Learn the Warning Signs
The following is a list of some of the typical “Red Flags” or warning signs you should be on alert for during your correspondence. Some of the items in the list may be legitimate and should not be immediate cause for concern or distrust. You are more likely to be interacting with a scammer if several of these conditions are present. Review the list several times during your correspondence and add up how many items apply to your lady. It is up to you to use your common sense and trust your instincts. · You found her ad on a free-to-post-personals website
· Her personal ad is listed on several free-to-post personal websites
· Her personal ad has very little information posted
· Her personal ad has too much ’flowery’ narrative
· Her personal ad has a broad or simplistic description of her personality and preferences
· Her personal ad has the same description or information as others
· Her personal ad indicates a very large (e.g. 20 – 60 years) acceptable age range
· Her personal ad indicates not preference for age, race or religion
· She is from Lugansk, Ukraine a hotspot for scammers · She initiates the contact with you
· She replied to your ad listed on a membership dating site that she can’t afford
· She asks for your phone number and calls you directly for more than one minute · She writes overly tender letters at the very beginning of your correspondence
· She flatters you too much or thinks you are perfect
· She doesn’t ask many personal questions
· She is not curious about your financial circumstances
· She falls in love very fast
· She uses the words “honesty”, “trust”, “love” and “Sex” frequently
· She writes long dreamy and poetic monologues and doesn’t personalize her letters
· She uses CAPITAL letters on key words
· She responds to your letters frequently and usually very quickly
· She sends her letters during a time she should be sleeping or working
· She sends the same letters that known scammers have written to other men
· She usually writes very long letters and rarely short notes
· She doesn’t answer your direct questions even after repeated attempts
· She repeats things that have already been mentioned a in the past
· She addresses a letter to you by the wrong name
· She only uses your name once at the beginning of the letter
· She asks questions about subjects that you have already answered in the past
· She makes it a point to tell you how small her salary is without you asking
· She openly discusses or mentions her “financial problems”
· She has a computer at home with internet access but doesn’t have an adequate income to justify it
· She has a cell phone but doesn’t have an adequate income to justify it
· She is a perfect “10” and your not
· She is more than 15 years younger than you
· She claims to be a virgin
· She has extensive foreign travel experience
· She would rather have money than flowers · She asks for money for correspondence costs
· She insists she has a visa or can get a visa to visit you
· She asks for money for a visa and/or travel expenses
· She asks for money for living or education expenses
· She asks for money for an illness, hospitalization, surgery, accident or debt
· She wants you to send her the money as soon as possible
· She is indignant if you don’t send her money when requested
· She is ungrateful if you offer to send a smaller amount of money
· She is knowledgeable on how to send and receive money via Western Union
· She prefers that you send money via Western Union
· She wants you to send money in the name of someone else · Her photos are always professional looking or taken in a studio
· She sends a new photo with every letter
· Each new photo is number sequentially (1.jpg, 2.jpg, 3.jpg, etc.)
· She sends sexy or very suggestive photos
· The names of her photos are numbered above “10” (e.g. “015.jpg”, “025.jpg”)
· She can’t send you recent snapshots
· She doesn’t have simple snapshots taken around her home or with her friends, family or pet
· Snap shots and studio pictures don’t look like the same person
· She refuses to give you her address
· She doesn’t have a phone and doesn’t have a friend, neighbor or relative that has a phone either
· She refuses to give you her phone number even after repeated request
· She uses a free e-mail service*
· Her photo or name is listed as a known or suspected scammer on anti-scam sites · She wants to meet you at as soon as possible
· If you meet, she requests luxurious gifts or insists on going to expensive places or events
· If you meet, she has limited or infrequent time available to spend with you · Her Agency offers free contact for the fist 1-3 letters to get you hooked
· Her Agency does not accept major credit cards for payment
· Her Agency does not have a phone number available for direct contact
· Her Agency uses a generic mailing address
· Her Agency is “blacklisted” on anti-scam sites
· Her Agency restricts her from giving you her address
· Her Agency charges high prices for correspondence, translation and travel services
· Her Agency uses a free web hosting service
· Her Agency uses a free e-mail service*
· Her Agency includes listings of other known “scammers”
· Her Agency doesn’t update their listings or remove unavailable ladies
· Her Agency only lists photos of the most beautiful ‘cover girls’
· Her Agency uses photos of famous models or pop stars
· Her Agency uses bikini or semi-Nude photos
· Her Agency does not offer older or plain looking ladies
· Her Agency will not allow you to provide a third party translator
· Her Agency insists that you use their travel services
· Her Agency doesn’t offer travel related services * Free Russian based e-mail services usually end in “.ru”
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