from there, too...because I was a polite gem and I obeyed the rules and I used friendfinder for finding friends...