Way to Russia Talk Lounge

vitalsigns · Lounge Wizard Joined: 25 Dec 2004 Posts: 2784

Dmitri, are we allowed to expose scammers on the forum? There are quite a few honest people who post about ladies from Russia that they are writing to and those ladies are obviously scammers, but it seems like my posts about exposing scammers are not welcomed here.

I have helped at least two people by now. They are naiive foreigners and they do not see that they are being scammed and so they NEEDED help.

I believe if this is an honest business (and that's what you are) and if this is an honest forum those threads about exposing scammers should be welcomed - as vistors will be trusting this site more and more travelers will see that you want the best for them.

tuller · Talk Show Host Joined: 24 Oct 2004 Posts: 238

I read an article recently on internet romances. It's stats showed that less than 10% of all internet romances are honest , and believe it or not, the worst scammers were coming from Russia, especially in the under 30 year old age range. This isn't saying that all under 30 year olds are scammers.
There are many beautiful and intelligent women in Russia, I have three beautiful Russian females in our home. It's easy for a man to sit in front of a computer in his home and a gorgeous girl correspond with him telling him how much she loves him...now please help me with the visa scam or the family sickness scam.
I think the good people on any forum, should jump in and help someone asking for help when they don't understand, or would like an explanation from people that might understand.
I've helped several also to realize that...it "ain't going to happen", so move on and find someone that it will happen with.
Just my 2 cents worth.

Tuller

Fire_Goddess · Guest

I think alot of guys are stupid though! Most people use AIM, MSN, or YAHOO messenger to talk to people they like. Its safe to assume that anyone who supposedly has access to the internet yet can not seem to get into any of these messenger services is a scammer. Getting duped via e-mail is ridiculous LOL. A smart person gets duped by someone from their own country so that they can use it as a tax write off LOL Laughing

wavetossed · WayToRussified Joined: 27 Jun 2004 Posts: 337

There is nothing that you or Dmitri can do to stop people from being stupid. In fact, most of these stupid people will never come to this site and read these forums. That is because stupid people don't like to accept advice from other people. They want to make their own mistakes.

This site should *NOT* have any threads about any kinds of scammers, except from scammers that are targetting travellers to Russia. After all this is a site about travel to Russia.

Some appropriate stuff about scammers is when people warn about the outrageous fees charged by taxi drivers at the airports. Or if some hotel or other is overpriced. Or if a travel agency does not deliver on its promises.

If vitalsigns wants to protect people from scammers who pretend to be single Russian women, then he should join one of the many other websites on that topic. There he will learn that many of these scammers are not women, and many of them are *NOT* in Russia. And that the same scams are being played by people claiming to be women from Nigeria or Colombia or the USA. None of this is relevant to a website about travel to Russia.

Dmitri should stick to his specialty which is travel. If he wants to add sections for Ukraine, Belarus and other CIS countries, that makes sense, but scammers do not make any sense at all.

vitalsigns · Lounge Wizard Joined: 25 Dec 2004 Posts: 2784

I disagree with you wavetossed for the simple reason that many come to this site because they are in the process of getting to know "russian girls" via the internet and thinking about going to see them. Those people WILL NOT go to scammer-related sites because it doesn't even cross their minds that they are being scammed. But once they are here they begin to see the truth.

I am not against other people's happiness or even international dating. But I vehemently hate dishonest people and if I can help a couple of guys to save their money - why wouldn't I? Why wouldn't you wavetossed?

And to say that dating russian ladies and this site are not related is near-sighted.

Fire_Goddess · Guest

WayToRussia · Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2006 2:30 am Post subject:

vitalsigns, this forum is for people who are interested in Russia, so if it's relevant it can be about anything: scammers, food, Dostoyevsky, Russian gas, girls, etc. I personally think that it's a good job to help people avoid being scammed. Of course, I wouldn't personally go as far as to say that every girl who writes an e-mail to a foreign guy is a scammer, but I wouldn't also say don't post things like that, because all opinions are important. People are clever enough to be able to choose whom to trust and what to believe, so ultimately it's up to the people who read to choose from a range of opinions. I find that's what make any forum interesting. Smile

vitalsigns · Lounge Wizard Joined: 25 Dec 2004 Posts: 2784

Thank you Dmitri. I have felt the same way all along. I just had a clash with a certain person (as I told you) about this issue and so I thought I would clarify.

WayToRussia · Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2006 5:09 am Post subject:

At the same time I want to appreciate our moderators' efforts in keeping this forum relevant and restricting personal bashing in public forums, which is not interesting to most of our readers.

So I think it's OK to talk about sensitive subjects and to express your opinion, but keeping it public only if it is interesting for other forumites.

wavetossed · WayToRussified Joined: 27 Jun 2004 Posts: 337

Fire_Goddess · Guest

wavetossed · WayToRussified Joined: 27 Jun 2004 Posts: 337

Here is the warning that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office posts on it's travel advice site for British travellers to Russia.

"There are a number of services offering addresses and contact information about Russian women who are looking to become romantically engaged with Western Europeans. A number of prospective suitors have entered into correspondence, only later to be defrauded. If this occurs, there is little that the British Government can do to assist in the recovery of any capital outlay. We advise that you enter into correspondence with the appropriate level of caution."

They have all sorts of useful advice about crime targetted to various countries. For instance:

"In the South of France, particularly in the Marseille to Menton area, you are advised to keep car doors locked and windows closed when driving as it is common for bags to be snatched from the front passenger seat, often when the vehicle is stationary at traffic lights and usually by individuals on motorbikes. If you decide to stop in such circumstances, be extremely wary of anyone offering help, ensure that car keys are not left in the ignition and that the vehicle doors are locked while you investigate the alleged problem."

For Canada they have nothing whatsoever to say about crime.

In Spain... "There have been complaints about lottery scams, in which a person receives what appears to be official notification from the Spanish Inland Revenue office (Hacienda) that they have won the Spanish lottery and are required to deposit an amount of money in a bank account to secure their substantial winnings. You should beware of a scam if you have not entered a lottery, are asked to pay anything up-front or if the contact telephone number is for a mobile phone."

If people are worried about crime they should stay home.

tripchik · Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2006 8:47 pm Post subject: