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men abducted/murdered while visting online love abroad
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Posted by: ham

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.c...BAG78LVGRI1.DTL

Quote:

Merrill, a 56-year-old divorced carpenter and musician, thought he had found love online.

Instead, authorities believe Rachid lured Merrill to Brazil and masterminded a plot in which he was drugged for about six days until he disclosed his bank account information, then was strangled and his body set on fire, according to Merrill's sister, a friend and Brazilian news accounts.

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AS POSTED ELSEWHERE
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen...570d802&k=97974
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/afp/0708...a_mali_internet

Quote:

Des Gregor, an Australian sheep farmer kidnapped in Mali (African country) where he'd gone to meet "Natacha," an Internet bride, owes his freedom to the Canadian Embassy.

It is not the first time a love-struck Des Gregor travelled across the world. Three years ago he went to Russia in search of a bride, but came back empty handed.

Posted by: OzGuyLooking

Concerning the Australian guy he is a sandwich short of a picnic. Even his own brother admits there were emotional problems and these led him to search the net for a way out.

Posted by: GentleGiant

And don't forget, the MySpace attacks earlier this year, 1 guy went to meet the woman he had been chatting to on there and it was a set-up, had the $hit kicked out of him and his car & wallet taken.

Posted by: mistermopar

Guess it can happen to any one at any time any where.It is a reminder to be carefull out there guys.
It is a differant world then what we are use to at home.

Randy

Posted by: ham

these are just 2 among many examples of people murdered/abducted/attacked/injured while visiting online loves abroad. If we add people to whom ill fate befell while meeting LD/WWW loves in their own country, the number increases manyfold.
As well, Interpol issued warnings: many people are reported missing/dead in connection with Nigeria-491-financial fraud schemes, so it CAN go beyond mere entertainment exchanging canned emails with some (african) conman.

Posted by: GoingToRussia

And let's look at the other side of the coin. Many members have made many trips and only found safety and love in the arms of a woman from the FSU!

I've never had a problem and only met very friendly people.

Yes beware and do your homework. Use your head not your heart. If it doesn't feel right, don't do it.

Posted by: GoeastLJ

I have been to Moscow 3 times, St Petersburg, Yalta, Kiev 4 times and Odessa twice. I had my wallet stolen in Odessa and only discovered it was missing just before paying for a meal at Chinese Restaurant. I had to leave my passport to get out of the restaurant. In the grand scheme of things, this did not put me off FSU, but I had a field day phoning banks, credit card companies cancelling my cards.

Posted by: Big wheel

With any trip from going across town to across the ocean you must be careful. Anything can happen at anytime. When you go on vacation anywhere for what ever reason tell someone and check in. I did. i called back home everyday. just to say hi!

Here is a funny story. When i went to Ukraine i told some family and friends that i was afraid that i would wake up in a tub full of ice with my kidneys missing. And my good friend told me to keep his address in my wallet so they have a place to mail my thumbs and demand a ransom for my release.

Have fun and use your head. Anything can happen at anytime. Here or there.

Posted by: GoingToRussia

Spoken like someone from the Detroit area Big Wheel!!!

Posted by: vic2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoingToRussia

And let's look at the other side of the coin. Many members have made many trips and only found safety and love in the arms of a woman from the FSU!

I've never had a problem and only met very friendly people.

Yes beware and do your homework. Use your head not your heart. If it doesn't feel right, don't do it.

Very true GTR.

Anyway I expect a much higher number of people meet a sticky end whilst just on holiday. I dont see why going to FSU in search for love makes you any more vulnerable.

This smells like s**t stirring to me.

Have I been lucky? 2 trips to Kiev, 5 trips to Omsk and one to St. Petes and not a spot of trouble.

Posted by: Jerico

Quote:

many people are reported missing/dead

Maybe some of thee are locals getting the crap beat out of them by foreigners

I only had one incident with some drunk guy .
When i pushed him away and told him to F-off he got the message I think ,heh.
As foriegners we are not all push overs. If your worried over there buy yourself a Stiletto knife for protection. There all over the metros in the kiosk. When you leave Russia just abandon it there, done.

Every trip I had money scams played on me but they never got anything from me.
Dont carry lots of money in the wallet. Use a money belt. Worked great for me, even padded down by the police they didn`t even find it.
Jerry

Posted by: AkMike

Why in the world would the cops pat you down???
I've had worse problems in my travels around the states than overseas. Mardi Gras can get rough!

Posted by: Jerico

Quote:

Why in the world would the cops pat you down???

Well Mike when I was going from Volgograd to Moscow the airport police started to question me ( of course in Russian ,lol ) Then they took me into a little office and looked at terrorist list for me, hehe. I emptyed my pockets and then started to undress then they said its Ok and i left.
They were just doing there job and I dont hold it against them.

However when I went my third trip to Moscow i stayed at the Hotel Russiya ( the one close to Kremlin ,no longer there) When i was trying to get my future wife up to my room you have to register the visitor at a little office on the side of hotel. Well the cops hang out there. They must of took my wife for a prostitute going up to my room

and hassled me then hassled my wife . They interigated her for like 3 hours in another office threatening to deport her. Technically she is Kirkiz and isnt from Russia so she was there illegally but luckily just left the country a few days before which gave her 3 days to register ,hehe. Anyway ya I have had a few run ins but nothing special.

Side note to AKmike : My motherinlaw was approved to come here again on a TOURIST visa from kirgizstan.

Posted by: deccie

If you look at what the Australian guy did that Ham cited - he wasn't very bright the way he went about it.

The stupidity of some - even just plain tourists - just knows no bounds.

Reminds me of all the older tourists I tend to see in St Petersburg - normally Americans - all wearing name tags around their necks - in English ONLY. I mean at least have the same printed on the reverse in Cyrillic!

When I go there I always carry the address of both a mate that helps me and my girl in Cyrillic so that at worst case I can flag down a cab to get home.

If your going to fly half way around the world to meet a girl - make sure at least someone else knows where you'll be! Preferably a reliable local! Try to meet the first time in a neutral place!

This is another reason besides the general possibility for awkwardness that staying in the apartment of the girl the first time you meet in person is just not a good idea.

Finally, on my last trip I ran into a new phenomenon. Americans who thought "carry on bagage" includes 15 kilo suitcases! I kid you not. There was not one, but 5 or 6 people like this - all elderly - all needed help managing their bags. And the overhead lockers soon filled to overflowing.

The Lufthansa staff were not happy.. and justifiably so in my view.

Posted by: AkMike

Thanks for the side note Jerry! That's a big help for the right type to apply for!

Posted by: mistermopar

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jerico

LOL....They took me into the little room also last year when leaving Volgograd.
I gave them some gum,Canadian cigs and little Canadian flag pins and was on my way.

Randy

Posted by: EasyTarget

Quote:

Originally Posted by vic2012

Have I been lucky?

Your married to a wonderful woman -- so the answer is YES

Posted by: Felice

Quote:

Originally Posted by mistermopar

Guess it can happen to any one at any time any where.It is a reminder to be carefull out there guys.
It is a differant world then what we are use to at home.

Randy

To be careful and switch on brains at home and abroad.