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Is this a scam?
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Posted by: grhodes2

Hi all, I am Greg, a newcomer here, and I am so glad I found this site. About a week ago, I received an out of the blue message from a lady named Lena (not the one here) off of dreammates.com. Her profile was listed out of Auburn, California, but when I replied to the message (I did it primarily for kicks), I had gotten the following e-mail. Question, is this potential scam?
I have pics of her, but am unable to load them here because of size limitations. E-mail me if you would like to see them. Thanks.

Hi Greg!
WOW! I very much hoped to receive from you the letter back and now I have yours
The letter! Probably, if you have guessed, this is Evgenya

I'm very
glad to get your answer, Greg!
How are you? I am fine!
I'm hoping that my e-mail was so big surprise for you too,
realy? I should tell you, that I at all do not knoww from what to start my letter.
I so want to tell to you about me much, but I do not know from what to begin.
The matter is that I never wrote to the man from other country.
Probably I should write about myself more and also ask you some questions!
Well, Greg, let me to tell to you about me more. As I said you
earlier, I'm 29 years old, I am "Lion" on Zodiac, I was born on
August, 20, 1975

And when you was born?
I should tell, that I to take a great interest an astrology slightly. An astrology sometimes
Speaks many correct things about the person. For this reason I shall have an opportunity
To know about your character it is a little.
I'm White Russian girl on nationality. On religion, I'm Christian
and I believe in God Jesus. I have never been
married and I don't have any kids, I am a single girl. I'm a
sensitive, a kind-hearted, a thoughtful and easily amused. On opinion
of my close friends and relatives, I'm a kind, jolly, clever and
intelligent, purposeful, sociable.
About my City where am I live?

Yes, I should you tell about mine
City. The matter is that the historical origin of the person also may give the information
About me. You agree? I would like to tell to you that I
live in Kirov City here in Russia. Kirov is situated around
800 kilometers from our Russian Capital Moscow City. The time zone
of Kirov is GMT+4. Our City Kirov is one of the beautiful cities
of Russia, I like my wonderful City very much. Our city has a rich history.
He is the city - hero! During war with Germany Here in our city
There were big fights. Therefore our city is considered very well-known city in Russia.
There are many beautiful streets, squares and other sights in our city.
Here j in our region we have a temperate climate. It is warm enough in the summer and not
Very coldly in the winter. Our ground is distinguished with property of fertility. It is very good ground
To raise fruit and vegetables. We have here many gardens.
Greg, also I should tell, that here in our city we have the highest in the world a statue.
I know, that in USA there is a statue of freedom. It is very big statue. But here
In Kirov a statue in some times higher statues of freedom which is located in New York.
I should notice to you, that about the person it is possible to learn information many
Knowing a place where the person lives. We have rather good culture in our city.
We are in the south of Russia. Want to notice, that our climate derivates strong and
Healthy people!!! I from the childhood eat many fruit and consequently I also can carry myself
To the healthy and strong woman! I want to create strong family and consequently
I the big value to give mine health. I want to ask you also about your weather. Is it for cold or warmly?
Most of all I want to say to you that my favorite season is the
summer! I like when the sun shine on the streets, it are many votes of
birds, it's romantically so much. And do you like summer?

Also I would like to tell to you about my education. I have studied in
a Kirov Polytechnical University. I have ended the university in
1996. Also I want to say to you that I have learned the English
Language when I have studied in the university, I can speak English
without any problems, I think so. But I can see that I'm making many
orthographic mistakes, I think so, I hope that you'll can to
understand my English without any problems? Really, Greg? Please,
tell me about this in your next e-mails, ok? Also I would like to tell
to you that after thefinishing of the university, I have gotten a
diploma of a speciality " Social work ". But
unfortunately I didn't need my education yet, because here in Russia,
as in many other countries, it's very difficult to find a good job on
a good speciality.
At present I work as the secretary in the manager at restaurant.
My restaurant refers to as "Russia". Also I want to say to you,
that I have an access to Internet by the computer which is situated in
an cabinet of our boss, because I don't have a
computer in my home, and I have asked the sanction at our director for
my using of the Internet, and he permitted me to use the computer in a
free time from my job.
Greg, for certain it is very interesting to you to know about how I found
You on the Internet. I earlier also did not represent, that the Internet will be
To give so it is a lot of opportunities to people.
I went in agency of acquaintances in our city and lady asked to fill
The questionnaire. I filled in my data. I have written to you the letter
And also I sent the letter to two more men. I am not sure about that,
Whether have received those other two men my letter. The matter is that
I did not receive back from them. Well it now is not important. my structure was removed from the list.
I now should tell you that I want search on the Internet.
I should tell, that I want to find my love! Yes, it is possible
Will look silly. Between us and we at all have no the big distance
Opportunity to see the friend and to speak in the person. But I anyhow
Shall try to find my love because I believe, that in this world
There is a happiness for each person. How you think of it Greg?
I shall find necessarily my happiness. I also want to ask you,
What you understand as happiness? Right now I shall speak you that I understand as happiness.
I should tell, that everyone is happy in this world in own way. For me to be happy
Means that I exist in this world. I think, that I want, that me loved.
I want, that me respected and estimated. In general I see happiness that my life will be
It is lived with sense. I should find my love create my family.
You agree with me. In t is world we should leave after ourselves good memoirs.
It is very difficult for one to find happiness. When two persons like each other,
It already does people happy. Love - very much good feeling and this sacred!
You agree with me? I want to find my love to create family and to live worthy
Life. THEN I SHALL BE HAPPY!!! You think as well as I?
Also I do not want to hide to you that I had before serious relations
With the man. It were long relations and I think, that I very much loved him.
My last relations came to an end very badly. My former the man
Betraid me. he betraid our love. I do not know you tested
Similar feelings. It was very hard. Treachery one of most
Awful things for our heart.......
I know, that men from USA, they are men of the word. Whether not so?
For this reason I any more have no desire to have the relation with Russian men.
I want you to ask now that you concerned to me seriously.
I really hope to find my love. I very much would like,
That between us already from the first letters there was a understanding and trust each other.
Speak me only the truth and between us there will be warm relations!
Wowww, I have written so much! I didn't think that I can to write
about myself so much, really. Probably, I'm finishing my e-mail to
you. Greg, I'll be grateful so much, if you'll write me about
yourself so much, as I did it. I would like, if you'll tell me, for
example, about your family, is your family large? About your city
where are you living, I have never been in other countries and in USA
too, and I'll be glad to know about your country. Ok, let me to finish
my e-mail, I hope to see your answer soon! I'm attaching my photo, I
hope you will find my photo good. Ok, good bye, Greg, hoping to
see your message soon!
Take care,
Sincerely,
Your new russian friend, Evgenya.

Posted by: grhodes2

All,

Here is the third e-mail I got from this lady that is making me very suspicious.

Privet, Greg! How are you doing? I'm doing fine!
In my opinion, it's so wonderfully, that we are writing to each other,
because from our messages we learn about each other more and more,
really, Greg? I'minterested in our correspondence very much, it's
very interesting to learn about you, about your life in your country,
believe me, as a whole, I read your letters with a huge pleasure!
I liked a picture of your cat and his color very much suitable to him!
Ok, Greg, I hope that it will be interesting for you to learn
about my enthusiasmes, my favourite things as a whole

I should you tell, that I advanced enough woman.
I like many things. I like music, I like to observe good film.
I like walks on city. I like to have rest.
I very much would want to tell to you about my hobbies. Also want to know
About you and your hobbies. For certain in your life there is a hobby,
Which delivers to you a lot of pleasure.
You find pleasure in music? Whether exist any certain
Directions of music which you enjoy?
In our life there are various differences in mood. Sometimes to us it is cheerful, we
We have good feeling, and sometimes on the contrary. We long or we cry.
Unfortunately the sad moments in our life does not manage.
Depending on mood I like to listen to various music. Also I should you tell,
That with the early childhood my daddy resulted me in musical school. I now can
To play on the piano. Yes, it is the truth and in it I find my hobby also.
I can play quiet romantic music. It helps me to calm down and enjoy
Life. I simply sometimes go home and I play on the piano. You are capable to play of anyone
Musical tools? Probably on a guitar? I like to listen and sing songs under a guitar.
You it is similar to this?
From movies? I like to look the comedies, fantastic films, romanticism
and so on. But very huge impressions have left to me the films ' The
Lord Of Rings', ' Harry Potter '. I hope what you looked these films?
But especial impression was for me as the film ' The Patriot ' by an
actor Mel Gibson, where the war between England and America is
described. This film has liked to me by that this film show the
natural spirit of the patriotism, the love to a Native Land! I
consider, that it's veryimportant qualities, which should have all
people on the world! Really? Greg, I hope that you looked this
film too, and that you had a magnificent impressions from a viewing of
this film. mel Gibson has played his role as a talented actor on my
opinion! I liked to look the film ' Cruel Intentions', on my opinion,
it's very sensual and instructive film for all youth. Aslo from
comedies I liked the film ' Me, Myself And Irene ' by the comic actor
Jim Carrey

I hope that you looked this so ridiculous film

From a
fantasy, I liked film ' Planet Of The Apes', it's a very entertainment
film in my opinion '.
Also I want to tell to you, that I like to read the books, especially
the literature of the domestic writers: Tolstoy, Chehov, Pushkin, and
so on. But I was in huge delight from a reading of th book S. King
' The Dark Tower ', in my opinion, it's very interesting book, where the
main hero Roland is a purposeful man, he goes to the purpose, to a
dark tower, and I like the quality of Roland is the purposefulness! I
consider, that this one of the important qualities of any man. I hope
what you will agree with me, really, Greg?
About food? Ok, from the favourite food dishes, I want to allocate a
fried pota/toes, various kind of the soups, also I like a meat too, I
don't want to hide it from you

I like the fish and chicken very
much, do you like the chicken? It's so tasty, really? Also I like a
pizza very much. It's very tasty too, I like pizza with a cheese. I
would like to say you that I like a fruit and vegetables, especially,
an apple lemon, orange, banana, tomatoes, cucumbers and so on, there
are many kinds of vitamins. Greg, do you like to cook? I cookk not
bad as my family and the friends said me at once

Also about my favorite kind of sports, I like to sport very much, do
you like it? In winter I like to ski, it's cool to be on the fresh
air. Also I like to play on volley too. But most of all I like to
aerobic, we are with my girlfriend Elena engaged by the aerobic in
the free time, on my opinion, this kind of sp/ort helps to support my
body in the good form. Also I would like to say to you that I like to
dance ball dances

Have? you ever danced the ball dance with any girl?

It's so attractive and beautifully, really, Greg? I'm sure,
that you would like to dance the ball dancing with me at once?

It
will be wonderful! Probably, in the future, we will dance the ball
dancing with you, it would be cool! Really?

About my hobbie? I like to collect various beautiful female magazines,
about a style, about fem? ale life for example and so on. For a small
period of the time, I have a large collection of different magazines.
Simply, I like to read the best magazines.
I would like to tell you about my dreams too. I'm dreaming to drive a
car in the future, it would be so cool and interesting. But I want to
tell, that our family don't have the car, it's very expensive to buy
the car, but our father has told that probably, through one year, he
will can to buy the car and I'll can to learn how to drive the car

Greg, would you like to learn me how drive a car at once?

It
will be kindly since your side

By the way, my parents and friends ask about you all time

Especially
my parents, I have told to my parents, that you are decent and good
man, my parents are very pleased to our norrespondence on the Internet
and our relations, Greg. My parents wish to us a good relations in
the future, and it's possible, in the future, if we will be together
in your country, they would want that we will be a magnificent pair
too

But remember, Greg! We should learn each other ever more and
more! Really.? It's very important for me, Greg! The fact in
that, if you know, that on the statistics, majority of a pairs are
separated because they knew each other not enough, and I don't want to
do a mistake at once, I hope that you will can to understand me,
Greg, really? As I spoke you earlier, we must to learn about each
other more and more from our e-mails.
Dear Greg!!! Also I want to tell you, that I would like to speak
with you by the phone at once, I hope, that it's a good idea, really,
Greg? I want to hear your voice, Greg, I hope that you want to
hear my voice too. But unfortunately, I don't have the telephone in
our apartment, because it's very expensive to establish the telephone
now in this time in Kirov City, but it will be possible, that may be
through some months we will have the telephone. Also, I want to tell
you, that I have interested at our director about using of the work's
telephone, but our director has told me, that the work's telephone is
for working needs for our institution! The director has told us, that
the work personnel of work can not use the telephone of workfor our
individual purposes. Also I have asked to use the telephone at my
friends, and Elena too, but all of them don't have the
phone too, it's the difficult situation with the phone.
From this, I have thought and I have come to the conclusion, I will
can to call to you from the City's Kirov Telegraph, it's the best
variant, Greg!
Dearest Greg, you can give to me the number of your phone, I can
call to you from the City's Telegraph, please give me your phone
number, ok? I have a huge desire to hear your voice, Greg, I hope
that you want to hear my voice too. Please, send me your phone number
in your next e-mail, ok??? Please, don't forget!
Greg, I can't believe, I have written to you such large e-mail. I
hope, that it will be interesting to read about me more. Really?
I would be grateful to you, if you will write to me in your
next e-mail about your enthusiasmes, about your hobbies, what kind of
music do you prefer? What kind of movies and another too? What is your
favorite color too??? My favorite color is blue, it calms so much.
Well, let me to finish my messgae. By the way, my
parents, my sisters and my friends ask me again to say to you a great
greetings from them! It's as usual. I will wait for your
next e-mails! Greg, please, write me as soon as possible! Ok?
Good-bye, see you soon.
PS I still want to add, that I shall call you little bit later.
I want while with you to communicate on a E-Mail. I shall examine with
you conversation by the phone approximately in two weeks.
I should have additional money to conversation. To us at work will give
Money only a bit later! As soon as things approach, I call you!!!
By the way, that picture near to the piano my modern picture!

Posted by: Pin Boy

it's just way to much to expect from a stranger...info overload, i read much but then skimmed...i'd be leary when she starts talking about phone calls and the telegraph stuff...be careful and remember the cardinal rule:

NEVER, EVER SEND MONEY TO APERSON YOU HAVE NEVER MET!!

good luck and welcome

pin boy

Posted by: Texas Proud

I do not see anything wrong in this letter... it seems like she was answering your questions and asking some... unless she was answering her own questions and you did not ask any..

Why not post the letter YOU sent to her so we can see if she is responding to your letters or just sending a letter.

I would be happy to get a letter that told so much about the lady.. and I did not see where she ever asked for money. she has even offered to call you on her dime..

Again, nothing is for sure until you have corresponded with someone for awhile.

Why do you think it is a scam????

Posted by: Ade

Hi, the 2nd letter you've shown is fairly common (with only slight variations) on many anti-scam sites (womenrussia.com has a blacklist section, for instance).

Of course, that alone doesn't mean it is a scam, but it is a warning sign, so be careful.

Ade

Posted by: grhodes2

Hi all. Thanks for the replies so far. Why I have "red flags" going through my head is this: 1) She initiated conversation with me from a dating sight (Dreammates.com) that she would have to have paid for premium membership to send messages within that site, 2) She says she is from Kirov, Russia (which I am trying to learn more about), but her profile on Dreammates.com says she is from Auburn, California. How would she be able to have premium access on what I believe is to be an American dating site without paying for it some way? Correct me if I am wrong about this, I don't know. And from the pictures that I have gotten, I have doubts. In one of them, I saw what appeared to be a fairly new television in the background. This might sound silly, I know, but I am not that familiar with Russian culture, and am in the process of learning more about it, while I continue my e-mail with this lady. She sounds just so genuine in the e-mails, its almost scary (where I really have to watch myself to be sure I don't do something stupid). And she is VERY attractive in the pictures too. Again, I'd upload them, but they are bigger than 60K.
Maybe I am being paranoid, I don't know. I have a lot to learn, that's for certain. I'm answering her questions about the basics (what I do, hobbies, things of that sort, but at the same time being reserved and basically being myself).
Again, thank you all for the replies so far. I do appreciate them.

Greg

Posted by: Texas Proud

check to see where your email is coming from.. there are a few sites that can tell you... and there is a thread about it also..

Again, if she is answering YOUR questions and such then she could be legit,

If she is only writing long letters, then maybe not..

Ask a specific question that is not in the norm on your next email and say it is important to you to know.. if she answers, then at least she is reading your letters

Maybe someone knows more about scammers than me, but I have only been approached by one scammer in a lot of letters..

Good luck.

Posted by: eireannach

Quote:

Originally posted by Texas Proud
check to see where your email is coming from.. there are a few sites that can tell you... and there is a thread about it also..

grhodes2,

If you would like, I can trace her e-mail for you. I just need the
full message header from an e-mail, and I can tell you where it
originated from or if it's a forged address. You can e-mail it to
me at this address: irishman1959us@yahoo.com and I'll check it
out for you and send the results back to you directly.

Posted by: inlove

Greg,
Why don't you jusk ask her all these question about location and payment for the dating site, and see what she says..

Posted by: grhodes2

I'm going to ask her that after her next e-mail to me. I did check the origin of her e-mail, and it is coming out of Russia, so I now know the origin of the e-mails is legit. Like I said before, this literally hit me by surprise. But I'll keep you posted.

Greg

Posted by: eireannach

Quote:

Originally posted by grhodes2
I'm going to ask her that after her next e-mail to me. I did check the origin of her e-mail, and it is coming out of Russia, so I now know the origin of the e-mails is legit. Like I said before, this literally hit me by surprise. But I'll keep you posted.

Were you able to find the exact city her e-mail is originating
from, or if the IP address is forged? I can get you all of that
info and more, plus show it graphically on a map.

Later,

Eireannach

Posted by: Jerico

Hey Greg,
This woman is 100 percent scammer.
Trust me on this.
I received the same email from a woman named Elena,
The letter is almost exact in form but the cities are changed.
The one that wrote me was from Lipesk, Russia.
She wrote me on Yahoo personals.
The letter is totally a scam , dont waste your time.
I wish I had a copy of the letters that were writen to me to show you.
Same scenario , I have a degree but it is not good in my country right now so I work as a barkeep and use the computer in the managers office.
Brings back memories.
However this scammer is the one who turned me onto the idea of dating a Russian girl.
Give up on this one while your not into it to deep and look on legit websites for Russian woman if your interested in this.
Jerry

Posted by: grhodes2

Well everyone, she just asked for money, and I just got all my questions answered. Evgenya is scam artist too. And she was good too. Thanks again for the heads up everyone. I have all the e-mails from her saved as well as the pictures so I will upload them all to a nearby blacklist. I will say this, they must be getting very sophisticated over there too. Had me going for a little bit also. Anyway thanks again to everyone here. But one good thing has come out of it, I've really taken an actual interest in learning about Russian history and culture.
Again, anyone wants copies of these letters, e-mail me for them. I'll be more than happy to give them to you, and hopefully one less person will endure this.

Greg

Posted by: grhodes2

Now, for my next question, how do you get rid of a scammer? I didn't e-mail this lady for a few days, and I got a response saying she hopes I am not "joking about her".

I wanted to just ignore her, with the hopes this goes away, but again, she e-mailed me. Any thoughts?

Greg

Posted by: Pin Boy

just ignore it..you don't owe her anything

pb

Posted by: mlschantz

Greg,
She is a scammer. I got an identical letter but her name is Nadezda and she lives in Kazan. Did she give you an actual mailing address because I got one. Fortunately I never wasted my time with actually hand writting her a letter. I just emailed her the link to this page so she (or he) will know she's busted. She emailed me off of Yahoo personals and said in her 7th email that she loved me.

I could tell something was wrong because she never really answered any of my questions. Damn they think we are so stupid.

Posted by: grhodes2

I just e-mailed you all the pics she sent me. If this does happen to be the same one that e-mailed me, I'm almost tempted to mess with her (and the group behind doing this). Heck, I've been feeling like taking out a little frustration on someone anyway, so why not be this scamming chick.

Greg

Posted by: mlschantz

Greg,
The pics are very different, but the letter is identical. I also looked last night at the russianwomen.com blacklist and found four other people that had recieved the same letters from a woman claiming to live in Kazan. They all had been sent the same pictures but they were different from the ones you were sent as well as the ones that I was sent. She has used at least 7 different names and email addresses.

It's probably a guy when it's all said and done.

Posted by: grhodes2

I guess these scammers never learn. It's amost rather funny in a way.