Help with Possible Scam?

[Redheadguy03 505]

Definitely sounds like a scam! First off the Internet in the Ukraine is just fine! Heck I Skype with my fiance in the Philippines on occasion and her area has horrible service. (I've been there it was ridiculously slow). Secondly wanting to come to the USA so badly, definitely screams scam. 

 

My fiance didn't care which country we lived in, just that we were together. Good luck! 

[Izor 79]

I've read this entire post and now i'm curious, did she ever answer? 

[JE57 239]

For all those that are suggesting that he try to scan the scammer I'd suggest that this may not be the best of ideas.  While he is a cybersecurity expert and may be able to mount adequate defenses against blowback from the scammers be aware that often times I believe these scams are propagated by criminal syndicates and engaging with them and intentionally antagonizing them is perhaps not the best idea.. Rather like knowing a local drug dealer and pretending you want to buy drugs from him to tie up his time so he can't sell drugs to others.   Be safe out there on the internet... You are likely not as anonymous as you think you are. 

[BlueCinderella 42]

I agree with everyone else, it does sound like its a scam. I think you need to think about the fact that you're questioning her sincerity, obviously you don't trust her.. If you have any doubts, its truly a warning not to move forward.

[Chewbacca 18]

My ex brother in law experienced a simular situation with a Russian lady. Same thing: just phone calls, no videos, and lots of pictures of a very attractive girl. Everyone told him that it was a scam, but he was just blind with the possibility of finding a beautiful girlfriend (he has a self-esteem problem). Anyway, he ended up sending her a large amount of money for the visa application and a plane ticket. Few days after she received the money, he never heard from her again.    

[mrtravel 40]

Sure, she can visit the US, but tell her you want to meet her first in Ukraine or a 3rd country.

There is NO WAY she is going to get here without an in person interview in Kiev.

Additionally, even with the interview, it is also unlikely she will get a visa.

I suspect the scam is in the money request for the visa service company, then later it will be for travel expenses.

At some point either she, a friend, or a relative will need money do to illness or some other issue.

There are plenty of women in Ukraine that would be happy to meet you there or in another country where it is easier for them to travel.

I do not recommend you give them any money.  Supply them with a non-refundable ticket to your meeting place, if that is what you want to do.

 

 

[krazyscotsman 8]

4 minutes ago, mrtravel said:

Sure, she can visit the US, but tell her you want to meet her first in Ukraine or a 3rd country.

There is NO WAY she is going to get here without an in person interview in Kiev.

Additionally, even with the interview, it is also unlikely she will get a visa.

I suspect the scam is in the money request for the visa service company, then later it will be for travel expenses.

At some point either she, a friend, or a relative will need money do to illness or some other issue.

There are plenty of women in Ukraine that would be happy to meet you there or in another country where it is easier for them to travel.

I do not recommend you give them any money.  Supply them with a non-refundable ticket to your meeting place, if that is what you want to do.

 

 

 

I said exactly what you suggested in my e-mail to her. I said I'm happy to meet you in Kiev, Odessa, Moscow, St. Petersburg, or some other destination that you wish. But the travel agency is a scam. Here's why they are a scam, if you aren't a part of the scam, then you are also being scammed. You can not get a tourist visa to the USA without being interviewed. - I'm sure she's a part of the scam and always has been. I'm sure she will disappear. 

 

1 hour ago, Izor said:

I've read this entire post and now i'm curious, did she ever answer? 

No answer yet. I sent the message to her well after "she is asleep." My guess is no response ever. But if there is one, it will likely be evening Ukraine time on Tuesday. Again, I just don't expect a response. I'll update everyone if I happen to get a response for no other reason that to share the details with those that are interested. I really don't think it will happen.

 

 

1 hour ago, JE57 said:

For all those that are suggesting that he try to scan the scammer I'd suggest that this may not be the best of ideas.  While he is a cybersecurity expert and may be able to mount adequate defenses against blowback from the scammers be aware that often times I believe these scams are propagated by criminal syndicates and engaging with them and intentionally antagonizing them is perhaps not the best idea.. Rather like knowing a local drug dealer and pretending you want to buy drugs from him to tie up his time so he can't sell drugs to others.   Be safe out there on the internet... You are likely not as anonymous as you think you are. 

Sadly, I must agree with what you are saying. I have been doing computer, network, development, and operational security for 17 years before it was an "it" field. If I merely knew it was someone that was a gold digger basically operating alone, I would be happy to keep jerking her chain just so she get's a good taste of the medicine these "ladies" dish out. But as you stated, organized crime is often behind these efforts to scam. And although it would be a bit of a waste of resources to attack me personally, it would not be the first time groups do stupid stuff to prove a point. Truthfully regardless of skills, the side of protecting against cyber attacks are always behind in terms of capabilities than the attackers. It only takes one successful attack out of countless attempts; as a defender you have to be able to stop all of them which is not possible if you have an insistent attacker. I work in a very sensitive always under cyber attack field, all it takes is a single 0day and you are screwed. So, no I won't continue to pull her chain in the event that it's far more than a woman trying to scam men.

[krazyscotsman 8]

6 hours ago, TexasHeartsIndia said:

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!

 

Thank you. I appreciate the sincerity of your comment. Like all men and women, I would love to find the right lady. That's why I went online. 

 

6 hours ago, Auds said:

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

 

I would love to do this. If she responds and I know it's still BS, I'll probably jerk her chain a bit. Probably some of the suggestions something like I don't trust at all the travel agency so I will send you the money. But I can't deposit the money via paypal without receiving $1 US. TBH, I doubt she will respond. Plus there's another danger as pointed out, I doubt she is some single lady doing this on her own. She probably works for organize crime. Although personally attacking me would not benefit them very much other than to prove a point (which happens in organize crime), the bigger concern is what I do for a living and the systems that I design, develop, and implement security fore; to be blunt US assets. I'll leave it at that. The last thing I would need is to add efforts to undermine these systems merely from me toying with the wrong group; because that would prove a point. So, I've got to be cautious. The only reason I kept the communication as long as I did was I teach graduate programs in cybersecurity for a major university; besides first being interested in "her", I began being curious what lengths she would go to get me to fall in love and convince me to send money. The answer is she spent a ridiculous amount of time; to the point that even I was thinking well maybe she is real and I'm just being too suspicious. Originally my intention was to truly meet her, but as soon as I realized something was up.... I started kind of toying with the whole thing. I would stop communicating purposely to get her to be worried I ended communication, then I would send just enough to give her thoughts I was still in love but merely busy (which the busy part is true), when I thought I had pushed it too long I sent a screen grab of my bank account - yes real screen grab (BUT NO ACCOUNT INFO OR EVEN BANK INFO). So she immediately became affectionate to the point that I was thinking well maybe she is real - which led me to post here even though I was pretty certain I had always been correct. So we will see what happens and I'll let everyone know.

 

5 hours ago, KierenHby said:

Has "she" responded ? just curious

No not yet. It will be Wednesday evening Ukraine at earliest. I'll let everyone know if she does.

[doggieandsam 765]

11 hours ago, f f said:

now that you are sure it is a scam why not troll them? think of it as a civic duty to protect others since as they have to deal with you they can not scam others.

i would totally do this! i have done the same for all those lottery / job offer scams. i'd tell them that i will be paying for everything / sending them money but then in order for me to test that they can receive the funds without any issues, they need to send me money first. the scammers all vanish like magic after that! LOL

[krazyscotsman 8]

10 hours ago, mrtravel said:

Sure, she can visit the US, but tell her you want to meet her first in Ukraine or a 3rd country.

There is NO WAY she is going to get here without an in person interview in Kiev.

Additionally, even with the interview, it is also unlikely she will get a visa.

I suspect the scam is in the money request for the visa service company, then later it will be for travel expenses.

At some point either she, a friend, or a relative will need money do to illness or some other issue.

There are plenty of women in Ukraine that would be happy to meet you there or in another country where it is easier for them to travel.

I do not recommend you give them any money.  Supply them with a non-refundable ticket to your meeting place, if that is what you want to do.

 

 

 

10 hours ago, mrtravel said:

Sure, she can visit the US, but tell her you want to meet her first in Ukraine or a 3rd country.

There is NO WAY she is going to get here without an in person interview in Kiev.

Additionally, even with the interview, it is also unlikely she will get a visa.

I suspect the scam is in the money request for the visa service company, then later it will be for travel expenses.

At some point either she, a friend, or a relative will need money do to illness or some other issue.

There are plenty of women in Ukraine that would be happy to meet you there or in another country where it is easier for them to travel.

I do not recommend you give them any money.  Supply them with a non-refundable ticket to your meeting place, if that is what you want to do.

 

 

 

11 hours ago, Izor said:

I've read this entire post and now i'm curious, did she ever answer? 

 

Everyone - I received a response. To be honest, I'm very surprised. It is interesting because now she is referencing she still has to go to the US Embassy in Kiev. What do people think? To me, it still sounds like BS and panic of loosing money? Thoughts? 

 

Here's Zhenya's response to me saying the agency is has to be a scam because the agency cannot guarantee a travel visa. Share your thoughts. I still think it's a scam. But it's very difficult for me to know living in the USA and not having direct access to how processes are handled in the Ukraine specifically. But the simple fact she is not remotely interested in me traveling to meet her says volumes.

 

"Hello David, are you kidding with me? We have already made a plan and I made a schedule with days, I told about my leaving at work and my parents are involved too. So dear David why do you do this fast changed just because something happened in your mind, listen if you just don't want me to arrive and that you are not ready for serious relationships just tell me this! I thought that we are a coupe and must to accept the decisions together, I did believe that you are a man of your words and waited as much  as it was necessary and when you tell something or promise then don't take your words back as it hurts, really hurts. It just can lead that I will not accept your words seriously one day and that is all. Don't make decisions just if you think differently or have your personal doubts. If you doubt so much, why did we start it at all? For what reason? Why do you think that the information from the agency is not correct? David, what is the sense for them to deceive us? They are working not the first year and had many tourist during this time, so definitely they know their work. And in their interests to make everything in high level. And even if something will go wrong , in what I am doubting, me and my dad know already where they are situated, so they definitely will be punished. David, the application for my Visa will be sent to the Kiev American Embassy and they will look through my documents during 10-14 working days from the moment I apply , after this , they pointed me the date and the time for the Interview, where I must arrive and only then receive the Visa. Here is the process, so tell me please what is not correct? Don't compare with Philippines as these are two different countries. David, and please stop thinking that everyone around want to deceive you. I am just looking like a food in eyes of this manager, really.. So if you want to connect your life with me and tell me about your feelings , why don't you trust me so very much? This is not fair. We must to trust each other from the very beginning as relationships without trust to each other can be doomed,  they must be based on it. And how can I continue to trust you David? if you say one thing and do another? I've already done the passport with the help of this travel company and they did it in necessary frames, if you need I can make the cope of it and send to you, but it will be for extremes I didn't want to do such things in order to prove you something. I just want you believe me as I don't want to make you harm!All what I want is to come to you ,while I still have a chance for it, I do like you very much too, you are the man who is suitable for all frames for me, but I still need to see you , to touch you and try to live together for some time, yes, David you are special for me and I don't want to lose you at all. I don't want to lose our meeting with you. The meeting in Kiev is not even quite the same , I don't see any sense of meeting there, to stay just for some days in hotel and for what reason ? What can it gives? After my visit to USA I can accept decisions if everything will work between you and me , if I will like this country, probably I will decide to move there and start a new life, a new life from the beginning with you. So David, if you really are serious and if your intentions are the same as mine , and if you tell me about your feelings truth. Be so kind and keep your words, show me your actions, stay a real man in my eyes, please... I don't want to lose you.. Please do what you promised. You will not regret that you let me enter your life and from my side I can promise that I will not let you down! Because as I already told you , I very much want to see you and come to you. This is the only one thing I want at the moment, this inspires me ! I already live with this thought and idea! So decide what you really want! And while this unnecessary doubts and discussions we just lose our time!!!
Hope to hear from you soon, zaichik
Yours Kitty."

 

 

 

 

[millefleur 5,047]

Why is this woman so sure that she'll even get the visa? Assuming she isn't a scammer, she seems ridiculously naive. Doesn't she know that young, unmarried women in her country face huge denial rates, especially if they mention any kind of love interest in the US who they plan to meet? She thinks merely applying for a passport is the same thing as getting a US visa?

 

Also, she's skeptical to meet you in her home country. It's just weird. Best case, she's not a scammer (i.e. working with an agency or etc.) but a gold digger, like someone else suggested.

 

[KierenHby 899]

17 hours ago, Michael and Ganna said:

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

^^^^

See the post above. 

 

34 minutes ago, krazyscotsman said:

 

Everyone - I received a response. To be honest, I'm very surprised. It is interesting because now she is referencing she still has to go to the US Embassy in Kiev. What do people think? To me, it still sounds like BS and panic of loosing money? Thoughts? 

 

 

[KierenHby 899]

40 minutes ago, krazyscotsman said:

while I still have a chance for it, I do like you very much too, you are the man who is suitable for all frames for me, but I still need to see you , to touch you and try to live together for some time, yes, David you are special for me and I don't want to lose you at all.

I'm sorry but women don't say those things without first meeting; not even a video call interaction and she's in love? 

[krazyscotsman 8]

6 minutes ago, millefleur said:

Why is this woman so sure that she'll even get the visa? Assuming she isn't a scammer, she seems ridiculously naive. Doesn't she know that young, unmarried women in her country face huge denial rates, especially if they mention any kind of love interest in the US who they plan to meet? She thinks merely applying for a passport is the same thing as getting a US visa?

 

Also, she's skeptical to meet you in her home country. It's just weird. Best case, she's not a scammer (i.e. working with an agency or etc.) but a gold digger, like someone else suggested.

 

So you are bringing up the questions that I don't understand either and the reason I initially asked if I'm being scammed. She seems very normal in most e-mails and all calls. The simple fact she responded makes me question whether she is scamming at all. Having spoken to the person many times, she is naive. She has never traveled abroad anywhere and has said many times she does needs assistance from the "agency" because she doesn't know the processes. 

 

The reason she still makes me think she's a scammer is why would you be against going somewhere in Ukraine together for a week or something. Why be so set on traveling to the USA. That does not make any sense to me. 

 

So, does everyone still assume scammer? 

[mrtravel 40]

Did her story change?  In the first message you mentioned "with no visits to the embassy required" 
However, she says something different in the message you posted from her. 
I am also unclear of why she needs an agency to apply for a tourist visa.   The paperwork isn't that difficult
Additionally, it is extremely doubtful she will be successful in getting a tourist visa, and she seems to be pushing for a meeting in the US, when there are quite a few OTHER places where she is more likely able to travel.  If it's not a scam to get money for the "agency", and other stuff that pops up, then it is possibly a scam for her just to get into the US.