Hi Jerry:
I have forwarded I reply from the US Embassy in Russia to an inquiry I made. I have been corresponding with this person since last November and now have proof she (?) is a scammer. I thought the other members might find the information useful, feel free to post it on the website if you wish, without my personal information though, if you don't mind.
Thanks,
Xxxxx
From: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Sent: Saturday, July 24, 2004 8:02 PM
To: consulmo@state.gov
Subject: Visa
Dear Sir or Madam:
I seek your help in verifying the authenticity of the visa attached. I have been corresponding with someone through the internet for approximately eight months now and she has told me she has obtained this visa to come and visit me. Of course she needs help with the airfare. I am aware that internet scams are rampant and sophisticated, especially involving Russian and eastern European women. I would greatly appreciate any help you can give me.
From: Consular0, Moscow
Sent: Monday, July 26, 2004 8:30 AM
To: Moscow Consular FPU
Subject: FW: Visa
The visa that you have attahced is most defintely fraudulent. Your description has all the earmarks of a common Russian Internet scam being used to defraud American men of money.
These people create false Internet profiles and send what appear to be legitimate correspondences. They usually misinform the victim about travel expenses that do not exist and/or they inflate the cost of the expenses that do exist. Almost always something happens and they "can't leave the country". They either "get injured and are in the hospital" and a "member of the family " contacts you for more money or a " member of the family" needs an emergency operation and therefore will need more money, or they are stuck at the airport and are not allowed to board until they can show they have xxx amount of dollars to cover their expenses while in the US. Many men have lost anywhere between $400 to $11,000 because they continued to send money without suspicion.
Unfortunately, we have been unsuccessful in our attempts to gain the cooperation of the Russian authorities concerning this issue. Therefore, understand that is you choose to money it will be at your own risk. If you want to verify information that she is giving you about the visa process, use the address below to view our website.
