Help with Possible Scam?

[KierenHby 899]

16 hours ago, krazyscotsman said:

 

I do have some of her responses to these questions concerns. I will list what she has said 1) she claims the internet speeds and cell data rates are too bad to really video call; I somewhat believe this as even a simple cell call gets dropped regularly and the successful calls are riddled with audio dropping in and out

^^

 

6 minutes ago, mimolicious said:

Why won't she Skype or Facetime with you?

 

[Ksenia_O 696]

15 hours ago, krazyscotsman said:

5) from everything I read, it is nearly impossible for a single young Ukrainian lady to get a visitors visa but the agency claims they can get her one in 10 working days, - Well, there is no "10 working days" visa in Ukraine. Validity of B1/B2 visa for Ukrainians is 10 years. The length of stay in the US will be determined by the Officer at POE. But still - none Travel agency can "guarantee" your visa approval. NONE. 

 

 6) she claims it is common to change cell numbers in Ukraine as it is often times cheaper for rates - Nothing is getting cheaper in Ukraine right now. I've been having my cell phone number there for 10+ years - the more you are with the Phone Company, the cheaper its service for you... Usually.  But, yes, it's really not a problem to have your number changed.. Just WHY would you do that?? ...  

 

 7) she says she was shocked to see her email address and photos (2 photos) posted on an anti-scam website; she said she never lied to me and was actively looking and communicating with different men from marriage site but she claims she never moved beyond the first 3 e-mails except me. - Of course, she was "shocked".  Who" wouldn't be?

 

I'm sorry, but it's a scam.  

 

15 hours ago, krazyscotsman said:

And about safety to travel.. I am from Kiyv and go to see my mom in Ukraine every 7-8 months - depends on my work. I came back from Kiev in January. My friend is there right now.

 

Kiyv is especially beautiful in Spring.. Lviv  -  we call it "cultural capital of Ukraine". Always amazing.

Besides, in May Kiev will have Eurovision Song Contest https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurovision_Song_Contest_2017 - gonna be a lot of people from different European countries.A lot of entertainments right on the streets, tasty food every where... If I had a chance, I would definitely go  

 

 

[RO_AH 1,662]

When it comes to a long distance relationship always put your mind as a filter in front of your heart. Your heart will tell you to ignore the red flags that your mind sees clearly. Never ever trust someone that you cannot have a video chat with. There are internet cafes and such, there is no reason you should not be able to Skype someone in this day and age. If the have the means to talk to you via email and such, they can find a way to Skype.

 

Now for reference, I have a friend that went through almost thee exact same thing as you. He was stupid enough to send the money before mentioning it to anyone. Well the time came for her flight and guess what? She wasn't on it. She messaged him that she had been stopped by the KGB or some stupid ####### like that. Then she needed more money to fix her problem and send more money to the travel agency for a new flight. Luckily he finally talked to friends who told him he was being scammed. He knew already but was trying to convince himself that the flags were not real.

[fcl 42]

I think it's pretty obvious, It's a scam, best case scenario, she's a gold digger (you haven't even met her and shes already demanding you pay for stuff).  Either way this looks pretty bad if you keep going this route.  Good luck.

[krazyscotsman 8]

39 minutes ago, mimolicious said:

Why won't she Skype or Facetime with you?

I am assuming the person on the cell is different than the photos. In fact, she sent me a video of herself and her mom and dad (I'm sure the mom and dad and lady) had such relationship. The first video had audio. The audio on the video sounded different than the call. Was it radically different? No, but enough to raise a flag. She actually told me before the first call that she had a cold and that seemed logical as it was January. Anyway, my assumption has always been that the call voice and the lady in the photos are two different people. Because she was HIGHLY offended that I demanded that we video communicate. 

[True_South 10]

38 minutes ago, Ksenia_O said:

 

Well, there is no "10 working days" visa in Ukraine. Validity of B1/B2 visa for Ukrainians is 10 years. The length of stay in the US will be determined by the Officer at POE. But still - none Travel agency can "guarantee" your visa approval. NONE.

 

I think he means "passport with visa in hand in 10 days", which sounds ridiculous. Granted, it's been a while since I've applied for my most recent B1/B2 in Kyiv, but I still don't see how it's possible to achieve. Between setting and waiting for an appointment, and waiting for them to send the stamped passport back it's hardly feasible. A pretty single girl from Donetsk region traveling to the US for pleasure - that's too many reasons for any IO to deny the visa.

[krazyscotsman 8]

21 minutes ago, fcl said:

I think it's pretty obvious, It's a scam, best case scenario, she's a gold digger (you haven't even met her and shes already demanding you pay for stuff).  Either way this looks pretty bad if you keep going this route.  Good luck.

Well, I'm not going any further. I actually e-mailed "her" and said look the agency is a scam - was pretty certain before now I am completely certain. I said you are either apart of the scam or a victim too but either way, I'm not sending any money. If you are a victim too, I'll meet you in Kiev, Moscow, or St. Petersburg - her choice. These are all cities I am planning on visiting. I've been to Kiev and liked it very much. I want to visit Lviv. And I have always wanted to visit Moscow and St Pete. I expect fully to never hear from her again. In fact, I would be shocked. For some time, I was purposely playing cat and mouse because I was pretty certain what I had. I was curious how hard "she" would work before becoming frustrated and stopping the messages. I would purposely stop responding.. then give a BS excuse like I was on travel or something (sometimes true but that didn't keep me from e-mailing). When I thought I was loosing her like she was tired of waiting. I sent her a screen grab of my bank account which was real (But no account numbers). At my level of seniority and my field, I make a good income plus I have practically no bills so money is no problem. After sending the account info to her, she immediately became an affectionate lady with the utmost understanding of delays due to work. 

 

Honestly, I've grown tired of listening and reading about meeting and waiting for me to send the money to the agency. I wanted to ask advice one time to make sure I wasn't blowing off someone that could be a great lady. Everyone on here confirmed what I really knew even if I wanted to start believing I miss judged her. So, I just e-mailed and said I'm not sending money if you want to meet me for real you have these options of locations and I'll meet you there otherwise I'm going to assume you are a scammer like the agency. I am glad I asked the question though as she was very good at starting to convince me I was to critical and wrong. 

 

Thanks for the help everyone.

[krazyscotsman 8]

1 minute ago, True_South said:

I think he means "passport with visa in hand in 10 days", which sounds ridiculous. Granted, it's been a while since I've applied for my most recent B1/B2 in Kyiv, but I still don't see how it's possible to achieve. Between setting and waiting for an appointment, and waiting for them to send the stamped passport back it's hardly feasible. A pretty single girl from Donetsk region traveling to the US for pleasure - that's too many reasons for any IO to deny the visa.

Yes - I was told in 3 days she could have the passport and she would have an approve visa in 10 days with no embassy visit required. And I was told there are 2 options for visas (I think a 90 day option and a 3 year one). Don't quote me on the duration. All of which sounded suspicious because even in the USA, a natural citizen getting a passport that quick is really difficult. It can be done but expensive. 

 

Anyway, the "travel agency" sent me this info back in early March. I was pretty certain it was wrong then. Everyone here just confirmed.

[Lenchick 133]

1 hour ago, gregcrs2 said:

Op, you should have fun with it.  Tell her you are ready to do it and your tried contacting the travel agency but could not get through or that they need a scanned copy of her passport directly through you.  String the scammer along until you make him/her crazy. 

[Lenchick 133]

17 hours ago, krazyscotsman said:

I'm sure this has been asked a million times but I haven't seen a response to my question or at least to the question like this. I have been talking to a lady from Ukraine for about 3 months or so. We have talked marriage but nothing specific. She and I have agreed we need to meet and see how things are between us before getting to that point. Here's my concern, she very much wants to meet me in the USA. She lives in the Donetsk region where proxy war has been waging - in fact, she lives approximately 25 km from the front line. I would love to meet her. But my concern is a few things that makes we cautious. I have said that I will travel to Kiev and we can take a vacation somewhere local or outside of Ukraine. She insists wants to visit the USA since she would be changing her life forever, she wants to know she would like it here to move to the USA. I understand this desire. But I have only spoken to her, e-mailed, and received videos and photos. I should say she is absolutely stunning; there are many beautiful Ukrainian ladies so I do not see this as an immediate sign of scam. I visited Kiev about 10 years ago for business and saw a tremendous amount of beautiful ladies. I do know the photos and videos are all the same lady and they are taken in all kinds of environments and any specific photos I request, she sends - nothing graphic. My concerns are a few things, 1) we have never video communicated so I have NO assurance that the person in the videos and photos are the same voice as I talk to over the phone 2) she seems really insistent to come to the USA for the visit with me paying the cost of the visa and airline ticket 3) many sites say that there's a lot of scammers in this area 4) I can't be sure if the travel agency is real or not - and if real if they are on a cut of the scam 5) the cost at the travel agency seems strange to me claiming they can get her a travel visa in 10 working days for a 90 day visa $300 and a 3 year visa $450 with no visits to the embassy required with appropriate documents from her and the airline prices seem incredibly low 6) her cell number has changed 3 times in 3 months 7) and her old email address was searched many times on a anti-scammer website. 

 

I do have some of her responses to these questions concerns. I will list what she has said 1) she claims the internet speeds and cell data rates are too bad to really video call; I somewhat believe this as even a simple cell call gets dropped regularly and the successful calls are riddled with audio dropping in and out 2) she states she is the one that would be moving to another country and she would like to see the world she is moving into and the life I live to see if we are a fit and also she says she would love to invite me to see her in her city but she fears for my safety as it is dangerous for Ukrainian citizens and foreigners in the Donetsk area would definitely be in danger for at least robbery; she says her urgency is she has to work around her company's vacation schedule and does not want to loose the opportunity 3) No answer to this other than to say she is serious and wants to leave because there's no future here with war 4) She just says I can work directly with the travel agency and send the funds to them and not her; the travel agent lists themselves as "caviar travel" but I can not find any real website or anything regarding Caviar Travel or a way to determine if this is a real agency or what; the address is legitimate but that's all I know 5) from everything I read, it is nearly impossible for a single young Ukrainian lady to get a visitors visa but the agency claims they can get her one in 10 working days, the cost I have seen online for the visa application is $160 but I'm not sure if the other processing cost are to get things to move quickly also I have not seen a 90 day versus 3 year visa; and the airline ticket rates are low for me to fly to Kiev is a minimum of $1100 US the agent claims she can get ticket from Kiev to Nashville for $824 6) she claims it is common to change cell numbers in Ukraine as it is often times cheaper for rates - I have no idea as this is totally different than the USA 7) she says she was shocked to see her email address and photos (2 photos) posted on an anti-scam website; she said she never lied to me and was actively looking and communicating with different men from marriage site but she claims she never moved beyond the first 3 e-mails except me.

 

I know I wrote a lot but I'm really torn. I don't want to be scammed but she seems very real on our calls and in e-mails but there's some red flags. I have searched a lot on information and I just can't seem to figure out if I trust that she is acting normal especially living in an area with war. I know scammers come in all shapes and sizes from organized to individual. I also know that one decent score for a scammer in a poor country can be months worth of income. Having said that, I do really like the person I think I have met. 

 

Could someone please share their thoughts. I just don't want to be missing the obvious sign of scam which right now seems to be the 10 day visa? That seems unrealistic but I do know that in some cases travel agencies can do things quicker. Oh last point, she has never traveled outside of Ukraine. 

 

Thanks for your time and hopefully your thoughts.

you already got many valid answers to your question and I only want to add that there is no way to get a US visa for Ukrainian without an interview. NO WAY. Also, strange that she doesn't want to do video chats. Even for a sec.  Red flag! She is a scammer definitely. I can tell you how it works. There are real nice, beautiful women who sit in the agencies, talk on chats and earn money by scamming foreign men. And no, It is not common to change your phone number in Ukraine.

[TexasHeartsIndia 371]

7 hours ago, krazyscotsman said:

Thanks for that. I probably shouldn't admit this since I was asking advice, but I am a senior cybersecurity expert. As such, I am cautious and suspicious by nature. But, I wanted to believe even when I knew something(s) didn't add up. As I tell students and junior engineers, anyone can be socially engineered. I tell my daughter the same thing as life practice. Fortunately, I was able to continue to listen to my own knowledge of social engineering and keep a cautious aspect. Again as I have said in many meetings, the easiest hack is a social engineering hack; people are wired to want to believe and trust especially if you feed them just the right amount of "assurance." 

 

Thanks again all for your input in really helping me out. I just didn't know enough about the situation in Eastern Ukraine to fully say yes this is 100% fraud. I have been to Kiev and Chernigov in past years for business and understood these cities but that was before the war in the East. Again thanks!

 

 

You seem like a genuinely nice guy to even consider her request and I am glad to see you aren't hell-bent on meeting her. There's no need to be desperate - you'll find a great woman who is honestly interested in you as a person and not so focused on leaving her country, using you for a visa/money/whatever.

 

Best of luck to you!

[Auds 223]

Please for our sake - can you scam the scammer

Can you text her that you are in her town and couldn't help it.  Ask for her address

 

Alternatively, could you tell her to give you her paypal address or so for the transfer and then tell her Paypal has an issue and you can't transfer payment first to her because of restrictions of transfer to the US and she needs to send a small amount to you first - say USD1.  Anything you get out of her and we will all raise a toast

[KierenHby 899]

33 minutes ago, krazyscotsman said:

Well, I'm not going any further. I actually e-mailed "her"

Has "she" responded ? just curious

[Michael and Ganna 104]

I would like to chime in here.....I have been an Ukrainian expat for more than three years. I have learned the culture and language well.

You are being scammed.....All the stuff she is telling you is BS. Cut all ties and don't answer her......sorry but move on. PM me if you want to learn more

[USC1961 251]

1 hour ago, krazyscotsman said:

Well, I'm not going any further. I actually e-mailed "her" and said look the agency is a scam - was pretty certain before now I am completely certain. I said you are either apart of the scam or a victim too but either way, I'm not sending any money. If you are a victim too, I'll meet you in Kiev, Moscow, or St. Petersburg - her choice. These are all cities I am planning on visiting. I've been to Kiev and liked it very much. I want to visit Lviv. And I have always wanted to visit Moscow and St Pete. I expect fully to never hear from her again. In fact, I would be shocked. For some time, I was purposely playing cat and mouse because I was pretty certain what I had. I was curious how hard "she" would work before becoming frustrated and stopping the messages. I would purposely stop responding.. then give a BS excuse like I was on travel or something (sometimes true but that didn't keep me from e-mailing). When I thought I was loosing her like she was tired of waiting. I sent her a screen grab of my bank account which was real (But no account numbers). At my level of seniority and my field, I make a good income plus I have practically no bills so money is no problem. After sending the account info to her, she immediately became an affectionate lady with the utmost understanding of delays due to work. 

 

Honestly, I've grown tired of listening and reading about meeting and waiting for me to send the money to the agency. I wanted to ask advice one time to make sure I wasn't blowing off someone that could be a great lady. Everyone on here confirmed what I really knew even if I wanted to start believing I miss judged her. So, I just e-mailed and said I'm not sending money if you want to meet me for real you have these options of locations and I'll meet you there otherwise I'm going to assume you are a scammer like the agency. I am glad I asked the question though as she was very good at starting to convince me I was to critical and wrong. 

 

Thanks for the help everyone.

Great decision on your part!  Now that you have one scamming experience under your belt, you will be able to recognize this behavior much quicker.  Great knowledge to have if you continue to look online.