Thread: New and eager to learn

That last one is very disheartening.

Am I to believe I have been duped?

Should I continue correspondence or break it off and let it go?

I have not contacted her yet outside of the website yet.
Am I wasting my time? Have I wasted my time?

Dunno, do you have her email address? If you want, we can send her a letter, I'll translate it for you!

Check this one out too : http://agencyscams.com/Alert.htm

And this: http://www.russian-women-forum.com/view ... -SCAM.html

Oh, and this: http://www.agencyscams.com/Complaints/Anastasiaweb.htm

Here is a counter web-site... http://www.acutabove-onlinedating.com/r ... scams.html

Originally Posted by JeffJ

That last one is very disheartening.

Am I to believe I have been duped?

Should I continue correspondence or break it off and let it go?

I have not contacted her yet outside of the website yet.
Am I wasting my time? Have I wasted my time?

Jeff, relax and step back a minute.

I think the point that's being made is that a red flag goes up whenever one of these agencies does not allow direct contact...that you must go thru the agency for everything. I think reputable agencies would give you her direct contact info.

I would be very suspicious about the phone stuation and billing.

I know nothing about Anastasia agency, but good work vinnie finding that scam info!

But here's another problem...I've heard that some of the "antiscam" sites are in fact scams themselves, designed to destroy competitors, and some are simply "opinion sites" without actual proof, from men who believe they've been scammed because the relationship didn't develop for whatever reason, including legitimate reasons.

The "lawsuit/FBI" website I'm slightly concerned about because that's not how attorneys, or the FBI, usually operate...advertising legal actions/investigations and posting notices on somone's private website. That's a "civil" suit, not a "criminal" prosecution, so the website is slightly misleading, making the whole matter look extremely serious and officious, especially with the frankly unrelated "FBI Notice" that mentions NOTHING about Anastasia, or any other agency....a very general FBI request for info about dating scams.

I just hate smoke and mirrors...except in magic shows.

So who to believe? Which agencies or antiscam sites can you trust? There certainly are scams out there, but not every agency or woman is a scammer, either. And every antiscam site is not necessarily giving the complete and whole truth.

Jeff, you could try calling the DOJ in Southern California and talking to this SA Rankhorn personally about your situation, see if he knows anything about Anastasia. Most SA's will talk to people who call. Just think you're talking to Mulder or Scully.

If you know her full name, then you might be able to track her down in Odessa, and bypass the agency.

Barring that, I would be a wee-bit concerned about heading over to Odessa for someone you've never spoken with, don't know her full name, number and address.

Anyway, my other concern is how long have you been corresponding? How many letters before "love" came up? Honestly I think most sincere, intelligent women would not fall deeply in love thru mere correspondence, with someone they've never met, seen, or spoken with. This is the other red flag to me.

And don't worry Jeff...JB will probably come at me first!

Loved that last link, how to "FEEL" if you are being scammed (and of course anastasia site "FEELS" honest!)

Dobry,

Thanks for all the great information!

We have not actually told each other we love each other. and we both agree that we must meet first before we can actually release our feelings.

So I do think she is real, not an automaton spitting outlies.

Yes, I have her full name and address. But, the site will not allow
phone numbers and email addresses. So I am forced to work through the postal system (wonderful ). I have a letter ready to go for her, but I am not sure how to address it? Is it the same way there as it is here? I mean name, address, city, state, zip?

I am determined until I am shot down in flames.

on envelope;

top line= city and zip
next line= street, house, apt#
bottom line= her last name followed by first and patronimic
under all this I write RUSSIA in big letters (so our postal service immediately throws it in the out of country bin)

take this to post office and send airmail (about 80 cents per ounce)
Don't send money, presents, jewelry etc. It's safest to send all cards and letters in a cardboard 5"x7" photo mailer envelope sealed with clear packing tape. (Russian postal workers love to slice open leters from America looking for cash.)

Going down in flames will be painful. Is a "girl" (or Nigerian,or Russian guy) you don't know worth it?

I have to know.

Once I know, then you can scatter my ashes

Is she worth it? If it is truly her behind the letters, then yes

Anastasia International is listed as a memeber of the Bangor, Maine Chamber of Commerce. You might try calling them to see if there have been any complaints or reports of scams. Also check with the American Chamber of Commerce in Russia, the FBI, and any other police agencies that investigate mail and internet fraud and crimes.

Geez, nothing like the warm blanket of depression!

Welcome to reality.

Man, people suck.

(not all, just the assrims)

I'm just the messenger. But you knew that love over the internet with a person you can't see or talk to, coordinated by a service that charges you to send and receive messages through them, was kinda fishy. You knew this before you joined this forum. Now if you want to meet a real Russian girl you have to do it the realistic way. Learn Russian, join a Russian church or community group in America, or study or work in Russia.

If I were to run a dating (scam) website, I would find the most beautiful women and post them on the site, I would charge a lot of money for letter translation, I would not allow the clients to communicate outside my website, I would give bonuses to the women who drum up the most business, and I would dump the women who get the least business.
Hey, that sounds like Anastasia

Well, It _may_ be legitimate. Their business model is suspicious and I am sure that even a legitimate agency would often serve as a medium for a "professional bride" but many real girls are doing this, too.

definitely write that letter and ask her for an email and a telephone #. i think there probably are some translation services that would help you for less than the agency charges, too.

Too late to change my name to: эвфемистическое упот ?