The following article was taken from the web site of the United States Embassy in Moscow. It deals with Internet dating fraud and reinforces what we have been advising our clients of for years. This is just another reason why you should only use legitimate, United States based, Foreign Introduction services that are well versed with Foreign dating issues.
The only thing we would add to this is that it is not only Russian women or organizations that engage in such fraud, use caution with whomever you are dealing with when on-line, even within the United States! Russian Internet Dating Scams
The growing popularity of Internet romance has led to the growth of fraudulent online activity directed at Americans. The United States Embassy in Moscow is receiving increasing numbers of complaints from American citizens who have been lured into online relationships via false internet profiles. Often, these are men pretending to be women who make contact with Americans usually men over the Internet through dating websites or chat rooms. The fictitious person then seeks to create a virtual relationship through the exchange of photos and e-mails. At some point s/he begins to ask for money, frequently asking that it be transferred through wire services. S/he commonly states that the money is needed to help resolve a family tragedy or arrange for a trip to the United States. A copy of a fraudulent U.S. visa is sometimes attached to prove good intentions. The U.S. Embassy in Moscow urges Americans to exercise caution many U.S. citizens have lost hundreds, and even thousands, of dollars.
There are common factors in these Internet scams. Scammers usually misinform the Americans about travel expenses and/or they inflate the cost of the expenses that do exist. They lure the American in with e-mails, pictures, phone calls, fake visas, and even e-mails from fake travel agencies in an attempt to prove their good intentions. Typically, something happens and they "can't leave the country." They either "are hospitalized for an injury" and a "member of the family" contacts the American citizen requesting money, or a "member of the family" needs an emergency operation and needs money. Sometimes they are stuck at the airport and are not allowed to board until they can show they have a certain amount of dollars to cover their expenses while in the U.S. Some claim to have been robbed of the money that was sent or claim that they are detained at the airport. Again, their purpose is not to immigrate to the U.S., but to get as much money as possible from the victim. Most of these scammers are actually men who are paying women a minimal fee to sit and pose for pictures and pick up the money at an office of a money transfer agency.
Based upon previous inquiries, the Embassy has created a list of Frequently-Asked-Questions (FAQs) with answers. We hope you find them helpful. Clink on the questions below to be taken to the answer.
2. Can you tell me whether this U.S. visa is real or if this individual has applied for a visa?
10. $4,000.00 for a tourist visa?? Is this a Russian Scam?
1. I've heard a lot about Internet dating scams. I would like to know whether this person I have met is for real, but all I have is his/her name and photo. Is this enough to find out if s/he exists?
Unfortunately, the U.S. Embassy cannot verify the identity of this individual, because Russia has strict laws protecting the distribution of information about Russian citizens. The embassy has information on foreign citizens only if a person has actually applied for services from the U.S. government.
2. Can you tell me whether this visa is genuine or if this individual has applied for a visa?
If you would like to verify whether someone has received a visa, you may contact us at fpmm@state.gov.
3. I've heard there are blacklists of known Internet dating scammers. Does the U.S. Embassy have a blacklist? Where do I find a blacklist?
Although the U.S. Embassy does not maintain such a list, there are many Internet "blacklist" websites, where victims of scams have placed information and identities of people who have defrauded them. It may be helpful to perform an Internet search for such sites.
4. I think I have been scammed. I have sent this individual $2,000.00 and now I find out his/her visa is a fake. How do I get my money back?
We regret that the U.S. Embassy has no way of obtaining your money for you. We suggest contacting the money transfer agency or your credit card company to ascertain their policies in such cases.
5. I want to lodge a complaint with the Russian government and the U.S. authorities about being scammed. Can the U.S. Embassy help me? Who do I contact?
Because the U.S. Embassy is a diplomatic mission and not a law enforcement agency, you will need to go through the appropriate law enforcement channels, should you believe you are a victim of fraud. You may contact law enforcement authorities in your area.
6. My foreign friend wants to come visit me but says that s/he must purchase insurance and have $300.00 in cash to show s/he can afford to travel. How much money are visitors required to show?
To receive a U.S. non-immigrant visa, applicants are not required to show cash or proof of insurance for travel. For more information on the visa application process and requirements, please visit our website: www.usembassy.ru.
7. The individual I'm writing to says that s/he needs $1,000.00 to show for "pocket" money" or the airline won't let him/her board the plane. Is this true?
There are no Russian or American customs or airline regulations requiring travelers show proof of income or "pocket money" to travel to the United States.
8. I would like to bring my foreign friend to the United States to visit and s/he says I must wire money for a ticket, but I don't want to send it directly. If I send the money to the Embassy, can you buy the ticket for him/her? Can you recommend a travel agency I can send the money and have them buy the ticket?
The Embassy cannot suggest or verify the validity of private companies or organizations within Russia, nor can the embassy purchase tickets. Tickets can easily be purchased in the United States directly from the air carriers for Russian citizens. In addition, applicants are NOT required to have a ticket prior to the visa interview. In fact, applicants are counseled NOT to buy tickets or make arrangements until they have the visa in hand. Scammers will cite fictitious American or Russian regulations requiring that the tickets be purchased in Russia with cash in order to get the cash sent overseas.
9. My foreign friend says that s/he must go to a tour agency and pay $500 for a visa application and visa, and that it will take 2 months. Is this right? What is the procedure for Russians to get a tourist visa?
All visa applications are submitted to a Russian courier service — Pony Express — for delivery to the Embassy. The U.S. government charges a processing fee of $100 for each application. The courier service charges a delivery/handling fee. However, there are no additional fees, nor any requirements to show traveling money. For information on how to apply for a visa, please visit www.usembassy.ru.
Once an applicant submits their application, they are immediately scheduled for an appointment to appear for an interview within the following 10 days (or within 21 days during peak travel seasons). At the appointment at the Embassy, the applicant is interviewed by an American Consular officer and is immediately told whether he or she is eligible for the visa. If the decision is positive, the visa is sent to the applicant within 72 hours through Pony Express.
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. John I have a friend that lives in Mariupol we met in Ukraine last year and she would like to come to the US to visit but we aren't sure we want to do it on a fiance visa. She states that she has obtained information that she would be able to come on a tourist visa but would only be able to stay for a week. She states this would cost nearly $4000 plus airfare. Does this sound normal? I have read that it's almost impossible to get a tourist visa for a young Ukrainian woman. If this is something that is possible I would like to employ your company to help. Please give me any information you have that may help.Jeff, I have no idea what she is talking about. A tourist visa costs about $150.00 or so and is normally good for at least 3 months if not longer. I have never seen a tourist visa good for only 1 week. I have no idea where this $4,000.00 is coming from, no visa costs anywhere near that much.
The fiancee visa is possible since you have met within the last 2 years. The fee to do everything on your side and hers is $1,500.00 plus a few hundred in costs. That K1 or Russian visa is good for 3 months, and if you marry she does not have to leave at all.
Do not send $4,000.00 over there, either she is getting scrammed or she is trying to scam you.
For more information about the Russian internet scams, please view the Department of State's Public Announcement on these scams at: www.travel.state.gov/travel/rid.html.
Please click here to read the transcript of an actual callScam n. "A fraudulent business scheme; a swindle".
Although we are not aware of any industry that is immune to scams, some tend to have a higher occurrence of scams than others. It may be due to the fact that in the matchmaking industry we are dealing with such intangibles as love, hopes, and dreams. The International Matchmaking sector has the added dimension of distance; many of the couples will correspond without ever actually meeting. These factors can and do lead to "scams".
Just recently, the headlines have been ripe with information about specific scams involving so-called Russian women. In one case, a man was sentenced to 5 years in jail for defrauding hundreds of men for more than $700,000. The New York Times recently ran an article dealing with E-mail and Internet scams involving so-called Russian women. In both cases they discuss how these women didn't even really exist, yet the men still sent thousands of dollars to them.
We have been telling our clients since we began almost ten years ago not to send money to women you do not know. Even if you know the woman you should be very careful about sending money; it should be a very large red flag and only done with the utmost of care. We have sent newsletters out on this subject time and time again, and hopefully our clients are not the ones that are falling for these scams.
Arrest made in Russian women scam
We would like to pass this along to demonstrate, yet again, why you should never send money. We have posted many times and written many articles about not sending money to women. However, the problem persists. Sincere women will not ask for money. Please read below:
Ekaterinburg, March 2nd, Interfax-Ural. The General Investigation Department of the Main Office of Home Affairs of Sverdlovskaya Oblast has accomplished and passed on to the court the criminal case against two residents of Ekaterinburg committing fraud in the Internet. Valery Gorelykh, press-manager of the Main Office of Home Affairs of Sverdlovskaya Oblast, reported to the Intefax Agency that two residents of Ekaterinburg, an unmarried couple, put on the Internet site “Russian Girls” stealing a number of photos of girls who supposedly were looking for foreign husbands from other sites. After a short correspondence “a fiance” invited one of the girls he had liked to visit him. A woman swindler wrote to a “fiance” on behalf of the girl saying she was penniless and couldn’t afford the trip. The letter received, a “fiance” wired money for traveling expenses and clothes to a “pseudofiancee”.
In addition the above site had it that “fiances” could transfer money to the bank account of an Ekaterinburg based agency that will see that “fiancees” had all they needed.
The press-manager gave an example. One Canadian citizen who had sent money to the girl he had taken to, got a note saying his “fiancee” had fallen a victim to the Russian mafia and lost all her money.
Having received the note a loving Canadian packed his things and had flown off to Russia with the aim of meeting his “fiancee” hurt by rotters. On his arrival the Canadian reported the incident to Ekaterinburg based Consulate General of Great Britain and the regional police.
The General Investgation Department of the Main Agency of Home Affairs of Sverdlovskaya Oblast filed a lawsuit under the criminal article no 159 (ferocious fraud) stipulating 10-year imprisonment. Vladimir Vorotnikov who runs the Main Office of Home Affairs of Sverdlovskaya Oblast requested that the Interpol professionals and the regional policemen specializing in handling computer crimes be involved.
The rotters whose names aren’t disclosed in the interests of investigation, were tracked down and arrested. Currently they are waiting for the court verdict to be announced.
You can find a wonderful foreign bride, there is no doubt about that. You really have to look at this as you would any other service. If you take your vehicle to three different garages to be repaired, you are likely to get three entirely different estimates. Some will be honest and some will be scams, unfortunately that is just the way it is. It is no different in the matchmaking arena except for the fact that we want to believe. We want to believe that it is real and that the woman really does exist and that she is really in love with us. It is that strong desire that tends to put the blinders on and allows us to become susceptible to these otherwise very obvious scams.
If you have not already read some of the information on our site about how to avoid scams and not become a victim, we highly recommend that you click here and at least read these two articles:
The best advice that we can give you is to simply contact us if you feel there is something not right in the relationship. Before you go off and send that $1,000.00 for a visa or an operation or whatever reason, simply call us and take advantage of our knowledge and years of experience. You have nothing to lose; you will either save money and avoid becoming a victim, or achieve peace of mind; either way you win! It is a free, confidential service we offer to anyone regardless as to where you met the woman. So do not send that money just yet, call us first!
You can contact us at (602) 553-8178, just ask to speak with a scam counselor. All we can do is offer advice; you will have to make the final choice and take responsibility for your choice, however we are happy to share our experience with you.
Hello! My name is Daniel. Recently I was cyber dating a russian girl from Samara named Anna Teplova. After 6 months of chatting online, and telephone calls I decided it was time that we meet in person so I invited her over. She claimed that she could not afford to travel, and asked for me to pay. Happily I took out a loan, and sent her $2,600.00 to pay for her visa, tickets, and other documents. A week later she claimed customs needed an additional $2,300.00 to be allowed on the plane. I went to the airport on the day she was to arrive here, and waited. She never got off the plane. I went home, and checked online with both the US embassy in Moscow, and the airline for which she was suppose to be on. Neither had any knowledge of her ever having come, and purchased anything. I was devastated! That's when I came to Loveme.com.
HELLO, JOHN I HAVE NEVER MET HER,AND I HAVE NEVER TALK TO HER ON THE TELEPHONE, SHE SAID THAT THE RUSSIAN PHONE SYSTEM IS VERY BAD AND SHE CANT CALL THRUGH TO ME. THE ONLY THING SHE DID WAS GIVE ME HER MAILING ADDRESS AND CONSTANTLY EMAIL ME DAILY AND TELL ME SHE LOVES ME AND WANT TO COME AND LIVE WITH ME,AND SHE SAID IT IS GOING TO COST HER $400.00 TO GET A VISA IN MOSCOW, SHE ALSO WANTED PERSONAL INFORMATION ON ME LIKE SOCIAL SECURITY#,AND A LOT OF PERSONAL INFORMATION ON ME. SHE, SAW ME ON YAHOO PERSONALS AND HAVE BEEN WRITTING ME FOR ABOUT 3-MONTHS.
I just wanted to thank your site. I had been getting e-mails from a Russian woman. I knew this smelled from hell to high heaven, but was waiting for a break on Google. She had e-mailed me about a possible visit, and that she would contact the Irkutsk Visa Agency. When I typed that into Google. I found your sample scam, her last e-mail to me(word for word) and the next 4 letters I would be getting from her. I don't feel cheated, as they were not getting any money out of me, plus the pics of the girl were pretty hot. But if you guys want me to forward any of this(Including the pics) to you. I would be more then happy to. I see that you have a ligitimate service, and this crap does not help. So if you want the e-mails and pics. Drop me a line and let me know.
Thanks again.
Robb R.
hi john i wanted to ask you some questions about your tours . you see i had been talking to Russian women over the Internet and over several months they told me that they loved me and wanted to be with me as my wife and if i send them the money for visa and passport and plane tickets that they would arrive to me so trusting as i am i sent them the money and i waited at air port and they did not show up they had con me out of 6000 dollars. the women's names are Alla butenina from yoshkar-ola and polina sabantseva from volzhsk.will you please alert that no other man will be conned by these women just for their money. i wanted to go on a tour maybe next year because i have to save up fore it .i wished that i had of went on a tour instead of trusting the women on Internet. when i go on a tour what will i have to do , what papers do i need to get do i need a visa and passport. how and were will i get these. i wait for your answer Glenn C.
First I need to thank you for having this web-site available ! I had been trying to get info. through other sites (U.S. Consulate , State Dept. , and U.S. Customs) trying to get confirmation on weather or not financial stability was required or not . Somewhere along the way ; I came across your site , and got all the answers I was looking for . Now ; "What I got Myself Into"! Tatiana contacted me , and was making a dream come true ;( @ 17 years old I heard a Russian woman speaking in her native language , and I was "Smitten" ! I loved the sounds coming out of her beautiful mouth ; and it was then I told myself , that when I settle down , and look for love ; I would look for such a woman ). @ the age of 25 , my girlfriend gave me an ultimatum ; "Her or Skiing"!!! I learned to ski pretty good ! @ that moment I told myself , "Get all your Playing & Fun in while I could", I decided that I would wait until I was 40 years old before I would try and find my soul-mate ! someone younger , as to be able to have my children .(I always wanted love in the mean time ; but never found it!). So along comes Tatiana , (seems to be a common name in Russia) she contacted me through "a differant site" . She was 28 and beautiful ! "Smitten again" , she told me that she wanted to come to America for a better life , and to make thing better for her family @ home , (2 bdrm. apt. with 5 people) she left for Moscow (so she says) with-in a week , each e-mail she sent made me fall for her more & more ! Once in Moscow ; she reveiled to me that she was un-aware that she had to buy a round trip ticket ! she needed $900 to make her trip possible , I wired her $1000 , next came the "NEW UN-OFFICIAL RULE" that she needed to show financial stability ; and needed $2000 to show Customs in Moscow , as well as Customs in U.S. This is where I got thinking of "It's got to be a Scam"!
So ; now that you and your site have verified the questions going on in my head ; I got thinking ; "What if I was to set her/them up"? She thinks that I am selling my truck to get her the $2000 , I could let her know that $ was wired to the bank ; but give her (after making the bank aware of scam) a wrong "Confirmation # and @ that time ; maybe she would be detained and caught ! "BUT"; @ the same time ; I don't want to ruin a young woman's life ; So I ask you , (you knowing alot about this) "What would you do if you where in my shoe's ? "Ruin her life with a felony charge" ? Or give her one Hell of a Run around ? I'm not a "revenge" type of person ; I can get over the $1000 lose , even though the heart got hurt a little !
One more thing while I am here ; "WOW" the Beautiful woman on "Love Me" .com !!!!!! # 82967 Marina !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I can see that it won't take long to "Hope" to find someone that has always been in my dream's !!!!
Your thought's and suggestions will be greatly appreciated !
" Thank You " for your time & reply !
Brent
Your website is great. I posted an add of myself on a singles website. I got
a few women to reply and I replied back to most of them. I woman I liked the
best showed in her profile that she lives in the state of Virginia. When I got
the reply she said that was her friend's profile that she borrowed. She lives
in Russia and she was getting a work visa to come to the USA. She said
she would fly to me for a wonderful meeting. We exchanged emails and
photos for a week and then she said she really likes me. She said she is
packing her bags and going from south Russia to Moscow. She emailed
me the next day and said she is in Moscow. She said she brought $1400 with
her for the passport, visa and airfare. The next day she emailed me and she
said she needed $900 more for the air-fair. I felt bad and I wired the money
to her. She pick up the money two days later and said she did not want to
walk around with that much money. She told me she going to visa interview
in the morning and I wished her good luck. The next day she sent me a email
in a panic and said they told her at embassy that she needs $2000. This
money is to show US Customs her proof of financial stability. She said
I must send it right away because she already got them to give her a
later flight. That is when I new I been riped off for the flight money. I think
I might just send her a fake wire transfer number. Her name is Nadezhda
Balueva. Watch out for her guys! 04-27-2008
Sincerely, Tim
********************
Well, I know I'm alot smarter than what I did, but failed to research all info. I did research the flt # dates to fly coming and returning.This woman contacted me thru singlesnet and I responded back.Thought it was weird cause the profile at first said she lived in De. USA. She wrote back and said a friend let her use her name on this site to contact me and she found me by chance. She told me she is 26 and sent pics and she was beautiful to say the least. She left her home town of Arapovka and was flying from Chelyabinsk to moscow to get a work visa after we exchanged several emails and pics, she even sent a naked pic which really surprised me. I am retired Army and have spent 9 years overseas and found most of the people to be on the up and up. Then she wrote again and said she only had $900 and needed $950 more for flt. I tend to give people the benefit of doubt and wired her $1000. She seemed to be very grateful and then said she had an appointment for an interview with U!
S Embassy today to get Visa. I started to think, ok this might not be real and maybe a scam, which now I know it was. I just got an email 15 minutes ago titled Urgent!!! She wrote that the Embasy would not give her a work visa unless she had $2000 to prove financial stability. I also found the email address must be blocked from looking up on yahoo. She gave her name as "Anna" Kozlowa hotsunny380@yahoo.com. While I was on yahoo I looked up the travel agency that she told me was to help her with documents. Randa-Travel, 1192014, Moscow, Shkolnaya 16, office 11 and email randa-travel@narod.ru. Manager:Ms.Ivan Taranov. I found no listing for his agency, but it did take me to a blog and I read of two men she also wrote to asking them for $950, with same name Anna and age. Flying to them one in Baltimore and the other in Chicago, and they described the pictures she sent them, One with sister, herself and father, and others with several poses a well as the naked pic lying on the bed, just as these two men described and undoubtedly are the same pics. As well as the flt # were ligit as I looked them up on Delta.
That's when I knew I was scammed. I'm more than willing to fwd all the emails if it will help avoid someone else getting ripped off. The fact that she called me yesterday made me feel better, but I started to have a bad feeling about this after reading the blog and researching more all this early am. In fact I haven't been to bed all night because I was researching. I have visited your site before and I should have read more about the scams you posted on it. As well the US State Dept has a list of scams conserning Russian women, who are really men paying a woman a small fee for pics. I feel like an idiot in sending the $1000 to say the least. I know the money I'll never get back. An expensive lesson for sure.
In the beginning it all seemed inocent and professional as the agency sent me the flt info. I'm going to write the US State Dept and Russian Embassy as well today. I will wait and write this woman or person with a response and it won't be a nice one. What do you reccommend I do next? Should I tell her I know of the scam now? Or what? I do however what to go thru your company sometime in the future and take a tour to St Petersburg. Now I must save up to do that and will take awhile. Most Sincerely, Michael in Alabama.
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