A Clever Scammer (a work-in-progress) ?

[SANDRO43]

I think it may be instructive to relate an on-going experience. The jury is still out, but I already suspect what their verdict may be .

THE STORY
A couple of days ago I noticed in the daily Site2Date newsletter a face
(http://www.site2date.com/profile.php?id=71956, the profile in the meantime has disappeared: significant in itself) with some resemblance to that of the Librarian (http://www.russianwomendiscussion.com/index.php?topic=5875.0), so I decided to send her a wink and see what would transpire .

Since she is from Ternopol, a minor Ukraine town (250,000 inhabitants), I Googled for that and her name Tanyusha, and also found her here: http://www.myfreeown.com/profile.php?id=59691 (profile still active). Since the layout/design of this site is very similar to that of My Beloved Net, I tried using the ID/Pw I have there and, sure enough, I could login, see my MBN profile, and mark her as a "Hot Member" for future reference. Three hours later I received a message there:

Subject: Hi dear!
Let`s get acquainted with each other closer.

including her email address. I then wrote her an email thanking her and asking for more info and photos (in the meantime, Googling for her email address turned up nothing). The following day I received her email reply:

Wed, 9 Jan 2008 19:03:06 +0200
Subject: From Tanya
Hello Sandro!
So let's start to talk. I hope we will come to something good to the
end of our conversation. It's always hard to introduced myself. I feel
like strange talking about myself, because I don’t want to sound egoistic.
Let’s talk just about the facts, which, probably, you would like to know.

First of all my appearance. My height is 167 cm, my weight is 50 kg. I
have grey eyes and  light brown  long hair. I'm 32 years old, I was
born in 1976, on October, the 28th.

I live in a small town. It is called Ternopol, it is situated on the
Western part of Ukraine, near Lviv. I live with my parents now. I was married
(you may not like it, but I just say true facts) I think it’s normal when woman
Of my age has something  in her past, at list it’s my opinion. I hope I don’t
sound  like a teacher now. I work as a teacher of physical training, that’s
why I may sound boring like a teacher. Actually, it’s also the reason why I’m
keen on healthy life style. I don’t drink and don’t smoke. 

I also have a elder  brother, his name is Nikolay(Nicholas). He is 36
years old now. I love him very much. He is a reserved  man, but he's
very kind. He always tries to protect me. I feel loved and protected in my
family circle, I may seem strange but I just want to find a man with whom I feel
the same. 

You know, I'm tired of my loneliness. I don't want to be alone. I want
to find my only one.  I guess you have a question, why I'm alone. Two years
ago I got my divorce and I became more cautious with men around me.  And
the Internet seems a more safe  place, than bar. I’m not  talking about 
cinemas and theatres, because we don’t have them here. I'm sure that I
need a sensitive partner, and he also should be loving and caring. I don't
say that Slavonic guys are bad or don't know how to treat a woman. But
they are not used to show their feelings. And I need to see what my
man feels for me.

I guess that's all for this time. Please, feel free to ask me anything
you want. And wanted to ask you what do you think about the Internet
as a way of meeting people. Bye! Tatyana.

You may notice some familiar signs: talk about herself, some complaints about "Slavonic guys", "tired of my loneliness", etc. However, since this was her first letter, they may not be overly significant. Her IP, however, turned out to belong to Luganet Ltd located in Lugansk (Eastern Ukr) while Ternopil is in Western Ukraine. Curious, but again maybe not significant (I don't know how extensive Luganet's coverage is ).

I replied positively asking a few questions (including how long she had been married, her foreign language fluency, etc.) and saying that meeting people on the Internet had both good (international) and bad (frauds) aspects. My reply was read the following morning, and later that day:

Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2008 19:10:31 +0200
Subject: From Tanya
Hello, my new friend Sandro!

First I want to thank you for your answer and your interest to me. And
thank you to accept me in your world... I really like talking to you
and I hope you like me.

Let's see what else I could tell you about myself. I have never had
Children, because my ex didn’t  want children. But you know I would like
to have children, though I guess it's a mutual decision, two people
should both decide whether to have children or not.

I guess I haven't told you yet, that I don't know English. I would
like to learn it, but I haven't such a chance till now. You may ask
why I write to you if I don't know English,  I mean it would be
right for a woman to learn English if she is looking for a man
abroad. I want to tell you that I'm going to learn it, because I'm sure
 that it would be useful for me and another reason is my desire to
understand my man. As I already told you, I feel that the love I seek I
could find only with a gentle and sensitive man. Russian and Ukrainian
men are not bears, but one could never call them sensitive.
I miss tender love, tender hands hugging me, kisses in public, whispering
secret  gentle names, which man and woman use to call each other.

I have been married for two years.

That's why I decided to start correspondence through the Internet. I
went to a firm. This is a translation firm which make translations in
written form and it also deals with the Internet correspondence. And I
was very surprised to know that some women in my country make money
from foreign guys writing to them through the Internet. Manager of the
firm asked me whether I'm going to earn money. At first I didn't
understand anything, then he explained to me everything about those
women, who earn  money using foreign men. And then he said that if I
would do something like this, he will report to the police. Actually,
the manager was the first who told me about those people. Now I
understand that it might be difficult for you to trust me.

I believe in being truthful all through my life, because if you don't lie
you never get  in trouble with anyone. I truly don't believe in arguing, I
think it's just pointless and negative, much better to talk something through
and agree on a conclusion  or a compromise to a certain situation! I
mean, why waste time arguing  when you can enjoy each others company?
Sure life isn't perfect, but why not  try to make it perfect? Being
with someone means being there for them through  the good and the bad,
to support them, love them and help them through any situation,
whether it's their fault or not! I guess I give so much of my thoughts
and emotions to my friends, sometimes I feel I'm not getting anything
in return, that's when you realize that you're alone in the world
sometimes, seeking that special someone that you could , I don't know
how to say it, look after, care about and be interested in but then
get that in return!

Don't know what else I could add. If you still read this letter, it means
you like me or you’re a polite man. I like both variants, but the first is more
pleasant for me personally.

It would be great to meet you in real someday, really... I wish you a
good day! And don't forget to write me a letter, because I'll be
waiting! Take care, Tatyana.

I say she is clever because she treats the translation-agency aspect rather adroitly (in reponse to my "fraud" remark), and answers some, but not all, of my questions. However, she mentions my name only in her opening salutation, uses again a "Subject: From Tanya", and has no remarks on/further personal questions for me based on what I wrote her about myself or what she could elicit from my profile.

Furthermore, her "I have been married for two years" in response to my question seems to be stuck in the middle with no logical connection to what follows or precedes (the indentation is original), AND her "At the stairs" photo shows a decidedly older person (if the same ).

I replied tonight chiding her about using photos of when she was in her early 20s, recounting a few of the typical translation-agency scams, and asking more about her "It would be great to meet you in real someday, really" (when ? where ?).

Next episode tomorrow (maybe )

[Shadow]

The first pictures are of a professional model quality and lighting. The last one seems to be a more candid shot, and yes there is an age difference there (or a very professional makeup artist).
So far undecided.

[ScottinCrimea]

My first thought was, "a Ukrainian city of 250,000 without a cinema or theater?  Impossible!"

[evaljean]

This should be good.  Got the popcorn popped, opened a cold one and I'm ready to watch.

Keep  us posted!

Cheers!

Uncle Eric

[BillyB]

Next episode tomorrow (maybe )

Sandro, you have real a winner there. In the next letter you should tell her you want her to have your baby and then propose! Go for it! You've got nothing to lose except your virginity!

[mspanky]

 She does
not look 32 and she would be snatched up in a NY minute by tons of guys with big bucks if she was for real. She's ultra cute. Agency is using her picture as a ringer. But  I say play with her awhile.

 I imagine even if she was real a couple of years in the U.S. would be the best you can expect from this beauty. The line for her would start forming at the airport. AM are the laziest bunch there is. Most won't get on the plane to meet a foreign women but you can expect them to be mighty agresive when a foreign women like that pops up her brought by a mule.

[BC]

The woman in the first two pics is not the same as the woman shown in the last.

[Serebro]

The woman in the first two pics is not the same as the woman shown in the last.

I am not sure.
I can look VERY different in different pictures.

[SANDRO43]

The woman in the first two pics is not the same as the woman shown in the last.

Hard to say for sure, maybe 2 years married to a "Slavonic" man wasted her pretty looks irretrievably .

You've got nothing to ose except your virginity!

No new email today, she missed her usual 7 PM schedule, I'm afraid I'll have to remain celibate for a while longer .

[mspanky]

Hard to say for sure, maybe 2 years married to a "Slavonic" man wasted her pretty looks irretrievably

  wasted her pretty looks? I would say the woman on the steps is still gorgeous. Bring that woman to the U.S.  she'll have so many offers from young professional men you'll eat your words.    Are you looking for a woman who'se even more beautiful?

[Serebro]

  wasted her pretty looks? I would say the woman on the steps is still gorgeous. Bring that woman to the U.S.  she'll have so many offers from young professional men you'll eat your words.    Are you looking for a woman who'se even more beautiful?

I agree,the last photo is non-professional and she has a different hair dress.(including her hair color), so it can make her look different. At the same time if you look attentively at the first 2 photos-the woman on them is not very young, too.
BTW, Sandro, you seem to have VERY high standards of beauty

[evaljean]

Beers getting warm. Hope theres more news tomorrow.

Maybe she is lurker on RWD and knows you are on to her.

U. Eric

[SANDRO43]

BTW, Sandro, you seem to have VERY high standards of beauty

Well, why settle for less ? My ex was a minor fashion model.

Are you looking for a woman who'se even more beautiful?

I'd say that "At the stairs" is a decent-looking but rather ordinary girl (of course, that's my personal, totally-subjective opinion). I can give you her email address, if you want to start your own pursuit . Mind the flags, though .

[mspanky]

Well, why settle for less ? My ex was a minor fashion model.

   You must be very rich as fashion model looking women usually want a fair trade. Older men with a lot of money seems to be very fair trade for many. 


I'd say that "At the stairs" is a decent-looking but rather ordinary girl (of course, that's my personal, totally-subjective opinion). I can give you her email address, if you want to start your own pursuit . Mind the flags, though .

 No don't want her email. Just saying the girl is far from ordinary. She's actually very cute.

[Serebro]

Well, why settle for less ? My ex was a minor fashion model.
I'd say that "At the stairs" is a decent-looking but rather ordinary girl (of course, that's my personal, totally-subjective opinion). I can give you her email address, if you want to start your own pursuit . Mind the flags, though .

I want her address, have you told her that you speak perfect Russian?!

[mspanky]

 Sandro watch out! I hear Italy has no shortage of model type young men who attract a lot of attention from the ladies.

I must say Sandro43 must be very rich  if he attracts girls that make the girl on the step look ordinary. Beautiful women usually will take a trade off for their youth and beauty. The older and more average a gent is, the bigger the trade-off will be.

[SANDRO43]

I want her address

Here you go, Sere: tanyusha_ua@inbox.ru. Do you want to start a correspondence yourself ?

have you told her that you speak perfect Russian?!

That would be a gross overstatement .

[SANDRO43]

I must say Sandro43 must be very rich  if he attracts girls that make the girl on the step look ordinary.

Or irresistibly handsome .

[SANDRO43]

No news from Tanyusha today, either. I'm afraid my initial impresssion was correct: she IS clever, realised that I may not be a promising target, and moved on to greener pastures.

In partial compensation, may I offer to my disappointed readers:

- Darrinka, 26 y.o. from Stakhanov (http://www.antheaclub.com/index.php?page=view_profile&id=8703)

from today's Anthea Club's bulletin. She's NOT clever, since her photo is actually one of the chastest of Czech porn star Jana Cova, who seems to be a favourite source of inspiration for fakes. So far, her photos have been used by (http://www.floriani.it/sitirussi/doublegallery-eng.htm):
- 6 scammers
- 20 hookers

I sent her a "Kiss", and expect to hear soon from her .

[evaljean]

Popping the top on the 2nd bottle and easing into my recliner. Hope there are some fireworks.

UE