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Posted by: firemansam

I have found this on the net. I hope that in shareing it here there is no copyright issues...
Sam.

These are only some indications that "may" mean you are being set-up for a scam. Taken by themselves they could be quite innocent, but they are some things you should watch out for:

Her agency
Her agency is "blacklisted" on several web-sites.

Her letters
She sends the same letters that other scammers have written.

She addresses you by the wrong name (or the letter is not written to you at all). Your name appears only once at the beginning of the letter.

She avoids direct questions about her personal life. Vague letters with no or few questions about you. She may write very loving letters about how much she needs you, misses and loves you, yet doesn't seem interested in you personally. A lady seriously considering marriage will obviously have questions.

Your questions are never or rarely answered. A real girl will understand that you have questions about her, and try to answer them. A scammer might not even read your email. However this is one warning sign that is sometimes misinterpreted. The lady may not know your language very well, and she may need time to fully translate your letter and her replies to your specific questions. So, depending on the lady's understanding of English (or whatever language you're corresponding in), she may need more time to respond directly to your questions.

Her letters may seems like "form" letters, and if she is a scammer, they are form letters. They're usually sent out in order - reply 1, reply 2, etc. If she's working on many people at once, you may even receive letters addressed to someone else. Her letters may become progressively sexual, and her photos more seductive. This is a common theme throughout the varying scams.

Overly tender letters at the very beginning of your correspondence. For example if she calls you "My Darling” or signs her first letters to you "with love".

Her letters may seems like "form" letters, and if she is a scammer, they are form letters. They're usually doled out in order - reply 1, reply 2, etc. Usually a new "model shot" taken "just for you" will be included. If she's working on many men at once (and scammers usually are), you may even receive letters addressed to someone else! Usually that's a good time to bail out ;-)
Her letters may become progressively sexual, and her photos more seductive. This is a common theme throughout the varying scams.

Her contact information
She doesn't have a telephone, even a cellular (mobile) telephone; she doesn't say where she lives, home address, phone number, her place of employment.

Her photos
The photos look too-good-to-be-true. This is always the first giveaway. If she sends you photographs, take note: does she look like a 'real' person? Many real women can't afford to have expensive studio-shots done. Ask yourself this: why is she mentioning how short for cash she is when she can afford to have her hair and make-up done for an expensive photo-shoot? Also watch out for nude or suggestive photos. Most women with pure intentions wouldn't do something that drastic. Scammers rarely use photos of "plain" looking girls. Quite often they use photos of foreign models or even actresses or pop stars! We've seen this many times, so we've included a photo album of favorite beauties that are often used by scammers. This doesn't mean that you should suspect every girl who has beautiful photos! But if the photo appears to have been scanned from a magazine, or she has a whole series of "model" shots which are just too perfect, it's wise to be suspicious. Maybe she really is a model, it's not unheard of; but when combined with other warning signs, this one is usually a dead giveaway.

Her age
She's extremely beautiful and you're old enough to be her father. Let's face facts: young beautiful girls don't have to settle for a man so much older and most won't want to. For many years this myth has been perpetuated by marriage agencies: that Russian, Ukrainian and Eastern European girls prefer much older men. Some do, sure, just like girls in every other country. But your chances of being scammed only increase with the age difference. I don't want to give the wrong impression about this, since my wife is 13 years younger than I am ;-) I think that is a reasonable age difference for some people. But we often see 60 year old men writing to 20 - 25 year old girls, and that's just asking for trouble.

Her emotions
She falls "in love" with you after only a few letters/emails. Even if you are a great handsome guy it's too fast. Until you've met in person and spent time together, any claims of love should be suspect. Even if she seems genuine about it, you should seriously consider moving on to a more rational, level-headed person who wants to take the time to get to know someone really well before making any type of commitment.

Her requests for money
She asking for money to help with a sick mother, or grandmother, or child, or she is having other money problems, and she can turn to only you for help as she knows you love each other and are meant to be together soon. It's not appropriate at all in any culture to ask a stranger you've never met to help you.

She might ask for money to pay for her Internet, translations so she can correspond with you. Hints about how expensive Internet cafes are. They really are expensive, but most Russian; Ukrainian and FSU ladies don't use Internet cafes for their correspondence. The majority of girls will have Internet access at work, or through a friend. They may pay someone for this service, but if they claim it's costing them $50 - $100 per month, you need to be suspicious.

Or she might ask for money for her English lessons.

Her tragedies or accidents
A tragedy occurred and money is urgently needed. This is the most common scam used. It usually comes up after she's corresponded with you for a while. The story could be almost anything - one of her parents are ill, or got hit by a car and could die unless an expensive operation is performed; her money was lost or stolen, the rent is due and she could be evicted and end up on the streets. This is the "springing of the trap" and usually will happen after she's worked on you for awhile. The sob-story could be almost anything - one of her parents are ill, or her child, and they could die unless an expensive operation is performed. Her money was lost or stolen, the rent is due and she could be evicted and wind up on the streets. She has a mean nasty boss that will fire her if she doesn't have sex with him, and she's a virgin saving herself for you, etc., etc. There are endless variations on this theme. Don't fall for it! Not unless you've met the girl and her family in person or otherwise know the story to be true. But if that was the case, you probably wouldn't be here reading this, would you? ;-)

She wants to visit you in your country
She offers (or want) to come visit you but she needs money for a visa, airline ticket, insurance, travel pass, customs.

For your meetings with her she might want to arrange everything, asking you to send money so she can have lodging and transportation taken care of before you arrive. If she suggests this, be careful. Especially if she asks you to send cash. It is better to use a reputable travel agency from which you can get a refund.

She wants to visit you in the USA, and needs money for the visa/tickets, or hotel stay while waiting to obtain the visa... While it is possible for women to obtain a tourist visa to visit the USA, it would be very difficult. A certain income level must be met and there are many restrictions. While it's less trouble for a Russian or Ukrainian citizen to visit other countries within the FSU, this remains one of the most common scams. Most real women would prefer that you visited them in their home country, where they could be in familiar surroundings and introduce you to their family.

If you don't send money?
If you can't send the money right away, you don't love her and were only playing her and now she is heart broken and can't trust men again because you are all the same.

When you meet.
When you do meet (if things go so far) she wants to go to expensive places to eat, high class night spots, theatre or some other unusually expesive event or entertainment. If you see that she gets angry or mad at the slightest thing that you do that does not please her, or at any other of life's simple little irritants.

The scammers are impatient
Unfortunately, some scammers know of these warning signs and how to avoid arousing suspicion. Be patient. A loving and faithful relationship takes time to build, and scammers will get restless. They wait for the easier prey, especially for those men who seem to be new at meeting Russian women.

Some scammers are becoming quite sophisticated, and they'll understand these warning signs and try to avoid giving them. However these scammers will not waste their time with you, once they understand that you're knowledgeable about the process of marrying a foreign bride. They'll wait for easier prey, especially for those men who seem to be new at this. For example if you write to girls offering to "bring them to your country" for a visit, your likely to be a target. The more clever scammers will never ask you for money themselves, they'll wait until you offer all by yourself. But still the "hints" about money will be there. They'll understand they need to ask you questions and reply to yours, and they will. But they won't keep up this game forever - don't offer to send them money, and all scammers will disappear eventually.

Bottom line: Just don't send money!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!