[PLUG] Is there a russian romance scam?

[wes]

This is indeed a very popular scam. If you want to verify, start putting
random phrases from "her" email in quotes on google. If a bunch of people
got the same email, it's very unlikely to be legitimate.

I've noticed a sharp increase in my spambox lately of "Russian women"
looking to meet American men.

The goal is usually to get you to sign up for some website where you can
find more info or pictures or some such. Could be anything though.

-wes

On Thu, Mar 24, 2011 at 11:32 PM, Michael C. Robinson <
plug_1 at robinson-west.com> wrote:

> I'm getting email from fili_olga at yahoo.com .
>
> The emails include lovely pictures of a woman who claims to be Russian.
>
> So far, all I have to go on is that I have received a few emails from
> this person, bot, whatever where the story so far seems to be
> reasonable.  I've tried to suggest another medium to verify what I'm
> being told, Skype perhaps.  I'm wondering if anyone else has received
> email where they are told to reply to fili_olga at yahoo.com ?
>
> What can I do considering that email is completely untrustworthy to
> verify or refute what these messages say?
>
> The woman, assuming this is a Russian woman in Russia, is supposedly a
> teacher who wants to come to the U.S. on a special work abroad program.
> The claim she makes is that she has no opportunity in Russia.  Another
> thing she says is that she wants to make a friend before she comes to
> the US.  She evidently wants to stay in the US long term.
>
> I've emailed back to the address given that I have concerns such as,
> I can't verify that you are who you say you are, etcetera.
>
> Yeah or nay, sharing pictures is a good idea or a bad one?  I offered
> her a picture of myself and a very old picture of family.  I did not
> tell her in me message the family members' names.  I figure I could have
> a page up on the web with family photos.
>
> I asked her if she really is a teacher and suggested she come up with
> ideas on how we can verify the stories going back and forth without
> endangering ourselves.
>
> This email exchange is exciting, but I'm worried that it could be
> dangerous.  What options do I have to make sure that this isn't some
> clever scam?  If this is a scam, what is the goal of the con?
>
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