How do I know

[MnMike 0]

Sorry to all those sho seem to be getting involved. As the OP, I am just being careful, but also hopeful. There are so many sad things happening in the world. But, I really don't want to be a victim. I hope I am right that she's a great person and I was just being careful.

Mike

Edited May 12, 2008 by MnMike

[Ilya R. 0]

Just google "Russian Bride scam"

google Russian women scam American men

I know a friend of my wife who knew a group of people scamming people like that. I hope they got caught.

[LvivLovers 39]

Just so I was clear, I'm not saying I think Russian women on international dating sites are scammers or anything of the sort. But there has been a known problem with scammers on American dating sites...in fact it was bad enough that there was a class action lawsuit filed against the one I was on because they didn't do anything to remove these scam profiles even though they received complaints (they probably felt having the beautiful women on there helped them sell subscriptions...I don't know). As part of their settlement, they sent a card to me in the mail offering a refund of my membership fees if I had encountered these scammers, which I had, so I took the refund. But again, the pattern here was that these accounts were set up on American dating sites and the profiles indicated they lived in American cities. Only after writing them would you find out any differently. That was one of the warning signs. Also it's usually pretty obvious when you are communicating with a scammer because they usually use form letters, skip over most of your questions if you ask them something, quickly fall in love with you in a few letters, and of course ask you to send money for visa, tickets, sick relatives, etc. So to the OP...if that sounds familiar to you, I would do like Slim suggested and put "her" to a few tests. Also in case you didn't know...I use "her" in quotes because more often than not, it's a male running the scam using some real girl's photo who most likely knows nothing about what's going on. Anyway, you won't get scammed if you follow one simple rule...DON'T SEND ANY MONEY!!! Best of luck to you!

[R&I 0]

I have been contacted by a Russian lady, who sent me a email via Match.com Okay, so I sort of believe her, but mostly not. I would like to determine her authenticity but I haven't a clue how to do so. But I have this website so here I am desperate for some guidance. As you might expect, she's quite atttractive, which is my first clue she's not for real. But other then that, she has shown me pictures of her parents, uncle and ex boyfriend. I was trying to push the your, full of #######, button but that didn't seem to work. You folks seen this picture before and where can I check out this scammer?? Here is a photo of said unknown Russian lady.

Mike

I am not sure Mike, but assume this is a picture of a Russian singer. Her last name is Malikova. She is a sister to Dima Malikov, also a singer.

In case I am wrong and the lady is not a scammer...I would definitely ask her to send me more proves, like her other pictures with today's date on it...

Also check the (IP) address she is writing from...this could be a US address....

There is a good proverb in Russia "Trust, but check"!!!!!!!!!! Be cautious.

[akdiver 3]

I would like to determine her authenticity but I haven't a clue how to do so.

Just ask yourself this question - "why on earth would this hot girl ever want to date or marry me when she can do so much better?" If you can't come up with a good answer, it's a scam.

[Ilya R. 0]

I would like to determine her authenticity but I haven't a clue how to do so.

Just ask yourself this question - "why on earth would this hot girl ever want to date or marry me when she can do so much better?" If you can't come up with a good answer, it's a scam.

That about sums it up, gotto be realistic about these things.

[slim 1,519]

OP, you never answered my question.

I see we're back on the "don't take what I said out of context, I didn't mean to offend anyone" type of soft, sugar-coated posts. If you offend someone on the internet, too bad! It's not like you're best buddies or anything. And one of the best parts about offending people on the internet is they get the chance to type a rebuttal. It's all fair. Everyone wins!

And yes, Blues Fairy, you are a scammer since you pursued your guy. Guys are helpless to women's advances, you know that!

AKDiver is right too, by the way.

In all seriousness though, OP, you have stumbled upon the treasure trove of @$$ that is Eastern Europe. You're going to be able to correspond with so many stupid-hot girls that'll have you saying "Anna Kournikova who?" you won't even believe it. This is a virtual cornucopia of hotness that doesn't care if you're old, fat, bald, stupid, whatever. Just talk to them. You'll find one. There are over 48,000 of them out there. Numbers are in your favor.

If this offends anyone, too freaking bad because it's the truth and I'm not saying it to intentionally offend you so I'm not violating the sacred TOS. Relax. I'm just typing stuff on the internet. If you get fired up over that, you need to find better things to do with your life. Your real life, that is. To the OP, come on and answer my question. And Happy Hunting!

[Blues Fairy 0]

I would like to determine her authenticity but I haven't a clue how to do so.

Just ask yourself this question - "why on earth would this hot girl ever want to date or marry me when she can do so much better?" If you can't come up with a good answer, it's a scam.

That about sums it up, gotto be realistic about these things.

So if a girl is hot, she's automatically out of the running? You know, hot girls want a good marriage just as much as plain girls. I think it's unfair to discriminate them - after all, the fact that they're hot is not quite their fault, is it?

There must be more intelligent ways to determine authenticity. Like.. um... writing letters for a while and watching out for red flags OTHER than her looks?

[Ilya R. 0]

I would like to determine her authenticity but I haven't a clue how to do so.

Just ask yourself this question - "why on earth would this hot girl ever want to date or marry me when she can do so much better?" If you can't come up with a good answer, it's a scam.

That about sums it up, gotto be realistic about these things.

So if a girl is hot, she's automatically out of the running? You know, hot girls want a good marriage just as much as plain girls. I think it's unfair to discriminate them - after all, the fact that they're hot is not quite their fault, is it?

There must be more intelligent ways to determine authenticity. Like.. um... writing letters for a while and watching out for red flags OTHER than her looks?

There is a place and time to meet hot girls. These things just dont happen over internet. I've met my girl in different setting, I met her at friends and whatever, but I was still a little suspicious. And all the sudden over internet this hottie msgs you out of blue, because she wants a GOOD MARRIAGE? Maybe If I was born yesterday I'd be like "Sure its possible", but I wasnt. Define good mariage to me? And no there is no other way to determine their authenticity. Either its a scam or you have something terrific to offer to the lady trying to find "good marriage"

[MnMike 0]

Well I will say this....my antenna's are on full alert. Its just too obvious to ignore, yet the letters(emails) do seem somewhat sincere. I have several pictures of her, a couple of her father, her and her father and mother and even one with her uncle. But then again, all of these pictures are just that, pictures. Time and searching should help determine if this is real. I will give her the benefit of the doubt for now and continue to be cautious. For all the posters here, thank you very much for the great insights and help.

Mike

P.S. Slim...check you PM's

[LvivLovers 39]

I would like to determine her authenticity but I haven't a clue how to do so.

Just ask yourself this question - "why on earth would this hot girl ever want to date or marry me when she can do so much better?" If you can't come up with a good answer, it's a scam.

That about sums it up, gotto be realistic about these things.

So if a girl is hot, she's automatically out of the running? You know, hot girls want a good marriage just as much as plain girls. I think it's unfair to discriminate them - after all, the fact that they're hot is not quite their fault, is it?

There must be more intelligent ways to determine authenticity. Like.. um... writing letters for a while and watching out for red flags OTHER than her looks?

There is a place and time to meet hot girls. These things just dont happen over internet. I've met my girl in different setting, I met her at friends and whatever, but I was still a little suspicious. And all the sudden over internet this hottie msgs you out of blue, because she wants a GOOD MARRIAGE? Maybe If I was born yesterday I'd be like "Sure its possible", but I wasnt. Define good mariage to me? And no there is no other way to determine their authenticity. Either its a scam or you have something terrific to offer to the lady trying to find "good marriage"

That's pretty much what happened to me. Was I scared as hell it was a scammer? Until I went to Ukraine and met her in person...you bet! It does happen, but I must confess I think I was very lucky.

[akdiver 3]

So if a girl is hot, she's automatically out of the running? You know, hot girls want a good marriage just as much as plain girls. I think it's unfair to discriminate them - after all, the fact that they're hot is not quite their fault, is it?

Um, no. But if she is hot, hot, hot and you look like the Elephant Man - there is a good chance a scam is involved.

[Ilya R. 0]

So if a girl is hot, she's automatically out of the running? You know, hot girls want a good marriage just as much as plain girls. I think it's unfair to discriminate them - after all, the fact that they're hot is not quite their fault, is it?

Um, no. But if she is hot, hot, hot and you look like the Elephant Man - there is a good chance a scam is involved.

haha made me laugh so hard that i

[Blues Fairy 0]

There is a place and time to meet hot girls. These things just dont happen over internet. I've met my girl in different setting, I met her at friends and whatever, but I was still a little suspicious. And all the sudden over internet this hottie msgs you out of blue, because she wants a GOOD MARRIAGE? Maybe If I was born yesterday I'd be like "Sure its possible", but I wasnt. Define good mariage to me? And no there is no other way to determine their authenticity. Either its a scam or you have something terrific to offer to the lady trying to find "good marriage"

What a load of prejudiced, misogynistic drivel.

[Sylvia_n_Joseph 3]

OP please check here

Is this the girl ?