Help with Possible Scam?

[Auds 223]

9 minutes ago, krazyscotsman said:

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? 

Sorry -  now i have to say you clearly must not be good at your job!  You are not thinking!  Of course reeks of a scam!

[millefleur 5,047]

6 minutes ago, mrtravel said:

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. 

Totally agree with the above points. The desperation to go to the US and not to meet you (even if it's in another country) is just weird and sets off alarms.

 

Hey, it's your choice. You can send her the money to apply. Then what happens? If she's a money-hunting scammer, you never hear from her again. Or she might attempt to ask for money again to re-apply for a tourist visa, but it would be senseless because she would most certainly be rejected again. If she's looking for a way to the States, she will probably try to ask for a K-1 (fiancee visa.) But, oops, a K-1 requirement is meeting face-to-face somewhere first? Well, that's awkward isn't it, because now you can only meet somewhere outside the US. Then she'd probably cozy up real fast to the idea of meeting elsewhere if she understood it was a step to getting to the States.

[krazyscotsman 8]

59 minutes ago, mrtravel said:

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. 

This is the exact information the travel agency has sent me. I can't find the specific one that mentioned not needing to do an interview. But I'm sure I read that somewhere at some point. 

 

 

 

Hello Mr.David,

 

Thank you for choosing our travel company. Sir, my name is Ekaterina and I am a travel manager of "Skytour" travel agency. We gladly will help you and your Lady Evgeniya with arranging a trip to USA. Sir, every Ukrainian citizen will need the next package of travelling documents for making a trip to USA:

 

So, for making the trip it is necessary to arrange the next package of travelling documents, the time period of making it and prices will be next:

 

1) International biometric passport, we can propose you several ways to make it:

- first one, is to make it in usual way. It will be done during 3-6 months and will cost 120 dollars;

- second one, it can be done in a quick way and it can be ready in 3-5 days. The cost is 250$. 

 

2) Visa 

Mr. David, we can propose you two variants to open visa to USA in a quick way during 10-14 working days. So, it is possible to open visa in next ways:

 

1) Tourist visa for 90 days, it gives a possibility for a person to stay in USA during 3 month and it cost 300 $.

2) Multi-entry visa for 10 years, the price of such visa is 450 $, so a person will be able to travel and stay in USA without any problems and paying for visa again during 10 years.

 

Sir, the price of visa includes the next options which our agency arrange for applying on visa:

- translation of the documents;

- embassy fees;

- travel agency fess.

- Medical insurance, this is obligatory request of the embassy, a person must have medical insurance for covering medical expenses during his staying on the territory of USA in case she got ill or will need other medical treatment. Sir, we make medical insurances for our clients which will cover medical expenses on the sum of 50 000 dollars.

 

Also for making a visa application it is arrange the next documents( our agency will care about all these paperwork if you start organizing the documents with the help of our agency) :

- Visa application form;

- International biometric passport( in original, as the embassy has to see the original documents and to be sure that it is valid and not fake);

- 2 photos of size 3,5 х 4,5 ;

- Copy of local Ukrainian ID;

- Reference from work ( a person must provide a document from place of work showing his(her) income per last year, which automatically is a guarantee for the embassy that a person is employed on the territory of Ukraine and had a stable income) 

- Round-way tickets( as this is a guarantee for the embassy that your friend will not stay illegally on the territory of USA and will return to Ukraine till the end of visa validation term).

 

Mr. David, if your Lady starts organizing documents with the help of our agency, she won't need to go to the embassy for making visa application and visiting them for providing with any further documentation as our agency will care about everything. She has to come to us and fill in all the necessary forms here and then we will inform her about the day of interview when she can go to Kiev and receive her visa.

Sir,we work directly with people in a private order in the embassy which is located in Kiev and this give us a possibility to organize visas for our clients quickly and without any difficulties! That's why we give you 100 % guarantee that if you choose our services a person will receive visa maximum in 14 days.

 

 

3) Round-way tickets.  

 

Mr. David, the round-way ticket from Kiev Borispol airport to Nashville International airport will cost around 700 dollars. This is a price for a flight with two landings and the shortest time of flight.

 

Please, let us know what type of  visa you need, quick or simple way passport and we will count you the total cost of the trip.

 

Feel free to ask any other questions.

Best regards, manager of "Caviar" travel agency,

Ekaterina.

 

Hello Mr.David,

Sir, for making the trip to USA in April it will be necessary for your Lady to arrange the next package of documents:

1) International biometric passport in quick way - cost 250 dollars;

2) Tourist visa for 90 days - cost 300 dollars;

3) Round-way tickets from Kiev to Nashville - cost 720 dollars.

TOTAL SUM 1270

 

As for the way of making the payment. Sir, as you need to make the documents quickly we wouldn't reccomend you to make the payment through the bank transfer as it will take from 5 to 10 working days until it will be accepted on our account.

Sir, we can propose you to use the help of the system of electronic money transfers such as Money Gram or Western Union. As this is the quickest way to make international payments nowadays and it will be possible to receive your payment in Ukraine already 15 minutes after you make it. 

Sir, for making the payment in this way  you will need the full name of our Financial manager as she is responsible for all the Financial operations in our company and the address of our agency. Here is the necessary data for making this payment:

 

NAME           G A L I N A

SURNAME   K H A L J A P I N A

ADDRESS    Ukraine, Luhansk region, Severodonetsk, Tankistov street, building 7

 

Sir, as soon as you will make the payment, please, let us know about this.

Best regards, manager of "Caviar" travel agency,

Ekaterina

 

 

Hello Mr.David, 

 Sir, the costs are the following:

 

- The Visa for 90 days is 300$;

- the round-way flight ticket from Kiev Borispol to Nashille airport on the 24th of April is 864$ - 10% = 777,6$.

TOTAL SUM 1077,6$.

 

Sir, it will take about 10 working days from the moment we apply for a Visa. Here is the necessary data for making this payment with the electronic money transfer services such as Money Gram or Western Union :

 

NAME           G A L I N A

SURNAME   K H A L J A P I N A

ADDRESS    Ukraine, Luhansk region, Severodonetsk, Tankistov street, building 7

 

Sir, as soon as you will make the payment, please, let us know about this.

Best regards, manager of "Caviar" travel agency,

Ekaterina

 

 

 

Edited April 12, 2017 by krazyscotsman

[KierenHby 899]

Many flags... RUN 

[krazyscotsman 8]

57 minutes ago, Auds said:

Sorry -  now i have to say you clearly must not be good at your job!  You are not thinking!  Of course reeks of a scam!

Actually, I'm quite good at my job. I am one of the top cybersecurity experts in weapon system security in the USA and for many foreign military sales (FMS). I am not moving forward. Other people in the thread asked if she responded and what she said. I was sharing. Her story is changing and I'm not stupid. I was merely sharing. TBH, I didn't even read all of her reply because I knew it was basically why and you promised because I've seen it before. I was pointing out she is very good at sounding real. That was it. Not that I'm unsure of what I'm doing. I'm not sending a penny. 

 

2 minutes ago, KierenHby said:

Many flags... RUN 

Oh, I'm not going to send money. I'm sure it is a scam. As I commented, I would share with the people that responded to the thread her response. I know it's a scam. I'm not loosing money on it. I'm more shocked that she responded than anything.

[KierenHby 899]

5 minutes ago, krazyscotsman said:

 

Oh, I'm not going to send money. I'm sure it is a scam. As I commented, I would share with the people that responded to the thread her response. I know it's a scam. I'm not loosing money on it. I'm more shocked that she responded than anything.

I pride myself on locating inconsistencies and half-truths. And the two responses have several. 

 

As soon as they realize you're on to them, be aware they'll be off phishing for their next victim. 

Edited April 12, 2017 by KierenHby

[krazyscotsman 8]

12 minutes ago, KierenHby said:

As soon as they realize you're on to them, be aware they'll be off phishing for their next victim. 

 

I'm sure that was already the case, our last call she had 4 cell calls why we were talk for 15 minutes. Plus the land line was ringing off and on the entire time. 

[fcl 42]

I'm pretty sure something like this (marriage) could be trouble for you if you're currently holding a TS or above Security clearance. 

[Ksenia_O 696]

1) International biometric passport, we can propose you several ways to make it:

- first one, is to make it in usual way. It will be done during 3-6 months and will cost 120 dollars;

- second one, it can be done in a quick way and it can be ready in 3-5 days. The cost is 250$. 

 

Such a ....! The cost of International passport with a chip :

Up to 20 working days - about 912.00 UAH ($35.00 or so)

Up to 7 working days - 1170.00 UAH ( $45.00-50.00)

 

And i've NEVER heard of issuing the document longer than a month. Nothing takes 3-6 months during this process. And definitely NOTHING costs $120-250.. But scam.  

 

2) Visa 

 

1) Tourist visa for 90 days, it gives a possibility for a person to stay in USA during 3 month and it cost 300 $.     - Once again - there is no such thing as a B1/B2 visa for 90 days. 

2) Multi-entry visa for 10 years, the price of such visa is 450 $, so a person will be able to travel and stay in USA without any problems and paying for visa again during 10 years. - The price of B1/B2 visa is S160.00. That's it.  

 

Sir, the price of visa includes the next options which our agency arrange for applying on visa:

- translation of the documents - no translation is required if your documents are on Ukrainian or Russian. Period.

- embassy fees; - What?!!!!!!! There is no "embassy fee". Only visa fee, which, as stated above, is $160.00. That's it

- travel agency fess. -  I would say "scam agency fee"..

- Medical insurance, this is obligatory request of the embassy, a person must have medical insurance for covering medical expenses during his staying on the territory of USA in case she got ill or will need other medical treatment. Sir, we make medical insurances for our clients which will cover medical expenses on the sum of 50 000 dollars. - There is no " a must" about that, at all.. It's not a requirement to have an insurance, applying for B1/B2 visa.

 

Also for making a visa application it is arrange the next documents( our agency will care about all these paperwork if you start organizing the documents with the help of our agency) :

- Visa application form - form DS-160. "Kitty" seems speak decent English, so why would she need the "agency" to help her with filling out this on-line form?...

- Round-way tickets( as this is a guarantee for the embassy that your friend will not stay illegally on the territory of USA and will return to Ukraine till the end of visa validation term) - it's highly recommended on the US Embassy  website not to book any tickets before you get your approval.

 

Mr. David, if your Lady starts organizing documents with the help of our agency, she won't need to go to the embassy for making visa application  - NOBODY goes to the Embassy for making application. Form DS-160 is ONLINE form. 

 

http://www.ustraveldocs.com/ua/ua-niv-visatypeinfo.asp#

Edited April 12, 2017 by Ksenia_O

[EmilyW 1,452]

Is it bad that there's a part of me that wants to see where this all goes?  OP clearly knows it's a scam but these kids really think they have a taker for their scam.  This is the most interesting thread on VJ today.

[KierenHby 899]

popcorn

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

  A security expert would have already checked and probably found that the email isn't coming from where "she" claims it is from ...   

[Michael and Ganna 104]

David, after reading her response to you......This is not the way a Ukrainian uses English language ...... Eastern Ukraine is one of the scam capitals.....You are being scammed....give it up....The woman in those photos are younger than my 23 yr old Ukrainian daughter....also how can she afford a 40,000 UAH fir coat?

 

If you want to meet a real Ukrainian PM me....I live in Kyiv

[krazyscotsman 8]

4 hours ago, fcl said:

I'm pretty sure something like this (marriage) could be trouble for you if you're currently holding a TS or above Security clearance. 

 

Actually having a foreign bride does not impact your security clearance. Failure to disclose you have are marrying a foreign bride will. I know many people holding TS, TS w/ poly, etc that are married to foreign wives and husbands. The requirement is to disclose. As a clearance holder, a person reports their relationship to the Facility Security Officer (FSO). The FSO is responsible for industrial security which include clearances. There is no conflict here. In fact, excessive debt is more of a red flag than a foreign bride as it is seen as a way to manipulate a person - you got debt I can fix for some information. 

 

 

4 hours ago, NigeriaorBust said:

  A security expert would have already checked and probably found that the email isn't coming from where "she" claims it is from ...   

 

Why do you assume I did not look at the header of the e-mail? Of course I did! It was literally the first thing I did when she e-mailed me. The header looks accurate. The source IP address was the closest major city. I looked up the IP address to determine internet provider again it was normal and expected. Looked for e-mail program that was used - again no red flags. I never once implied that I didn't look into it. The fact that I was immediately suspicious because of the Eastern Ukraine IP address was one of the reasons. However, she did say she was from Eastern Ukraine. Sorry to disappoint you with thinking I don't know my field, some how I doubt I would be employed in this manner for nearly 20 years if I didn't for that matter a top 25 university should remove me from the adjunct professors too.... From my first e-mail I stated that I was quite certain in was a scam. BUT I am not an expert in what it take to get visas other than what I read on the state department website... but working in the government a person knows that there's usually more to everything. 

[drlarryclements 4]

totally agree about a webcam or internet café.  I flew to China to meet a woman whose picture I had and she was texting in English.  When I arrived, could not recognize her and total Chinese.  No English at all.