View Full Version : fools rush in
Castlestormer
07-21-2003, 10:05 AM
Or does she seem way too tanned to be a Russian?
I wish you wisdom and discernment Sean. And I hope you are thinking with the right head.
Keith
07-21-2003, 10:32 AM
Sean, you need to forward that information to the Russian Black List russianblacklist.com...those guys post images of scammers and will post her messages to you. I know it won't solve the problem but it might save someone from her rather obvious scamming. Two weeks, huh? Whew!
Keith
rtking
07-21-2003, 11:23 AM
Hi Sean,
Sadly, some of us will run into situations that we're not comfortable with. And some of us will have a wonderful experience... it's all statistics.
That said, I've run into a few scammers... even as recently as a few weeks ago. But after all my experiences, I've learned to trust my "little voice" or inner instinct. If something doesn't feel right, then I'd say, "Cut bait."
My first thoughts were: 1) after two weeks, this girl should not be "in love with you" and 2) as we all know, it's virtually impossible to get a "Tourist Visa" to the United States from Russia... especially for attractive, single people.
I'm sorry that this hasn't been a positive experience, but ending it now will prevent it from making it worse.
Bob K.
Jim_FL
07-21-2003, 12:14 PM
I read the post this morning but witheld comment. The only thing that has me waffling on this one is the fact that she seems to be just as happy if you come to visit her. There are travel agencies that scam the women regarding ease of obtaining visas. While I agree that on the surface it appears to be a scam, there are some definate facts that point in the other direction too. This is not a clear cut "I love you but my mom just got run over by a truck, send me $3000.00" The cost of the visa she quoted is correct! Usually scammers will shoot for @ $350-450.
Trust your gut on this one, she may be a scammer or she may just be oblivious to what it takes to get into the US (I was when I suggested it to Liliya in the begining ):rolleyes: It is really not as obvious as it seems when you disect the letter.
Woody
07-21-2003, 01:12 PM
I'm with you on this one Jim. Stopped myself from posting a reply earlier but your thoughts have prompted me to act. What she writes does not put down as a scammer. If it were me I would pursue the route of correspondence to see what comes of it. At present there is no loss.
Clive
I agree with Jim and Woody , I had to read the letter a couple of times to be sure , I would not disregard her , but tread carefully!
I'm not really sure which way I would go , maybe a bit more correspondance may shed some light and guide you on the right decision to make!
Hope all goes well
John
ConnerVT
07-21-2003, 05:05 PM
Sean, I don't know where you think New Yorkers are gullible, unless you're talking about those in the sticks up in the north country! This New Yorker grew up a short drive from the Long Island Expressway, and the people I know from there are anything but. :D
Perhaps it's because there's a friendlier tone to this forum, that everyone didn't just pile on to Elena and her letter. On some other forums, I can imagine the response it would of received!
Of course, from one letter, and one photograph, almost anybody can be given the benefit of the doubt. But this one has a number of warning bells and lights on it. If it came from her soliciting you, then scam is written all over it. Jim is right, many seem to like that $350 cost for the visa. But it's a confidence game, and any grifter will tell you when the mark catches on, it's time to change.
I exchanged email with a scammer in Penza for about 3 months, before I got the letter asking for the "$350" for the visa. I sent her flowers just before I got that letter. It was appropriate, that the "home" address she gave me was at a bank... ;)
SufiPoet
07-21-2003, 09:38 PM
Hello Sean and guys...
Sorry that I've been away for a few days...
I was gone this weekend on a vacation on the beach :) with Lena, and then I have felt momentum on a documentary film that I am producing and directing, and so that was taking a lot of my energy...
Sean... I appreciate that you feel comfortable and open enough to share your letter and experience with us here in the forum....
I emailed you personally about the letter that she sent you, and gave you some of my thoughts in that email, but, I want to add a few things here...
1) She could simply not be aware that it is very very difficult (and virtually impossible) for a Russian woman to receive a tourist visa to the U.S. unless she has a significant amount of money and can clearly demonstrate that she does not want to immigrate to America (when appplying for a visa, a foriegn applicant has the bruden of proof to show that she or he does not want to immigrate. If she DOES have this kind of money, then she could certainly afford to pay for the $100 visa cost herself...
2) I do wonder, as you were wondering, Sean, why she just sent you pictures of herself in bathing suits and more revealing clothes. Russian women, in general (and the ones I would trust to pursue as my wife), would send me less revealing photos of themselves. Of course, a person who you have been communicating with for many months might send a picture or two of themselves in a bathing suit, but.. In my experience, Russian women are more traditional regarding revealing their sexuality to men who they are communicating with.
3) As I understand, Sean, you first proposed that you go visit her in her country, and then she proposed coming to see you. I personally would say to her that you would rather come to see her so that you can visit Russia and see her culture, etc.... as well as saying to her that a tourist visa is almost impossible to receive. I would also DEFINITELY speak with her on the phone a few times before making any arrangements to come and see her. If she does not have a phone, then she can wait at a designated time by a friend's phone and you can call her, or... she can wait at a certain time in her Russian post office (which also has telephone booths)... These steps are some ways to minimize the risk of being "scammed." If she really is not being honest, then chances are that she will balk at meeting you as you are making the arrangements to go and see her, or you will notice something fishy as you are communicating with her on the phone. Also, if she really wants to see you, then she will gladly do all the necessary work to arrange a private visa for you, which really does involved a substancial commitment on her part. (Although it is easier for you to arrange a tourist or business visa yourself).
It sounds like you are listening to your intuition, Sean, which is a good and healthy sign :)
Good luck in wisely understanding your best choice...
Khashyar
Castlestormer
07-22-2003, 03:02 PM
Maybe it's just me, and maybe I've been meeting the wrong Russians. But I have never, ever met anyone from Russia with a golden tan. Even the Russians in Costa Rica, or even here in Texas where the sun is brutal seem to be fairer complected than most. All the ones I have personally met seem fair skinned. Look at all the pictures from Russian sites like RussiaJournalOnline.com, and you just won't see a bronzed Russian anywhere. NO tanned Russians in the picture bank on this site.
I know that they do sun bathe. It is strange to see men in speedos standing next to the wall in St Pete when the Neva is frozen oven. They just don't seem to get as brown as the lady in the pic above though. Who knows? Maybe she's the "real deal". But then again, maybe the mafia boss she actually lives with keeps her in the south of France year round. (I'm just being a goof) And if ANYONE should be tanned, it's Ms Universe!
All I'm saying is be careful and be wise!
Castlestormer
07-22-2003, 03:11 PM
No tan lines here.
Castlestormer
07-22-2003, 03:12 PM
Or here
Castlestormer
07-22-2003, 03:14 PM
No tan lines here either!:D
Keith
07-22-2003, 03:32 PM
"CastleStormer":
Regarding the 7:02 pm posting with image...where'd you get that photo of my lady? :D
Keith
rtking
07-22-2003, 03:34 PM
Castlestormer, I think you made your point! :p
I think Russians should be happy... they don't suffer from near-instantaneous tanning like I do (I'm Chinese) and end-up with a horrible farmer's tan! :p It's truly tragic to see white skin everywhere else on my body except for my shoulders, arms and (sometimes) legs! :eek:
Seriously... I think some Russians might tan a little more than others. There are Russians in Uzbekistan that I've seen with a tan... but nowhere close to the tan that lady has got!
Bob K.
Keith
07-22-2003, 04:04 PM
:D
Jim_FL
07-22-2003, 04:38 PM
Originally posted by CastleStormer
Maybe she's the "real deal". But then again, maybe the mafia boss she actually lives with keeps her in the south of France year round.
Maybe she darkened up the pic with photoshop like Time magazine did with O.J.'s mug :D
Castlestormer
07-22-2003, 05:29 PM
Where do I send the check?????
Americans wear speedos too you know! (that's not me incidentally):eek:
ConnerVT
07-22-2003, 05:39 PM
True, you won't find too many tan lines on the residents of Moscow or St. Pete, but then, you can say the same thing of people in Maine and Minnesota. But when I was in Sochi, I saw many people with dark tans people would die for. (Or die from, if you consider skin cancer). And this was in June, before it REALLY got hot!
Sochi is not much further north than Turkey and Greece, places where a Mediterranean complexion is the norm. Also, many “Russians” originally didn’t come from Russia at all. Georgians, Armenians, Azerbaijani (is that the correct usage? My fiancée was born there, and both her and her son gets a pretty dark tan, even living north of Moscow) may be Russian citizens. It’s an awful big country…
andrei
07-22-2003, 06:17 PM
Oh my God, you made me smile again....
'Mafia boss she actually lives with"... come on man if she was with a mafia boss she wouldn't be begging for money... And after all, there aren't more mafia bosses in Russia than in any other place, people sound funny when they're talking about 'Russian mafia'....
As for the tan, well, Omsk is a much more sunnier place than Moscow... Steppes all around us, no mountains, no swamps, just plains... This summer there were like 15 days with temperatures higher than 30 centigrade, and winters are never colder than -30 centigrade.
peace
andrei
07-22-2003, 06:20 PM
Originally posted by ConnerVT
Georgians, Armenians, Azerbaijani
Yeah, those people are really dark, plus their hair is curvy and their noses are big... these are who WE here call Caucasians,, because they're from Caucasus... Chechens too...
Emetsky
07-23-2003, 09:03 PM
Eta Blasphemy!!!! Pashalsta stop mocking my goddess :mad:
Castlestormer
07-23-2003, 11:29 PM
Originally posted by Emetsky
Eta Blasphemy!!!! Pashalsta stop mocking my goddess :mad:
I'm confused! Which one is "your goddess"? I can hook you up with a professional model for colgate. She loves American men. Here's her pic below. No need to thank me. I do what I can for my buddies on this board!
Brandon
09-15-2003, 06:59 PM
Listen up people...That ain't no tan, that's RUST !
I know ! I drank the water ! All those cast iron water pipes and the Boiler House hot water . In Volgograd I did not see anyone darker than me except my Indian (Tamal.) doctor friend and translator. I was in Sochi in May, saw maybe two people with darker than usual skin, they where both elderly women......just goes to prove my RUST theory !..........B
PS. Anyone miss that elevator smell. I do !
The younger the girl the more likely she is to talk herself into believing that she is in love. The more likely she is to say to her friends "my boyfriend in America." If in doubt, don't send money.