Russian Dating Scam: How Not To Get Burned
The fear of falling for a Russian dating scam may be in the back of your mind as you start to communicate with Russian love interests, but there is a way to turn this healthy cautiousness into self-protection. There are scams in every industry of the dating world, and luckily they are easy to spot if you know the signs.
Whether you are searching for women through a local dating agency in your community or through an internet based dating service of any variety, there are scam artists waiting to take advantage of your search for love. Though dating through services working with Russian women have a small risk as well, there are ways to avoid falling victim to a Russian dating scam if you know two red flags that could hint you are dealing with a scam artist.
Flag #1: The Dream Girl
If someone contacts you first with a drop dead gorgeous picture and every word you receive from her paints her as the perfect woman in all respects, than there may be reason to be cautious until you have verified she is who she says she is. Many Russian women have the natural beauty, brains, and the value system that makes them more than ideal for men from many other cultures, but they are humans and there will always be signs of human nature in dealing with them.
It takes time for two people to get to know one another and a proclamation of deep love rarely comes within a few email messages or a couple talks over the telephone. Real love matches with Russian women do happen quite often, but it does not happen over night. If you are contacted by what seems to be your ultimate dream girl who just magically fell instantly in love with you, then you will need to proceed with some caution.
Flag #2: Cash Flow
If your dream girl starts making requests for money before you have really developed a close relationship, or if her messages are always filled with talk about needing money, then you may be dealing with a Russian dating scam. A scam artist will tug on your heart strings and make you think they need money for a good cause, then ask you to send the money through wire transfer. The problem with wire transfer is there is no telling who is actually receiving the money on the other end, and there is no way for you to get the money back once it is sent.
There are a number of excuses used by in a Russian dating scam to get you to send the money. They may claim their internet connection will be lost if they do not have some particular sum of money quickly. Other times they will claim to be madly in love with you and say they need money to pay for airfare to come into your country. Remember that the process of taking a Russian love interest or bride into another country is not simple. She will not be able to just hop on a plane and come right over, so if you have a woman asking for money to pay you a visit ask more questions before wiring her the cash.
One option is to turn the tables when you think you may be dealing with a Russian dating scam. Instead of sending her money so she can visit you, offer to buy a ticket and come visit her in her own home. A woman who seriously wants a relationship with you and is in love will have no objections to this. In fact, most will be happy since this keeps her safe and secure in her own surroundings while getting that first face to face with a man she may want to spend the rest of her life with. If you are in fact dealing with a Russian dating scam, of course you will get a very different response.
