Here's a posting from another forum from a Russian Woman. Know that this post was totally unsolicited; read carefully about what she mentions about agencies and cell phones and money matters. Sound familiar?
I am new at this forum (very well done, by the way ), i am just happy to realize that so many western men are interested in our country, culture,language etc.
I understand that you have a Western men community here, and maybe these topics are not for Russian ladies? Still i would like to express my opinion on this subject (by the way, sorry if my english is not so perfect, but i do hope you will be able to understand me).
I am a female, i am from Russia, i read almost all what you have written here while discussing scammers, scamming etc. After having read this a have only 1 feeling: indignation. I am indignant at women who do this. I am also surprised with naivety of some men who are still being trapped like this.
I am glad that you share your experience with each other and that you make some kind of a list of so-called "red flags" to recognize a scammer. I think it would be also wise to make a blacklist of russian/ukrainian women who already showed themselves as scammers.
I had an experience of communication with western men via different websites (such as freepersonals.ru and russianeuro.com). And you know..of course there are so many scammers among FSU women on this sites, but my god, i noticed that european and western men also dont look like angels. I was faced with womanizers who just seemed to collect women's profiles,letters,photos and feelings; who were writing the same standard letters to all the girls who were interested in them; who were playing with women hearts and emotions; who were giving promices and telling words of love... What for? I dont know. Maybe,for fun, or maybe there are some other reason for them to do this..
What do we mean when we use a word "scammer"? It is exactly a person who it trying to trick you out of some $$$ ? I think that this word has a more broad sence. For me a scammer is a cheat who plays with your feelings and stealing your time. For me both males and females can be scammers. The difference between them is that a female-scammer tries to devastate your purse, and a male-scammer will do the same but with your mind and heart. So, it cuts both ways, i think...
I have never been using any agencies to get acquanted with foreign men. To me its just useless. And i wanted to ask you - what are the reasons for you to use them?? Knowing that most of agencies have bad reputation, i would never use their service. Come on, boys, its 21 century now already, and using of agencies and emailing to each other sounds so odd to me, really.
A woman who is really interested in you would never prefer using an agency service for a very long time. There are such nice programss as skype or msn and many many others, which let you talk to your lady online and see her by a webcam.
What else do agencies offer to you? Oh, they translate the letters that you write her in english? Hmm, i could never understand our women who are trying to marry a foreign man without knowing english at all. It is also very strange. Again, if a woman is interested in serious relationship with a western man, she would learn some english before or just load some program to translate your letters (and by the way, many websites provide such service also).
If a woman says she has problems with her home fixed phone/cell-phone/ internet - it is what you call a "red flag". You know, Russia is not as wild as many western men think about it We all have mobile phones and home phones, and most if us have internet both at home and at the the work place. Its normal. Be cautious if a woman is trying to say that she has some problems with it or (as i read in one story here) if she gives you a phone number of her friend/aunt/relative etc. Its ********. Such a women is never genuine.
You know, once i had en experience of meeting with a man whom i met on one website... We have been talking by skype almost every day during about 8 months, he saw me, he saw my flat, he knew all my life, i think. I never asked him about any money, i accepetd only flowers that he was sending me. We decided to meet and he invitied me to his country. I asked him to buy me an electronic ticket - and he did this without any objections.
Tell me, should i also consider myself as a scammer after that? I dont think so. For me paying for a woman you desire is absolutely normal. I will say even more - if a man pays, then he is really interested in a woman. I am not talking about sending money while talking and chatting and emailing to each other. I mean the payment for her ticket, hotel etc. To me its a normal and courteous behaviour of a man who is really interested in a woman.
It hurts me to realize that there are so many really good men with serious intention who meet scammers on their way. It also hurst me that so often serious and real women are being cheated my womanizers.. Said, but true.
I think that probably most of you have met scammers. And i would like to ask you not to think that all russian/ukrianian women are the same. Believe me, real women DO exist. Maybe, its hard to find them, but still they exist.
So please be attentive while talking with our women. There is a black sheep in every flock, but dont be prejudiced against all our woman who are trying to contact foreign men.
I wish you good luck in a search of your soul-mate
I know a lot abowt this because I am quite an seriouse interlectual on this forum.My knowlege on ukraine is good thats becauese I have looked at a lot of maps on the internet.
Hi Baron, Yep, that was my interpetation too. Particularly the bit about guys getting the ladies hopes up with empty promises, so it does work both ways.
One of the 2 ladies I chat to has had a similar experience. She even travelled to Kiev to meet a guy who didn't show. Needless to say it knocked her confidence. But hey, his loss is hopefully my gain!!!
As I read the letter you have presented here, without arguing the content, it does not seem to be structured like a Russian woman's writing or even a woman at all. My feel is, it is a man writng as woman