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Anastasia Web
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Posted by: kevin m

does anybody know how reputable these folks are? I mean are ladies for real? On a lark I decided to post my profile and within 24 hours I recieved 24 letters! Wow! I would like to write 3 of them but as I have stated I do not know if they are real. I will post a photo and a letter from one such lady named Maria (Masha) here it is:
_______________________________________________

Hello Kevin
I would like to begin with a little strange question. Have you ever tried to compare women with flowers? There are women looking like white roses they are dreaming and vulnerable, immaculate. White is the color of innocence there are women - black roses. They are conquerors with a mystical air that attracts men very much. Women red roses are creators of passion. Men are willing to be near such women at any price. Some women are similar to wildflowers, women-chamomiles, like children, nice and nave, and many others.
As for me, I would compare myself with a bouquet of all these flowers. I dont know how but I unify the most diverse traits of womens characters, except lie and betrayal. Or maybe you have different opinion, so name the flower I seem like and Im sure you wont make any mistake :-)).
My name is Maria, the most beautiful and ancient name (Im also very modest :-)), but friends call me Masha, you can do the same :-)). I think that this name proposes a riddle to guess. Im a kind of people who is kind and friendly to everybody, but just my close people managed to solve my enigma. Not everybody has a chance to become close for me and get to know my inner world. But if you gain my trust, it will last forever. My soul, a little vulnerable girl inside me, crave for love, appreciation and anxious attitude.
Im looking for a real man, a strong person who is not afraid to take the challenge and win my heart and trust. Will you be that special person for me? If so, Ill be very glad to receive your letter.
Sincerely,
Masha
____________________________________________
____________________________________________

So what do I do? Do I risk a scam and get burned again or do I write and hope she is "real" and is interested in me?

Kevin

Posted by: kevin m

let me know what yall think.

_________________________________________

Posted by: Khashyar

Hi Kevin,

Her English seems VERY very good... If she is a real woman, she is either very well educated and learned in English, or uses an extraordinary translator.

There are 4 reviews of Anastasia in the Russian User Reviews section....... The average rating for them by registered forum members is 2.5 out of 10...

Khashyar

Posted by: kevin m

It says her English level is 4 so maybe. She lives in Odessa, so perhaps she knows English quite well, it being a tourist destination. She is also a Philologist: what ever that is.

.
Thats my two cents so far...

Kevin

Posted by: 11wishes

Hello Kevin,
I did the same thing; posted on there as a lark. I've recieved over one hundred emails. Some of the women who emailed were unbelievably beautiful. Like you, I was skeptical, so I called Anastasia's office in Bangor, Maine. The person I spoke with beat around the bush talking about how pretty the ladies at the socials were, etc. Finally, I cornered her and asked directly, "did these women see my profile, have an interest in me, and send me a letter?". It was then that I was told that, "if you match certain criteria which the lady had specified then many of the angecies will automatically send you the lady's letter of introduction". In other words, most the ladies who had, "sent me a letter", had actually never seen my profile. Now having said that, the ladies on Anastaisia were so beautiful that I figured I would risk a few bucks to open an account and send a few replies. I quickly found that I do not like the way the Anastasia system works. They milk you for money at every turn. They charge you the equivalent of about $8 each to read the letters which the ladies themselves did not actually send, then it charges you another $8 to send a reply, and so on and so forth, ad-nauseaum. Anastasia does have some safeguards built into the system to refund credits for women who prove to be unitnerested, but overall I found the whole process to be cash intensive and very frustrating. I did correspond with a couple ladies, but their replies seemed insincere and were short. I'm sure others have had a good expirieince with this site, but overall I was not impressed.

Posted by: 11wishes

Quote:

Originally posted by Khashyar
Hi Kevin,
There are 4 reviews of Anastasia in the Russian User Reviews section....... The average rating for them by registered forum members is 2.5 out of 10...

Khashyar

I'm new to this site and with the abundance of information provided here I have not been able to find the Russian User Reviews section; could you please direct me to it?

Thank you.

Posted by: GreenBarb

A Philologist is a person who studies Languages and in particular Texts.

Posted by: kevin m

that does make sense.

Kevin M.

Posted by: andrei

Looking at her second photo I gotta say I feel like it's just a regular go-getter who needs an American fool to marry her so that in a couple of years she could dump him and stay in the States. C'mon man, showing off those pretty legs like that makes clear she's not THAT modest.

After all, I think you should find an older woman than her. Just look at her and ask yourself how in the hell she would fall in REAL love with a grown man like you. It looks ridiculous.

Posted by: kevin m

...it does seem odd. Thats ok I can still feel flattered can't I?

Anyhow I have decided (as I have stated in my previous posts') to write to ladies 25 up to 31. Since I am 34 (35 nets month)this might be a better alternative as looking for someone who is not yet mature enough (18-23). So no worries andrei, I just thought you guys might get a smile from this one.

Kevin

Posted by: Khashyar

Quote:

Originally posted by 11wishes
I'm new to this site and with the abundance of information provided here I have not been able to find the Russian User Reviews section; could you please direct me to it?

Thank you.

Hello 11 wishes. Welcome to the Russian Meeting Place.

The "Russian User Reviews" section is here:

http://www.russianmeetingplace.com/reviews

Please feel free to post your experience with Anastasia (and any other Russian Marriage agencies you have experience with) there, if you feel that you have enough informaton to rate and review them.

Posted by: Khashyar

Hi Kevin,

I wrote to a couple hundred women before I could narrow my search to correspond with four or five....

I believe that a wise approach is to initially contact as many people as possible, and then depending on how they respond to you, narrow your search to a handful or respondants (call and write them to get a better understanding of them), and then patiently continue to narrow your search as you receive more information about them.

Khashyar

Posted by: kevin m

...thanks for caring (I look forward to meeting you and Lena), it means alot.

Kevin

Posted by: Khashyar

It will be good to meet you as well, Kevin.

You are welcome to come to Lena and my wedding in September, if you would like.

Through your recent experiences of discovering whp was NOT the right person for you, consider yourself one or two steps wiser and walking in the direction of who will be a happy match for you.

Sometimes you have to come to understand how NOT to choose someone, and what kind of person is not right for you, in order to guide you towards who is right.

Khashyar

Posted by: tonton

Quote:

Originally posted by Khashyar

You are welcome to come to Lena and my wedding in September, if you would like.

I will be in L.A in September (for real!).

Can I come?

Sorry for off topic remark - could not resist!

Posted by: Khashyar

Hi tonton....

Yes, you can come to our wedding, but it will be in Belarus in September...

But, the RMP Los Angeles get-together will be on Saturday August 6th.

You are welcome to come to both of them.

Khashyar

Posted by: tonton

Hi Khashyar,

I miss out on both counts! Will be in Russia in October. Oh well, I know it will be an amzing event for you

By the way, very good site you run.

Tony

Posted by: rk288

In my opinion Anastasia is SPAM, a rip off and a major scam...

I also, on a whim registered with them, spent a few bucks and learned the truth. Unless you have money to burn and you want to burn it (send some to me to help with my trip to the Ukraine in October) #@*% them...

I read other reviews after I became suspicious...I sent a real letter to a lady...it was returned "Address unknown"...

I still let them send me email although I am fast growing tired of it. It is SPAM!!!

There are many more reputable sites...I could put you in touch with one in St Pete if you want it...a wonderful vacation, very interesting. Not expensive, especially if you rent an apartment... This site is also very good

Posted by: Khashyar

Quote:

Originally posted by tonton
Hi Khashyar,

I miss out on both counts! Will be in Russia in October. Oh well, I know it will be an amzing event for you

By the way, very good site you run.

Tony

Thank you, Tony.

I hope that we will be able to meet someday.

Khashyar

Posted by: kevin m

Although I am trying to find ladies in Ukraine, Moldova or Belarus let me see it. Thanks,

Kevin

Posted by: Khashyar

Quote:

Originally posted by rk288

There are many more reputable sites...I could put you in touch with one in St Pete if you want it...a wonderful vacation, very interesting. Not expensive, especially if you rent an apartment... This site is also very good

Hi rk....

Feel free to post reviews in the "Russian User Reviews" section of the agencies that you have tried so that others can benefit from your experiences...

Thanks for sharing your thoughts in the forum.

Khashyar

Posted by: ham

most agencies, not only FSU or MOB related use this method.
That is, once you satisfy some ( at times very basic such as just being a member ) requirements, you're on their mailing list & get "updated".
I remember 2ofakind agency used the same method (although that was their credo ): you'd receive a form letter describing a person who met a token % of your array of requirements ( 100 categories i think ).
Short: over more than 1 year i emailed ALL the people they "introduced" (yea right ) to me...at least 2 a week.
Response rate: 0,001%.
1. i'm the most disgusting person on this planet
2. there is something weird about the whole thing (since they made you pay ONLY when/if you received "matches" ).

Posted by: kevin m

...or is it?
It could be fake. I don't know. She replied to everything in the letter I wrote her. She even gave me her address. Of course I won't post it here. She wants me to call (but, get this) and use the agency. She said she, well you'll see. I just wanna know what you all think about this. If it seems real or perhaps a scam. You guys be the judge.

Kevin
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hello dear Kevin!
I am looking at your picture and I want very much to meet with you and look into your wonderful and expressive eyes and maybe to read in them the attraction and interest to me.
Thank you for your letter. It has interested me very much. I was born in a family of painters. That is why I am interested what pictures has your father. And I wold like to see his pictures in the photos. Ad what well-known painters do you like? What poets do you prefer as your mother is a poetess. You probably know a lot about poetry.
I read a lot of books, but I don't know poetry very well. I wonder how do you spend your free time? Do you have many friends or you prefer to be lonely?
I haven't understood quite well about your work, describe it to me with more details. How long have you been working already? Do you like animals? I like cats very much. I have 2 female cats and one male cat.
I have many cousins and I love them very much. I like big families that spend holidays at one big table where all people are different but very close.
I was born in a very beautiful place Zakarpatye with Carpathian mountains. There are many monuments of architecture, castles, wooden castles and churches and a lot of springs with mineral water.
Now I live in quite another place at the coast of the Azov Sea. It is wonderful to sunbathe and swim in summer the sea is my favorite surrounding. I studied at the Institute in Berdyansk to be an economist.
I wonder where have you been? I like traveling very much and I have been to Hungary and Russia. I liked St' Petersburg and Budapest very much as there are a lot of architectural monuments. I like to attend the art galleries and various museums. What museums have you visited? You are an adult person and your life experience is greater than mine. Tell me where have you been and what have you seen? Maybe you like to stay at hone and just go fishing and listen to music.
If you come to Ukraine you will see many interesting things as my country is very different. We have the seas and the mountains, and valleys too. I know that Las Vegas is considered to be one of the miracles of the world. So, tell me how do you see your city? It would be pleasant to get the postcards of your city.
My address is:

I can't tell you my phone number in my letter but you can phone me through the agency and I will tell you phone number in our telephone conversation. But tell me the date and the time of your phone call in advance.
I was glad to get acquainted with you.
I hope for our further communication.
Susanna.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Here's a pic of her by the way.....

Posted by: rtking

Kevin,

Sometimes you've got to take a chance. I think she must have a translator (the agency?) write this for her. Otherwise I'd say she's quite knowledgeable in English! But send a letter or two and see how things turn out. Everybody has their own "threshold" and mine was about 5 letters. If I didn't get specific answers to my questions within the first 5 letters, then I'd probably move on. But if you don't at least try, you'll never know...

Bob

Posted by: ham

i see nothing weird sofar.
is she "out of your league"?
You be the judge.
If i were you, i'd find a non-offensive & non-confrontational way to tell her you are not going to send any money, no way.
At the very beginning is better, so she won't have the feeling you're referring to words of hers.
If you make THAT clear, scammers are going to cut short as your "slot" can be taken by a more gullible man.

Posted by: scarrow

I thought I would post with my limited experience with Anastasia Web. It is fun to write letters back and forth and to some extent I hope that at least some of the women I'm writing to are real.

The first letters are definitely just introduction letters that are probably mailed out by many of the agencies without the knowledge of the women.

So far I have had very good responses to my actual letters though. The letters indicate that someone has obviously read what I have written and responded to it. So far there have been no discrepancies between letters about, say, their family members or their likes/dislikes.

In the end I'd advise you to be cautious because you are dealing with words only. I am planning on going over in November and I will see if everyone cancels on me just before the trip.

If you can't afford to waste some money on what, in the end, may be nothing more than an elaborate scam I'd advise staying away.

If anything so far things have been too perfect. Nobody has professed their undying love for me or tried to get me to buy them anything (but maybe this will come later). Everyone wants to meet first to see how things go.

I will write back with my experiences, positive or negative, and try to give an unbiased opinion.

Posted by: scarrow

Quote:

Originally posted by kevin m
She wants me to call (but, get this) and use the agency.

Just keep in mind that this is the way Anastasia works. If she tried to send you her phone number directly they would just remove it from the mail. She does say that she would give you her number directly. If that doesn't work for you I'd suggest mailing her and getting her phone number that way. So far I have refrained from using Anastasia to make calls as it seems a little suspicious to me too, but if you do call make sure and obtain her phone number (and e-mail address if she has one) on that first call.

I don't begrudge Anastasia wanting to make a profit, but again you should follow your own best judgement.

Posted by: jarhead

Kevin,

I am also utilizing Anastasiaweb, and I am quite concerned with scams and being burned. Masha wrote to me as well, 4 months after I began using Anastasiaweb. I never replied back to her, because I am writing two other ladies. As for the age difference, I don't think it really matters, from what I understand, the age difference is normal from a Russian culture standpoint. Like you, I don't know if I should continue corresponding with these ladies or not, a friend at work recommenced me to Anastasia, he had made a social trip, and enjoyed it. Guess you may just have to take a chance on Masha being real.

Posted by: Caritas

Quote:

As for the age difference, I don't think it really matters, from what I understand, the age difference is normal from a Russian culture standpoint.

jarhead , I hate to disappoint you, but it's not true. I can't recall any Russian married couple with a significant age difference. In most cases a man 2-7 years older than a woman or both spouses are the same age.
A Russian woman would consider a relashionship with much older Western man if: 1. they truly fell in love with each other,
2. she desperately wants to move out of the FSU and doesn't care too much who she marries to, as long as he is a Western man.

Posted by: scarrow

I'd say a better way to think of it is that a woman is more likely to consider a wider range of ages if she wants something specific out of the relationship.

I don't think there is neccessarily anything wrong with wanting something or that this doesn't mean she will be in love before she moves on to a stage like marriage.

The important thing is to not rush into anything. Relationships that last are not established overnight or in a few weeks. It might seem like you are in love and that it will last forever, but it may well not be true.

Posted by: jarhead

Caritas,

Thank you for your response, I am no expert on this Russian Marriage thing, and obviously I was wrong. I am just going on information that I have researched from the internet. Like I said, I am corresponding with a couple of different Russian ladies, and our age differences are 9 years and 8 years respectively. However, this website has almost totally discouraged me from a romance tour with anastasiaweb, and if I ever get to the point of meeting one of these two ladies, I will probably just fly to Ukraine or Maripol and hire a interpreter.

Thanks again for the knowledge, and thank the owners of this website for saving me about 4 grand for the tour I am not going to take.

Posted by: kevin m

Yes, it is better to marry someone along your own age, but in a way I don't think it matters that much. I have written several women and all the ones qho appear to have a real interest in me are all younger (by this I mean 13-15) than me. I have even talked to Ksenia on the phone several times and we have alot in common and we like each other (as I don't like discos that much either-among other things) so I beleive it depends on how the lady was raised and if she wants an experienced man. I hate to say this (for I know I will be bashed for it) but not all women are in it for money or a free ticket to the US (case in point-Ksenia for example has a great job-heck I wish I had it-she tells me that she loves it). This is my experience thus far, we will have to see. Of course negetive replies will not sway me in the least bit. The ladies and I (I have narrowed it down to 4) all seem to genuinly enjoy each others company. This is my two cents worth...

Kevin

PS: I look forward to next week Khashyar, I can't wait.

Posted by: Caritas

jarhead , you are welcome. I'm glad I helped. Good luck in your search.

kevin m , good luck to you too!

Posted by: ham

i think the age gap issue ought to be considered v e r y c a r e f u l l y.
I'm not prude & i can easily admit "fresh meat" exerts a much stronger appeal than else.
I personally think any age difference beyond 10 years should be questioned & scrutinized in depth.
There are people who even think 10 years is suspicious.
When you first meet ( if the internet is a real meeting ), 4/5 people are "just about wonderful".
On the www we aren't bound to 24-7-365 presence & we can easily explain away ( or pretend ) the most disturbing (whether per se or just in our own private case ) traits in our e-sweetheart are just a glitch: they're having a bad day; they're ill, whatever.

Agencies use to tell this lie as big as planet Jupiter that FSUWs don't mind age differences of biblical proportions.
They're selling a product, same as VCR or DVD or TV manifacturers say their tools are immune from dirt, dust, crushes etc...whoever ever owned one knows that is far from the truth.

if something is too good to be true, then it probably is.

Posted by: EasyTarget

On the comment are the woman for real. Yes and no. The first letter you receive is ALWAYS an form intro letter that the agency sent you. They state it on their website. Subsequent letters seem to be answered by a real person since the few women I have written to are answering the questions posted to them.

On Anastasia Web their email software automatically strips out websites and email addresses. HOWEVER, you can ask for the ladies postal address. Then you can take the slow route and write a letter giving your personal email address and ask for her phone number, etc..

Posted by: Hostile_hostage

I used an Agency which charged nothing for my making contact with my 'girlfriend'. They charged nothing for us exchanging emails and for the use of a translaror. They even had a translator help with phone calls. The only charge was after actually meeting and deciding to develop our relationship. Even then it was only $200.
Go on search engines and shop around. Don't bother with the large Agencies.

Posted by: PG850

I personally know a translator of an Anastasiaweb sub agency and she has her known agency that works with them. She has had good and bad things to say about Anastasiweb but she is making money. The best thing to do is get her postal address and write a letter to her and explain everything, you can use a Russian translator program to write it in Russian along with English text. It may not make sense to her but she can get someone to translate and if she if true she will make contact with you on her own. Use USPS Global Express Mail, it's cheaper then FED EX and UPS and will get there just as fast. Good Luck

Posted by: jarhead

This is a dumb question to a point, but I have to ask it anyway. I have wrote a couple ladies from Anastasiaweb to the direct address with no replies. I never got any returned mail, but I am still unsure if the women received it. My question is this, when mail is sent to Ukraine, or anywhere in the FSU, should the address be in English, or translated into Russian? I think that one letter had both translations on the outside, but I would wonder if the FSU postal agency could understand English addresses.

Thanks.

James

Posted by: Chrismc

Quote:

Originally Posted by jarhead

This is a dumb question to a point, but I have to ask it anyway. I have wrote a couple ladies from Anastasiaweb to the direct address with no replies. I never got any returned mail, but I am still unsure if the women received it. My question is this, when mail is sent to Ukraine, or anywhere in the FSU, should the address be in English, or translated into Russian? I think that one letter had both translations on the outside, but I would wonder if the FSU postal agency could understand English addresses.

Thanks.

James

I have sent lots of mail to the Ukraine always written in English never in Russian and it has not been a problem. I do however write the address backwards, as they address things a diferent way, but I was told it does not matter which way it is written as they now understand how we write our addresses.

Chris

Posted by: ham

Quote:

Originally Posted by jarhead

if you use registered mail, then you get a postcard back with date & signature.
i did in Ukraine & it worked.
if then you receive no reply from the person (or the mail is returned),
I) she is not interested in you
II) s/he doesn't even exist and you're romancing some "friendly translator"
III) she exists but only as a money making ad for the agency

Posted by: GentleGiant

I wrote ( in Russian) to 6 women from AW who were supposedly interested in me after paying through the nose for many weeks to read and reply to their emails,I sent them all my contact details and let them know that they were welcome to write in Russian and I would get the letters translated. I included photos of myself and the town and countryside I live in, and some small toys for their children.
No reply to any of them or reference to them in the emails, I wrote a 2nd time asking if they had received the first letter, nothing. AW is a con.

Posted by: Fabio1582

I joined and even went as far to send flowers with another agency Reputible Recomended by Elenas models. Days later There was no reply to this telegram sent by this company. IT IS A TOTAL SCAM!!!!!!!!!!! I sent a letter never received it. Do not give these people your money!!!!! It is cencored no E-mails no telephone numbers!

Posted by: RRR

My first experience with AnastasiaWeb:
I registered awhile ago, and accepted the fact that all these intro letters were just automatically sent to me, so I didn't let it bother me.

I actually chose a very attractive 19y.o. woman on the site that I had received an intro letter weeks ago. I replied to her acknowledging the letter. She replied days later. I then found her on another site, not Anastasia Web affiliated, and wrote her a hand delivered letter. And she replied that she was surprised when I wrote her thru the new site.

I wrote to 1 other lady, with no response.

So far, so good. I'll still be cautious, though. I have other contacts elsewhere, so if it turns out no good, I still have other potentials.

Posted by: rk288

Give it up. The leters are a waste of your time and money...

If you have time and money try one of their tours...could be interesting then go back and visit with someone you've met after long correspondence....

Or, book your own tour...much less expensive...try a St Petersburg local site...rent an apartment...buy food at the local grocery store...$30.00 will last you 5 days and you'll leave some behind...

I did 5 days with air miles for less than $1000.00 including visa and VIP airport pass (nice!!!)...I couldn't go from my house to the nearest city for 5 days less than $1000.00...and that's only 20 minutes away...

RK

Posted by: Dave_N_Elvira

RRR,
My advice to you. Get the phone number of this lady and her own email address and do not use ANY of scammerstacia webs services. You have met a lady. Thats good. Now its time to ditch the agency. Keep the agency entirely out of the loop from now on. If they say the lady needs to use them, walk away. Its a milking technique for overpriced translations and letter exchange. Scammerstacia are as dishonest and disreputable as they come. The fewer dealings you have with this agency the better you are. Dont let them control any part of your correspondence.

Personally I would take rk288's advice here. Save your time and money and visit in person. Meet someone that way then start up the correspondence. St Petes is a great place and the women there are very receptive. Forget a tour though. Gropssly overpriced and half the ladies in the room are paid to be there as eye candy.

Posted by: rk288

Dave is right, the tours are pricey...I've never been on one so I wouldn't know about the "eye candy" but I wouldn't put it past them...commisions are paid for everything else they do.

Try allsinglerussiangirls.com in St Pete. I always had a good relationship with them. They regularly weeded out scammers and they had a guaranteed match program for less than $100.00. There's an interesting profiling test that's free and their rates were very reasonable last year.

Plan your own tour and meet someone you've corresponded and talked with for a long time. Then go back and meet her again a second or third time. Be sure of what you are doing because in the long run it's going to cost you a lot more than your vacations over there...

Write me if you are going to make plans...

RK

Posted by: Dave_N_Elvira

Gimeney.net is another good one in St Petersburg. Galina, the lady that runs it is pretty straight up and she can find a match for you. They have been around for years and have a very large up to date catalogue. Done the $100 for 5 introductions with here and met 2 quality ladies that way, one who is my wife now. Thing I really like about this agency over others I have dealt with is they get you matched and leave you to develop the relationship by yourself. In other words, they are not intrusive and trying to milk you like most agencies do.