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I think I'm being scammed but I love it
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Posted by: vanir

She's so very pretty. Even the suspension of disbelief is awesome. A ballet dancer and teacher ten years my younger. She hasn't actually asked me for money or anything and simply says she's coming over to my city (Melbourne) to meet me after emailing through a dating site. I like the things she talks about and she sent me lots of photos in different settings (restaurant, living room, neighbourhood).

One thing I notice is my own sense of cynicism, though of course I am overjoyed. By 38 I've seen a lot of single women not nearly as attractive take better financial-relationship deals than anything I can muster immediately. I'm well aware many women, whom we do rightly refer to as shallow nevertheless judge male attraction by the ability to provide first and foremost, then things like lifestyle provision and finally personality and then looks. At least they can say they put personality before looks...
So running around in my head is of course, how could I possibly be so fortunate? It is like running across an Olympic size swimming pool with a fully stocked bar in the middle of the Sahara Desert. Seriously I feel like I won first division in the lottery, with something infinitely more valuable to me than money. That's gotta make you wonder, but it aint gonna put me off.

But there are a couple of issues at any rate. Firstly I read a posting of a scam which ran identical to my communication-relationship so far, and when the girl supposedly "went to organise the travel visa" it was to cost some dollars which naturally, she asked her pen-pal to loan her. It was a few hundred dollars in total, but also ultimately included a telephone bill and other minor expenses. The victim said he realised it was a scam at this point but wasn't bothered by spending money he didn't care about as much as by the disappointment.
The good part is I've also had another Russian woman I talked to a few years ago begin asking me for money several weeks following regular communication. She too came on strong, but the theme was more like, "when can you come and visit me?" and "can you pay my phone bill?" This new girl, woman I should say and quite a lady I am certain, doesn't sound at all like the earlier one. She is a little excitable having travelled from Siberia to Moscow recently but hell, I'd be too.
This lady hasn't asked for money for bills or expenses as a lead-in to asking for some significant financial gifts, either. The scammers did shortly.

The real problem is I did find a scammer, who simply emailed randomly to my junk mail folder (happens sometimes). And I don't know why but I looked it over before deleting the message...only to find a photograph of the woman I've been talking to!
It is under a different name and age, but the thing is it was a single photograph which has been trimmed and resized. I have what appears to be the original sent to me by the lady I've been speaking with, along with several other photos at various locations and with others (her sister).
The junk mail scammer only had the one photo, which was trimmed and resized.

So I *think* this junk mail scammer is simply using a legitimate photo from a singles profile of the lady I've been speaking to, who is a real person and not a scammer. I very much want to think that.

Now, there is some...small communication difficulty. She has very good english but it is easy to miscommunicate and I am worried I could scare her away if she is real, by pressing matters she may not understand.
I sent her a usual email replying to one of hers, then noticed the junk mail scammer and decided to forward her that as well, adding the question "what do you make of this?"

What I got back was a perfectly normal reply to my regular email. I wasn't exactly expecting that. But I am reminded of a Monty Python sketch: "NOBODY expects the Spanish Inquisition!"
In other words my sending her a letter written by a scammer using her photo might confuse and possibly offend her if there is enough language difficulty in her understanding what the hell I might be doing. She might just think, oh crap he's a weirdo.

Posted by: goforit

Well if she is coming to you and hasn't asked for a dime why not play it out and see where it goes?

Posted by: vanir

My sentiments exactly. All this is probably the building anxiety, this woman is really spectacular, precisely along the lines of things I might have only dared hope for.

Posted by: Chrismc

Vanir

Do you know how hard it is for a lady to get a visa for Aus without ever having met you previously, I would say it is close to NIL chance.

Have a read around the Aussie forum you will see there what they say about visa's for Aus.

Chris

Posted by: goforit

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chrismc

Vanir

Do you know how hard it is for a lady to get a visa for Aus without ever having met you previously, I would say it is close to NIL chance.

Have a read around the Aussie forum you will see there what they say about visa's for Aus.

Chris

Chris,

Sounds like it is as diificult as if she was trying to come to America.

Vanir,

You might try what I did when in a similar situation. I asked for the ladies full name (I may have asked for more, I don't remember, but it is in a thread I was a part of) so I could check to see if she had actually been issued a visa. I even told her why, that it is very difficult for a single women from Russia to get a visa to America and since she wanted me to pay travel expenses I needed to make sure this was a good investment.

Your lady hasn't yet asked for money so you will have to re-word it appropriately but I think it can probably be done without giving offense.

"Hey I just need to know this is on the up and up since I don't really know you and have never met you and I don't want to get my heart all caught up in something that isn't going to happen. Fair enough?"

If she is on the up and up she shouldn't have a problem with it. If she is not she will disappear.

Posted by: Pin Boy

don't waste another second or thought on this "woman." think about it - what woman would travel so far to a strange country (not sure if "she" claims to speak english) to meet a strange man??? just doesn't make any sense.

it'll probably go something like this: "she" will claim she has made travel arrangements, but the "authorities" will not let her on the plane unless she could prove she has X amount of dollars (which NEVER happens) and if you wire her just a few hundred dollars you'll have the most beautiful russian woman on earth to hold in your arms and all your dreams will come true.

please don;t encourage these people. welcome and good luck.

pin boy

Posted by: redhawk

have to agree with pin boy.
(this is the one i got, that got meinto RW in the first place,said she was from irkutsk or sayansk or some damn where i forget.) or she will say that she only has money for a one way ticket,and she didnt know it,but she needs a round trip ticket,would you kindly send x amount of dollars? i want to meet you very strong". then like me, you tell her,"ok,ill buy you an electronic ticket,and you can pick it up!" and she will say-"no dear,my love,i cant because i have to pay travel agency in cash,in russia its differnt than usa,its their business,do you understand darling? if this happens my my aussie friend,then you say- "Piss OFF! BLJAT MUJA!"-pardon my mat. and join a real dating site like elenas or any of the ones listed here as good to deal with. good luck,and i hope were all wrong.

Posted by: nocomfortzone

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chrismc

Yep, A woman getting to Australia from Ukraine or Russia is kidding herself if she does not know you already. ( it is easier to get a visa to America for sure. Not easy but a lot easier than her getting a visa to our country)

She is dreaming big time if she was genuine and as a scammer she is just ignorant about Australia. Most Ukraine's and Russians know virtually nothing about Australia. They think because you speak english you are american. Even a couple of taxi drivers in Ukraine thought i was American at first... lol... how insulting :-) ...

I had to explain to quite a few how far Australia is from America and I'd never been there (well I had not back then but I have now)

Posted by: royalpalace774

Quote:

Originally Posted by nocomfortzone

I had to explain to quite a few how far Australia is from America and I'd never been there (well I had not back then but I have now)

WOW, you really are showing us you are prejudice how low you are.

How insulting if the taxi driver thought you were American.

Come on, have some class when you say things on here. I'm American NCZ, what is your petty little butt

going to do about it when you meet me one day face to face. Cause if you talk to me like that you will be calling your mommy for help. That's a promise from an American. Not a threat, a promise!

How insulting that you have the nerve to make insults like that! Get back in your hole, who said you could crawl out!

Posted by: nocomfortzone

Quote:

Originally Posted by royalpalace774

If you were to meet me face to face royalpalace i'm sure you would realise I am very easy going and don't take myself too seriously to actually take a clear pisstaking of nationalities to heart like you are choosing to do here. I was more humoured than anything. If he had thought I was a pom, scot, kiwi or Irish I would have made light in a similar insulted fashion.

and by the way...as an aussie I do not have a mommy or a mummy lol.

I did have a mum but she is passed onto the unseen where nationalities have no importance where i'm sure the perspective of being attached to any nationality is of humour to any entity.

Posted by: GentleGiant

Some people just dont understand the use of smilies.

I have endured worse, a Yank mistook me for an Aussie!!!! :-p

Posted by: royalpalace774

Quote:

Originally Posted by nocomfortzone

It's clear what you said NCZ. You said a few taxi drivers in the Ukraine thought you were American, how insulting lol. I see it the way you wrote it. Go to Iraq & say it. If you did I doubt you would return home a healthy man.

Don't try and turn it around like you didn't say it. The fact is if you were American you wouldn't of said it at all. But you need a way out so you got to think of something to say to save face. As far as I'm concerned you said it as an insult. How could it be amusing? It doesn't matter how easy going you are. You said it , you own it. I don't see any humor in it. Humor is you dressed up as a women. Or maybe that's normal for you, who knows?

From the drama Queen himself.

Posted by: nocomfortzone

Quote:

Originally Posted by GentleGiant

Some people just dont understand the use of smilies.

I have endured worse, a Yank mistook me for an Aussie!!!! :-p

Funny thing is I live with a pom who decided to become an Aussie...lol

I had a Yank friend mistake me for a Scot on skype when she first heard me talk.

It could have been worse in Ukraine, the taxi driver could have taken me for a pom that resides in USA with an american accent.... :-)

Now that I would have truly been insulted about :-)

Posted by: Chrismc

Quote:

Originally Posted by nocomfortzone

Wait a minute, whats wrong with Poms,

we are great people well most of us anyway, ask any of us!

It could have been far worse for you NCZ, you could have been called a

Kiwi

at least there are not many of them on here to start an argument

Posted by: nocomfortzone

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chrismc

Wait a minute, whats wrong with Poms

How much space here and how much time do we have ? lol

Quote:

It could have been far worse for you NCZ, you could have been called a

Kiwi

at least there are not many of them on here to start an argument

yeah, I bet if the sheep could type from New Zealand they would have a few things to say on this aswell. I'm sure they are way too busy being nervous watching their back to be taking time out to browse this forum

Posted by: GentleGiant

Sheep?? Nervous??

I dont recall anyone mentioning the Welsh??!!??

I got mistaken for a Russian by a Russian Girl on the train a few weeks ago, I only said "Hello".

Apparently, although I know next to nothing in Russian, at least I have a good accent.

Posted by: vanir

I once sat across from a German family on a Melbourne tram who were positive I could understand every word they were saying, about halfway through a conversation they thought was privy. I understood what they were generally referring to by mannerisms (German family myself), but I can't actually speak/understand German conversation. Just a word here and there which amounts to "...something something bus something something interstellar nebulae something something..."

: P

Okay it was a scam, the return ticket one. Freckin hoe.

As for reputable dating sites, like/including Elena's one uses credit cards for an online debit to purchase the service. I never perform any kind of monetary transactions over the internet: period. Not online banking, nothing. I don't even store any kind of financial details on any computer which I intend to connect to the internet at any time. On those which I do connect I use a third party firewall and have modified the Windows operating system to shut certain ports through which signed access could otherwise be gained. I also use of course anti-spyware/adware and anti-virus (doesn't everybody) but also maintain a comprehensive networking toolkit and tracer software used by the American FBI in dealing with internet fraud (Neotrace Pro). You could say I'm net-security conscious and have been from the start (I was introduced to modern computers by a competent hacker).

I'm guessing Elena's dating service debits a credit card in an online transaction? Hell I don't even keep credit cards, since I've never trusted debt environments and have rarely been awarded a position to. Been on my own most of my life, which means very bad things happen if things go wrong, so I rarely let them get anywhere near there.

Posted by: Chrismc

Jeepers and I thought Gonlaz was paranoid

with that sort of paranoia I don't think looking for a women from the FSU is right decision for you.

Posted by: clark

Quote:

Originally Posted by vanir

I once sat across from a German family on a Melbourne tram who were positive I could understand every word they were saying, about halfway through a conversation they thought was privy. I understood what they were generally referring to by mannerisms (German family myself), but I can't actually speak/understand German conversation. Just a word here and there which amounts to "...something something bus something something interstellar nebulae something something..."

: P

Okay it was a scam, the return ticket one. Freckin hoe.

As for reputable dating sites, like/including Elena's one uses credit cards for an online debit to purchase the service. I never perform any kind of monetary transactions over the internet: period. Not online banking, nothing. I don't even store any kind of financial details on any computer which I intend to connect to the internet at any time. On those which I do connect I use a third party firewall and have modified the Windows operating system to shut certain ports through which signed access could otherwise be gained. I also use of course anti-spyware/adware and anti-virus (doesn't everybody) but also maintain a comprehensive networking toolkit and tracer software used by the American FBI in dealing with internet fraud (Neotrace Pro). You could say I'm net-security conscious and have been from the start (I was introduced to modern computers by a competent hacker).

I'm guessing Elena's dating service debits a credit card in an online transaction? Hell I don't even keep credit cards, since I've never trusted debt environments and have rarely been awarded a position to. Been on my own most of my life, which means very bad things happen if things go wrong, so I rarely let them get anywhere near there.

Vanir, you are a bit of an enigma. You get all goo-goo eyes over a few emails that you, by your own admission say is a scammer and play it out to the end. And it is indeed a scammer. Then you get paranoid over an internet financial transaction?

I try not to discourage anyone from this endeavor but Chrismc's post makes some sense where your concerned. There is so much along this particular type journey of seeking a RW to become paranoid about that you obviously are not cut out for. Stick with Match.com and the local women.

Sometimes scammers light a spark in victims and/or intended victims for continued interest in Russian ladies. Apparently this did not happen with you. Something for you to consider in the future, both local ladies and russian ladies and relationships in general require some degree of risk. If your not prepared for the risk, your chances of developing any kind of relationship are pretty much nil.

BTW, I do believe Elena's will accept a check via mail.

Posted by: blucatz

Im trying to figure out how you could persue a FSU woman without the use of some type of credit card or debit card. You would have to use one eventually, how would you buy your plane ticket without one, reserve a hotel, buy the woman flowers, if you don't trust debt institutions, do you even have a checking account? As easy going as Russian women are (at least the ones I know), I think you might just be too paranoid for even them.

Posted by: Chrismc

Quote:

Originally Posted by blucatz

Im trying to figure out how you could persue a FSU woman without the use of some type of credit card or debit card. You would have to use one eventually, how would you buy your plane ticket without one, reserve a hotel, buy the woman flowers, if you don't trust debt institutions, do you even have a checking account? As easy going as Russian women are (at least the ones I know), I think you might just be too paranoid for even them.

I was thinking exactly the same, it could be done but it would be damn hard work

and that is just to get over there, god forbid you meet one and want to take her home, then it would really get exciting without the convenience of the old flexible friend

In fact I don't even know how I would manage at home without a debit card these days. I hate going into banks and waiting in line at the best of times, so I do everything online wherever I can. The thought of having to arrange flights, airport parking, flower deliveries, gifts etc etc etc without doing it online is just to much to comprehend!

Posted by: goforit

Quote:

Originally Posted by clark

Oh I don't know if I would call it paranoia. I think he has some valid concerns regarding privacy and the internet.

Quote:

BTW, I do believe Elena's will accept a check via mail.

Or he could just buy a visa/mc/american express gift card and not have to give out his vitals.

Posted by: Chillidog

Quote:

Originally Posted by goforit

Oh I don't know if I would call it paranoia. I think he has some valid concerns regarding privacy and the internet.

Or he could just buy a visa/mc/american express gift card and not have to give out his vitals.

Yeah, but I think the problem and paranoia for VANIR, goes deeper then just not wanting to conduct buisness tranactions via the computer. I think it will always be a case of "is this a scam?" and will never have the trust and faith to allow the correspondence/realtionship with a FSU woman to get beyond his sense of mistrust, unfortunately this is a issue he will have to deal with in all of his relationships, buisness and social.
Vanir, how in your past have you paid for airplane tickets, especially Hotels in a foriegn country, you just can not drive their and pay for the room, it needs to be booked in advance, you will also need a letter of invitation with your passport to apply for a Visa to (most) of these FSU countries. If you are serious about this, how will you accomplish this? If this is just some letter writing for fun, do everyone a favor and end this charade.

Posted by: Raspberry

Quote:

Originally Posted by goforit

Or he could just buy a visa/mc/american express gift card and not have to give out his vitals.

Funny that you mentioned this. I got paranoid when first doing the agency thing, and bought two $100 gift cards---one Visa and one AMEX. And guess what? You can't use the gift cards for internet transactions, nor can you use them outside of North America. I found this out the hard way, by trying to buy correspondence credits using a gift card....which I found can't be done. So I ended up using a regular credit card at the agency....and then used the $100 gift cards for buying groceries!!

Posted by: BluesTraveler

Wow! How soon we forget? There is this place called a travel agency that strangely enough, can book your airline tickets / hotel reservations / car rentals - etc. AND you can do it face to face. And some of you may find this hard to believe but travel agencies can take checks, or......cash!

The other option of corse is what goforit suggested, buying a pre-paid visa, mc, or amex card at the supermarket and use that for web transactions.

Posted by: Chrismc

Quote:

Originally Posted by BluesTraveler

The other option of corse is what goforit suggested, buying a pre-paid visa, mc, or amex card at the supermarket and use that for web transactions.

Doesn't that bring up the internet fraud/trust issues too, you can get caught out even on a pre-paid card just as easy as a credit/debit card. remember you have to load CASH on to it to be able to use it, so in theory someone could run off with that just as easily as running off with your credit.

I think worrying about buying online is just a side issue, I agree with what Chilli said, Vanir's paranoia is a lot deeper than that. IMHO

Posted by: goforit

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raspberry

Raspberry,

How long ago did you do this? All I use is gift cards and debit cards on the internet and I haven't had any problem.

Posted by: goforit

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chillidog

Point taken.

Posted by: goforit

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chrismc

Personally, I would rather have someone run off with a little cash rather than my identity or credit.

Quote:

I think worrying about buying online is just a side issue, I agree with what Chilli said, Vanir's paranoia is a lot deeper than that. IMHO

You both could be very right.

Posted by: blucatz

Have you noticed that Vanir has not posted in 2 days, and yet, everyone is trying to figure the man out without his imput. Sounds like a bunch of keyboard Dr. Phil's in here.

Posted by: goforit

Quote:

Originally Posted by blucatz

Have you noticed that Vanir has not posted in 2 days, and yet, everyone is trying to figure the man out without his imput. Sounds like a bunch of keyboard Dr. Phil's in here.

LOL! I started to write that at the end of my last post, "but lets see what Vanir has to say"

Posted by: Raspberry

Quote:

Originally Posted by goforit

Raspberry, How long ago did you do this? All I use is gift cards and debit cards on the internet and I haven't had any problem.

Must have been about 2-3 years ago.

Posted by: Chillidog

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raspberry

Must have been about 2-3 years ago.

I was wondering the same, becuase I conduct all my on-line and almost all of my daily life using just my debit card, not becuase of fraud issues but I just hate using a credit card if I have the cash.

Can I apply for the Dr. Phil job on this forum???? also what does it pay??? could use the extra money to finance future visits

Posted by: blucatz

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chillidog

Can I apply for the Dr. Phil job on this forum???? also what does it pay??? could use the extra money to finance future visits

I don't think Dr. Phil would like the competition. Plus, you have to provide a virtual couch.

How does that make you feel?

Posted by: AkMike

Quote:

Originally Posted by BluesTraveler

BUT if you use cash it will put you on a "Watch List" that the TSA uses to keep tabs on drug dealers or terrorists. Been there done that!
I got hasseled on every flight I took for over a year by indepth baggage searches and personal searches. No cavity searches but I was made to strip a couple of times. I paid by check and credit cards after that. After a year or so I guess I faded off of their watch list.
Somehow that fits a profile of a druggie.

Posted by: blucatz

Quote:

Originally Posted by AkMike

Maybe because your a truck driver you look suspicious. You know how we truck drivers are, we're the terrorists of the road in the public's eye. Or maybe because they think your so darn cute that they wanted to see you in your skivies

...LMAO

Posted by: AkMike

It's not a pretty sight! Maybe that's why they stopped????

Posted by: martin3030

Quote:

Originally Posted by blucatz

...LMAO

Hmn yes terrorists you will soon need to be...Hijacking the fuel depo...I saw a programme here last week it was about the truckers and the fuel costs of US truckers ...but yours is not that expensive if you look at ours here....$10 a gallon and more !!!....its interesting too that one of your biggest companies here Walmart is still showing good trading results despite high fuel costs...they cannot afford to pass on too many increases to the customer....theres too much competition....ask Tesco !!

Posted by: Chillidog

Quote:

Originally Posted by AkMike

It's not a pretty sight! Maybe that's why they stopped????

Auh, now your being tooooo modest, what would "T" say ???????

Posted by: goforit

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raspberry

Must have been about 2-3 years ago.

Ahhh, well things have certainly changed. You can use prepaid gift cards and prepaid debit cards freely on the internet. There is even a card called web secret specifically designed for internet transactions (but it costs more).

Posted by: goforit

Quote:

Originally Posted by AkMike

Yup, cash, one way tickets, "interesting names" etc., will get you on that list in a hurry.

Posted by: goforit

Quote:

Originally Posted by blucatz

...LMAO

ooooh, somehow that is not a very reassuring picture

Posted by: vanir

The vast majority of crimes occur through complacency. Contrary to popular belief most criminals are not in fact malicious predators who stalk unsuspecting average Joe and Mrs Smith, awaiting that moment when they are alone. In fact they are very often simply opportunists, who happened to notice you left a car window slightly open, forgot to lock the back door, left your wallet protruding from its pocket a little, and became too involved in a conversation to keep an eye on your bags. Generally speaking crimes occur in environments of crime.

I am not a paranoid person, what I am also definitely not is a complacent person. But it's a habit, like breathing. You don't run around saying, "and-in, and-out." You may simply describe at the end of the day, "You know, the only thing I've been thinking about all day is watching myself breathing" (and I just can't imagine how my wallet got stolen...).

Travel cheques. Safest way to carry money on you is travel cheques. Other problems with banking/chequing accounts is availability, should you need to actually go into a branch personally. Some countries/regions may not have your banking service at all.
But as mentioned, since I do not use credit cards and have never had any reason to I would use probably American Express and take responsibility for their secure carriage/use.

As for appearing terrorist/criminal without credit accounts, this is simply one thing to understand about American and other paranoid governments. You see I never get worried, I walk through particularly dangerous areas sometimes (because I need to, it's not a thrill seeking adventure), and never feel worried because I take responsibility. I said many years ago, living frequently in high crime/dangerous environments that if I get hurt it is not my fault, but indeed I am still the one who lives with the maiming injury or simply fails to live beyond that event. So I am indeed the one responsible...to myself. I trained heavily in martial arts (judo, boxing, karate, wing chun kung fu, budo taijutsu and takamatus ryuha kobudo variously over some years). Some might find that odd, but I have been on my own since an early age. What do you do, whinge you are on the streets and try to become a successful criminal whilst abusive individuals you then meet warp your mind? I say, no, I'm not going to be how circumstance dictates because humans have brains.

The strong but select conservative elements of the US government/population
hunts terrorists. Good for them, I'm sure they're in every drawer they look. I do not look for criminals, but next door's ten year old won't find it easy break into my place without some preparation and tools, because I took some responsibility there. I do not get too drunk to remain conscious and capable when going out on my own, or only with one or two friends for example (unless one of them is prepared to take responsibility for me). So I very rarely get in any kind of trouble socialising in any kind of environment, we're surprisingly adaptable. Nevertheless it is perfectly feasible drugs could be slipped into my drink, but hell, who'd bother with worrying about that unless you were an American car salesman at a Middle East fundamentalist convention.

In other words I do not go around acting paranoid, I don't even get worried at the point someone two or three times my weight is backing me into a corner. I take responsibility. Of course I understand with certain cultures in particular, it is synonymous with being paranoid. And yet suspending habeas corpus from anyone accused of witchcraft, excuse me I mean thought crimes, excuse me I'll get this right eventually, of precrime, *******it, what I mean to say is anyone accused of having any very loosely interpreted terrorist association though it is a loosely defined term in the first place....

I wonder who is paranoid...and how much it will continue to cost all the rest of us.

(yes I was slightly offended by the armchair psychologists. frackin .

Posted by: Pin Boy

vanir,

as a moderator, i deleted the profane term you wrote as the last word of your post. just no need for that word and we don't allow it. that was the only edit made.

pin boy

Posted by: Chillidog

Quote:

Originally Posted by vanir

Travel cheques. Safest way to carry money on you is travel cheques. Other problems with banking/chequing accounts is availability, should you need to actually go into a branch personally. Some countries/regions may not have your banking service at all.
But as mentioned, since I do not use credit cards and have never had any reason to I would use probably American Express and take responsibility for their secure carriage/use.
.

well if you travel to Russia you will find it very difficult to cash American express travelers checks. No hotel that had a currency exchange I have stayed in accepted American express and even many actual banks do not and if they do, the time you wait is longer and the fees you pay for the exchange are higher.
Even the Russian consulate located in New York just west of Central Park does not accept travelers checks, they do not even accept Bank money orders unless it is from the 2 banks located within two blocks of this Embassy that they do buisness with, they will accept Postal Money Orders.
I will not even discuss paranioa, just trying to understand how with your financial practices that you are even considering searching for a woman from FSU countries, and traveling to one of these countries. If you have even thought that far in advance. and if the areas you live in are surrounded by crime why would you want to bring a women who has never experienced your country and has left everything behind, to be surround by this enviroment? I do not beleive she has had the judo, ju-jitso, karate, boxing training that you have.

Posted by: Chillidog

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raspberry

the other thing with what you said and I am not disagreeing with you that this can't be done, but what about the time factor of running to all of these various places, where some people live these may not be convient, maybe hours away or trying to get there during rush hour on the Los Angeles freeway (thats an oximoron). It can be done but it might be one big giant pain in the back side (where's the buttman when I need him)

Posted by: Chillidog

Quote:

Originally Posted by BluesTraveler

Wow! How soon we forget? There is this place called a travel agency that strangely enough, can book your airline tickets / hotel reservations / car rentals - etc. AND you can do it face to face. And some of you may find this hard to believe but travel agencies can take checks, or......cash!

The other option of corse is what goforit suggested, buying a pre-paid visa, mc, or amex card at the supermarket and use that for web transactions.

sorry Ras!!!! my above post should have been with this quote

Blusey please read my above post in response to your quote

Sorry everyone getting late should probably get some sleep

Posted by: nocomfortzone

Quote:

Originally Posted by vanir

T
I am not a paranoid person,

yeah, you know they are after you...lol

Quote:

Hey Vanir, I'm from the same city as you and had no problem getting money out of atm's in Ukraine when I needed to so the availabitiy I don't believe is really an issue unless you were travelling and staying in small villages.

Travel cheques..... I did not know about this forum when I went to Ukraine but the advice i did get suggested don't bother with travellers cheques visiting there.

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As for appearing terrorist/criminal without credit accounts, this is simply one thing to understand about American and other paranoid governments. You see I never get worried, I walk through particularly dangerous areas sometimes (because I need to, it's not a thrill seeking adventure), and never feel worried because I take responsibility. I said many years ago, living frequently in high crime/dangerous environments that if I get hurt it is not my fault, but indeed I am still the one who lives with the maiming injury or simply fails to live beyond that event. So I am indeed the one responsible...to myself. I trained heavily in martial arts (judo, boxing, karate, wing chun kung fu, budo taijutsu and takamatus ryuha kobudo variously over some years). Some might find that odd, but I have been on my own since an early age. What do you do, whinge you are on the streets and try to become a successful criminal whilst abusive individuals you then meet warp your mind? I say, no, I'm not going to be how circumstance dictates because humans have brains.

Geez, you do carry on . I don't know where you live in Melbourne but all things considered there are not many places I would consider dangerous here. King street, ok, yes , at crazy hours when the nightclubs are winding down and only drunks around but apart from that there we are living in one of the safest cities in world.

I wonder of the real nature of your posting. Seems to me more of a humourous attempt to indulge yourself and maybe research for article writing.