How does the scam work?
Basically, it is a scam where a lonely foreign man gets acquainted over the Internet with an attractive female from Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, African countries, etc. Whoever is behind the scam will try to get as much money out of the unsuspecting foreigner as possible.
Most scammers ask money for one or more of the following:
- passport, visa, tickets, "travel insurance"
- emergency medical expenses for the girl or her relatives (illness, car accident, death in the family)
- internet cafe / marriage agency expenses
- translation agency expenses
- phone / mobile phone expenses
- birthday celebration
- car accidents (the girl borrowed a car and wrecked it), apartment expenses (rent, repairs)
- presents for herself and her family at holiday times
- luxury items (cell phones, clothes, etc)
Typical tricks that scammers use:
- "rebels attacked our house and I have no place to live" messages
- "my mommy is sick and I have no money to help her"
- "I live in the US/UK but now I'm in Nigeria on business trip" - popular Nigerian scams
- "my parents died in car accident" - popular Nigerian scams
- "my late father was a rich man and he deposited a few millions of dollars for me but I need just $1000 to withdraw all the amount from bank"
- direct advertising of fake e-commerce programs (lotteries, investments, etc.)
Sometimes men are being asked to cash a check for the girl (watch out for that one, the checks will bounce!), to open or fund an Ebay account for the girl, to disclose their bank account or credit card information.
Some suggestions
This is just to inform you of a type of scam that is quite popular with online dating. Basically, the scam is to get a man to set up a PayPal account using a credit card or to send money by Western Union or some other money transfer service.
A man starts communicating with a "woman", the pictures are very attractive and sexy. Initial contact between victim and scam artist is to take the step in starting a relationship.
The artist then explains that they are in another country (usually Africa: Nigeria or Mali, or Russia/Ukraine, but England is also being used), and that they will not be returning to the States for another two weeks.
The artists may even send more pictures to the victim's e-mail address to "legitimize" cooperation of starting a relationship.
Upon finding out more information about the "nice looking woman" -- her parents died in a tragic accident and she has no family or friends who can help her stateside, or she was abandoned by her previous boyfriend in said country with no money to get home -- this is where I become skeptical and ask if they have gone to the embassy or local church to find assistance to return home.
Once a man tells them that he cannot help them with any kind of financial help, contact almost always ceases. Although it is embarrassing to admit, we believe this information will help others.
Hint: search for her email address on Google and see if she was been already reported as a scammer.
What if you met an honest girl that really needs help?
We recommend that you first visit her face-to-face and then decide if you would like to do any type of financial aid. This way the only things you loose are your time and cost of travelling. NEVER money BEFORE you see her personally!
What to do if you find a scammer?
Report one immediately!!
Go to Contact Us page and send us a message. We will react within 24 hours and remove her profile and blacklist her data.
We do not recommend You to translate the money to girl if you have never seen her!
So, Attention!
We Offer You the mini-catalogue of relatively honest ways of money Russian scammers.
MINI-CATALOGUE of the ways of Russian scam techniques:
1. The first way of the Ukraine dating scams is sham pregnancy. Of course, this is not on-line scam, but perhaps you are "lucky" and you will sleep with the scammer.
2. The next way of the Ukrainian dating scams is "The borrowing" of the money. Of course, for ever, because you are not one of those people, who will squeeze some miserable kopecks from Weak Girl, which you have given to her!
3. We can also mention the way of the Russian dating scam like "blue dream" - your girl tells you her blue dream, and you, as her knight, can not stand apart of its realization! (However a cunning foreigner knows that a "blue" dream is a dream, which turned blue in the expectation of its realization!)
4. The Technique «the nostalgia about reach admirers". Something like "My former boyfriend always did...) (Well and where is this boyfriend now? )
5. The Russian dating scammers use the technique "the falling out on frost". I.e. in any situations, when it is necessary to pay for something, she "implies" that this is only your saint duty and Right of the Knight! Ah, girls "fall on frost" so prettily!
6. Dating scams in Russia also include the technique "Help me" (not materially). She asks for any, but not money facilities (your time, knowledge, relationship, physical power, living space etc.)
7. Russian women like to use dating scams, like "Deserve Me". The Demonstration that She is not against some relationships, but you MUST DESERVE!!! (Though she does not tell, how...!) It is necessary to say that Russian women scams can be absolutely various!
8. One can mention also such Russian brides scams, as the technique "Chivalrous tournament" (for instance, situation: You: Oh, you have new mobile! She: Yes, one familiar has PRESENTED! Well, what feeling do you have? What do you want to do? (Such Russian women scams work pretty well provided that you like her VERY much)
9. You should also take into account such Russian brides scams, as the technique of using compassion ("Torn tights ;") Examples of such dating scams in Russia are: the disease of the mother, the death of the grandmother, expel from university, no computer, no phone and so on. Russian bride scammers particularly use it at the moment, when you have not intimacy yet.
10. The intrusion of the feeling of the blame is a very popular way of Russian girls scam (everybody has real man? and as for me...thanks to God...I am lucky as usual...) (For example the boyfriend of my friend has such a man: he does everything for her...She always compares by the most unbeneficial sign. Or: "If you really love me!", "Others can".
11. Asking of the promises at moment of the emotional euphoria or sexual excitement (but afterwards: "but you promised!) Well, who did not swallow this bait, raise the average leg!
12. And at the end we can mention the next way of the Russian marriage scams: the technique "Pavlov's dog". She encourages the profitable for her actions with the help of good attitude and "love".
Imagine the next time you join a discussion about online dating. When you start sharing the fascinating online dating facts below, your friends will be absolutely amazed.
Like it or not, when it comes to online dating, a photo is generally the thing that is going to get a reader's attention. With so many potential candidates to look through, people need some sort of a starting point and many will begin with the way a person looks. Even though you'd like to think that one benefit on online dating is that it gives people a chance to get to know each other before involving looks, this way of thinking really is naïve.
Most online dating services allow members to attach photos to their profiles. This is generally an optional feature and members don't have to do so if they don't want. Some people are leery of the Internet and don't want their picture being viewed by others they don't know. That's fine but just keep in mind that many people involved with dating, online or otherwise, are going to judge a person first by their appearance.
In fact, many members won't even look at profiles that don't have pictures attached. If you're debating whether or not to post your photo, that should be your main concern. You can always post your profile without a photo then wait to see the results you get. If you're satisfied, go ahead and continue without one. If you're not, then get a picture up there fast.
The best time to learn about online dating is before you're in the thick of things. Wise readers will keep reading to earn some valuable online dating experience while it's still free.
The other downside of posting photos is that sometimes the picture isn't an accurate portrayal. If you keep this in mind, it'll keep you from possibly being disappointed later on when you meet your date in person.
If you decide to post a picture, remember that not just any picture will do. While it isn't necessary to hire a photographer (although many people have done so and have dramatically increased their response rate), you do want to take care in selecting a picture. Of course it should be current. There's nothing worse than finding out when you meet in person that the person is ten years older than the picture on the dating site!
Some online dating sites allow you to post several images - one that will be attached to your profile header and the others visible only after clicking for more information. Always make sure that the main picture is of only you. Don't use a group photo, a photo with you and your sibling, or a photo of you with your pets or your children. Doing so almost always sends the wrong message. You can explain how much you love your pets and/or children later on, after you've begun communicating with someone.
Finally, make sure the impression you're giving others is the one you want to give. If you dress casually, people will think of you as casual. If you appear all decked out in the latest fashion trends, a different sort of image will be created in readers' minds. If your appearance is one step short of a centerfold shot, you might find you're bombarded with unsavory offers which may or may not be what you're looking for!
So now you know a little bit about online dating. Even if you don't know everything, you've done something worthwhile: you've expanded your knowledge.
