Is this yet just another scam? - Russian Ukrainian Belarus Travel Music Woman Dating News

	The Russian Meeting Place: A place to meet people and talk about all things Russian... International Discussions about Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Travel, Music, Russian News, Ukrainian culture, Belarusian Dating, Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Kiev and other intelligent topics about life in the former Soviet Union.

Pages: 1

Is this yet just another scam?
(Click here to view the original thread with full colors/images)

Posted by: cbudach

We have been exchanging messages for several weeks, and I offered to fly to Russia to meet her. I also offered to send her airfare (flyer miles) for her to visit the USA. She declined, because the anti-emigration commitee told her that she would have to show that she paid for the airfare.. Ok, maybe that is true. She has no phone, but has been writing often. (no phone?) She states that she is a Doctor, 29 years old, but living in a very poor area. She has no car, and has to use the computer at work to write. (The timestamps of the e-mails indicate a 9-5 work day..) The clinic that she works has no phone, but has a dedicated internet line.. Sound fishy so far?
Her parents are deceased, and no siblings.

She has told me that she is willing to travel to meet me. She is flying out of Moscow, but the nearest airport to her home town is Rostov.. Moscow is several hours away, Rostov is under an hour. Rostov has daily flights connecting to the USA. Airfares are about the same.

She went thru the trouble to obtain a Visa.. And I have a picture of the Visa, with her name and photograph. The document looks real, and the date issued was October 31st.. 2 days after she applied and interviewed for the visa. This sounds reasonable.... But she said that she paid $500 or more (usd) for the Visa. Still, reasonable.. I suspect.

She gave me her home address, and I sent a small package to her 2 weeks ago, and no mention to its delivery. It would have at least brought a few words.. I did not mention that I sent it, nor have I indicated that it was imminent.

She has been talking about the process for obtaining the Visa, and being that she is a Doctor, she said that her profession would make getting the Visa more probable. She had to obtain signatures on a petition, and family history, past relationships, and endorsements from her employer. The Visa arrived in quick fashion.. But.. Is it a fake document? (I have seen US Visas before, the picture she sent me is spot on.. Her picture, her name, the correct date of birth, etc..)

She lives in Lysogorka, which is described as a very small village, 100 people. No police, and no phones. It's 40 miles north of Rostov. Again, no phones?

She indicates that the money she spent to get the Visa has tapped her out. She went to a travel agent to purchase airfare, and was $250 short. Can I help her? She asks. $250 is not a lot of money, but I offered the free airfare, and was turned down. Also, the money she quotes is in USD, not Rubles.

Her 'friend' told her that I could send money to her via Western Union.. OK, there's the big snag.. She said that I can send it to a bank in Rostov, where she can pick it up. Unfortunately, I contacted Western Union, AND the bank, and it is not a Western Union office. Still, she might not know this.. But she did know that I would be providing her with a transaction number, and she would need to know the correct amount of funds to pick up the check.... Fishy!

Yet the picture of the Visa looks real.. I did not ask to see it, she sent it to me with the idea that it would provide me with indication that she has been truthful. And I DID offer to help out with her coming here a few weeks back.

Weeks ago, she stated that she would not want me to visit until her vacation arrived.. Low and behold, she recently indicated that it is going to be 11-15 thru 11-30. When she found this out, she started the Visa process. It took about a week to get the petitions and paperwork together, and then she had the interview. Ok, this sounds believable.

The upside: A 'real' looking Visa.
The funds are not a big deal, $250 or so.
Not a big age difference, 8 years between her and I.
I did not indicate that I was financially secure.
Relatively 'calm' chain of letters from her, no undue promises, nor tempting thoughts.
Clean and tasteful photographs from her. Nothing naked or suggestive.
She has no parents to fake a sickness, and ask for additional funds. She works in a clinic, so she would not need funds if she got hurt. No kids, no siblings. No car to break-down. No language lessons, (fluent in engish, or thereabouts from what she has written, but again I have not talked to her). That being the case, I doubt if she would suddenly come up with reasons to ask me for more money.. Plus, the flight to the USA is in 2 weeks.

The downside: No phone.. no effort to call from her.
No willingness for me to come to visit her.
No indication that she received the package that I sent her to her 'home' address.
No phone at her medical clinic? But a dedicated internet line?
Western Union.
Anti-Emigration rules stating source of funds for travel. True, or not?

My guess: 70% that this is a scam. 15% that it's true. 15% that it's a guy with a vivid imagination posing as a woman.

Any ideas, anyone?

Thanks,
Cary
cbudach@yahoo.com

Posted by: Jerico

Quote:

Rostov has daily flights connecting to the USA. Airfares are about the same.

This cant be true IMO.
All international flights from Russia go through Moscow or maybe ST. Petersburg to other countrys but not USA.

It must be international airport terminal.
That Rostov sounds like domestic terminal.
I may be wrong but it doesn`t sound right.
She needs a visa to come here anyway ,hard to get.Even for a doctors.

HAte to say but sounds like scam to me all the way.
They dont ask for money at first even if you offer. They wait to get the big haul.

YA sure send her money western union her friend says.She will tell you she will pick it up for her.
Then they give you another name to send the money to and not the woman`s name you write to because you must give them a valid name to pick up money at western union in Russia.

Rule number #1 NEVER ,NEVER send them money until at least you meet in person. Even if you meet her in person which will have to be in Russia still be leary.
If you dont send them money you cant be scammed , PERIOD!!!!

They can easily make fake Visas. I forgot where to look but there are numbers on it that must match in different spots on the VISA.

I dont like to say its a scam but I am pretty sure it is.
I know it sucks to hear that but it is my opinion which you are asking for and being involved in this process for almost 4 years i can tell you i have seen many scam attempts.
This seems like one of them.

As for the NO PHONE . Impossible in Russia. They all have cell phones, even the kids and even in the little towns.
Wouldn`t a doctor probably have a cell phone for doctor bussiness???? Probably.

I read SCAM

Jerry

Posted by: freebird

Jerry is right, sounds like a scam. Best rule, DO NOT SEND MONEY TO SOMEONE YOU HAVE NOT MET. Offer to go and meet her for Christmas, or next spring. Read more about this type of "Visa Scam" in the "Scams" section

Posted by: EasyTarget

If she is really a doctor she would have a mobile phone.

Posted by: kimchik

Well...allthough out of the big city life is totally different here...it is not a development country, there is no clinic without a phone, even a house without one is hard to find, and almost everyone has a mobile phone.

If you know the right people here, all documents can be made, but may not be valid. The visa sounds fake to me. A Russian will not get an American visa in 2 days...No way! Besides that, she would need proof of accomodation, a paid bill from a hotel, or an official invitation from you, which even makes you responsible for her return. A visa doesn't cost $500,-, only if it is a year business visa.

The package sent 2 weeks ago might not have arrived yet, even from Europe that can take up to 6 weeks!

No phone in the whole village? Out of the question! We're not in Africa.....

It may not be a lot of money she's asking for, but it only takes 4 goodhearted men a month to provide her a nice extra income!

I'd say...don't do it!

Posted by: GentleGiant

I agree, 90% certainty it is a scam, you cannot get a visa for the US in 2 days !! If she cannot afford the airfare how has she managed to prove she can afford a hotel, food etc for her planned visit?? All this is required before they will even think about issuing a visa; and the US is now harder to get into than Russia!!!!
I personally will not travel to the State again, I do not wish to be treated like a criminal and have to give all my fingerprints to the FBI just to visit Mickey and his pals.

Posted by: JamesB

Everybody here is giving good advice.A doctor more than anyone would have a mobile phone so im reading SCAM !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: AJROOK

First advice...listen to these members here....they have seen it, in many different forms. These guys and women know what they are talking about. I am still relatively new, but I can say that if not for the advice they have shared I would have fallen for a scam or two.

Stick around here for a while and take the time to read...the stories, information and casual banter is worth so much!!

To answer your question....scam. Very similar to one that first brought me looking for advice.

Andy

Posted by: joelunchbox

Don't forget, the term Doctor isn't always what we think when we say Doctor here in the US. My finace is a Doctor but she isn't a doctor in our sense of the word. She is paid miserably. don't send money, see her or someone else there! How can you appreciate them and their culture sitting in the US???? I loved every minute I stood on FSu soil. Except the six hours without hot water that started in the middle of a shower.

Posted by: sidney

The iniatial request may be for $250 but you can be certain it will increase soon after because of another problem.
Scam
Sid

Posted by: GoeastLJ

Such a young doctor is what led me to pursue a Russian bride. This, like my orphaned, funds-strapped, loving lady is, unfortunately, 100% scam. Good experience though. Visas are not easy to get in the FSU.