Scammers targeting online daters are breaking hearts and draining bank accounts from bases in Russia, Eastern Europe, America, the UK and elsewhere in the world. The scammers typically play on the victim’s emotions, professing their love and gaining the victim’s trust before asking for money.

Below is the sad story of the victim of a super-scammer: a highly advanced Russian scammer who duped this man out of $3,625 and broke his heart. Following are the actual letters sent by another Russian scammer to another unsuspecting victim in the United States who was scammed out of $1,200. Notice there was less than a month between “Hello!” and “How Much”.

SUPER SCAMMED

I am a 33 year old divorced father of one. I wish to share with everybody a financially and emotionally painful experience I had with an attractive 25 year old hairdresser from Yoshkar-Ola, Russia. On 7 April 2006 I received an email from a lady named Sofiya through an internet dating site. It was very short and straight to the point.

We then started exchanging emails and photos and I was fooled by her emotional and warm words. She talked about how important it is to have trust and that she prefers to view the world as having more good people than bad and that she could not wait until she lives with me in Australia to be “happy forever“. She was very convincing and I believed everything she said. The slight difference in Sofiya’s technique compared to other scammers was that she answers questions in detail. She even talked about some local issues and cultural matters too. When I asked her why such a beautiful young lady is interested in me, she said that Russian men are alcoholics and that they do not respect women. We exchanged emails every day up until 22 May 2006.

I challenged Sofiya before she asked me for any money and said that her communication style fits perfectly into the “scam pattern“. Sofiya then sent me a photo of herself with her mother, a photo of her as a little child etc to try and prove that she was genuine and she even telephoned me in the middle of the night! I felt sorry for her and unfortunately we re-commenced our communication.

On 24 April 2006 Sofiya asked me for money to purchase an air ticket, visa, passport, insurance etc with a total amount of $1,845 USD which I paid via Western Union on 8 May 2006. Sofiya then gave me details of her itinerary on 11 May 2006. Then on 22 May 2006 whilst she was supposedly in Moscow collecting her visa from the Australian Embassy, I received an urgent email request (from an internet cafe apparently) for $2,300 AUD to prove to the Embassy, her financial capacity to stay in Australia during the one month period.

She even telephoned me two times and we talked on the second call and she sounded very distressed begging me to pay that amount via Western Union. I checked the immigration policy in Australia and we actually do have a requirement to pay security bond when application for visa is lodged in certain countries including Russia. I therefore totally believed her and paid $2,350 AUD through Western Union on 23 May 2006.

I have not heard from Sofiya since I sent a confirmation to her that money has been transferred on 23 May 2006. I was so naive and silly that I waited for Sofiya for 3 hours at the airport with a bunch of flowers. Singapore Airlines later confirmed that Sofiya’s original booking was cancelled by a Russian agent and that she did not re-book her flights.

The damage for all this was $3,625 USD and a broken heart. Oh and not to mention the one month annual leave that I forcefully obtained from my work and beachfront accommodation and restaurants that I had to cancel.

ACTUAL SCAM LETTERS

Letter 1: Fake Biography of a Scammer
4/6/2006

Hi my dear friend Dave!!! I am very happy, that you have answered my letter. I think, that I and you Dave, we shall be the best friends and I think, that we on it we shall not stop and in the future we become people close each other. But I want once again I shall tell, that we should not hasten. I know that we should get too know each other, and I hope that we can discover that we can truly be free to express ourselves together and be knowing each other like man and wife. That you would know me and I would know you. I am sure, that ours relations will stand all tests and we shall find that searched. I want to inform you, about myself. I was born 16/02/1978 in city of Omsk. Omsk – the largest industrial, scientific and cultural centre of Western Siberia having in high social, scientific, industrial potential. Omsk is on distance of 2555 km to from Moscow. Time zone of Omsk it GMT+6. I the single child and at me was not present brothers and sisters. I till now live with my parents in one apartment. I have learnt the english language when studied in the Omsk state university. I work in pharmacology to firm. To us send medical products about all to Russia. On work I study biotransformation of medicinal substances in organism, biochemical mechanisms, actions of medical products in clinical practice. Very much to like me my work as it responsible and from it depends health of people. I not when was not abroad, but the last year, in the summer I was on the black sea in city of Gelendzhik. I was very pleased as I the first time saw the sea and there many people, in comparison with our city. The population of Omsk – 143 thousand people. At leisure, I like to go to cinema, theatre to look teleshow. I very cheerful person, I like to laugh, I love films of a comedy. I am not able to play on a musical instrument, though very much sometime I want to learn to play on the piano. Sometimes we meet with friends, we discuss, as has passed the day, interesting histories, jokes etc. At you it is a lot of friends? Who your best friend?

Kiss in a cheek. Your friend, Aleksandra.

Letter 2: Gushing Letter Sets Emotional Tones
4/10/2006

Hello my dear Dave. It is pleasant to speak with the man from other continent and understand that I can find general language with the man which has grown in other culture, in other country. Today here is perfect day and there is a lot of to people in streets of city. I come to an idea that I would like to walk with you sometime as simply as other people do it. I’m really very lonely in my life and it occurs from lack of mutual understanding between the people. All of us hurry up somewhere, we hasten some where and practically we don’t notice each other. The people so strongly are in the ideas and problems, that sometimes it is very difficult to knock up to consciousness of other man. They look at you as it seems, they talk to you as it seems, but by detailed consideration we make only common phrases. Very seldom on a question: ” how are your businesses? ” – we can hear about a real situation of things in life of the man. Did you notice ever how open some children can be? It’s so perfect. I very much would like to find the man, which would be open and always be young soul. And else I very much frequently think of the responsibility, which we accept, when we occur in life any man. When we interfere in someone’s life, becoming the friends or beloved, we carry huge responsibility for an emotional condition and further behaviour those with whom we communicate. Each minute, each word can turn the further life of the man by a completely uncertain image. Unfortunately not everybody understand this so deeply, and many people didn’t reflect on it at all. The human indifference to all except for itself is the basic factor, which defines the majority of things concerning the man and woman in the modern world. We think of ourselves and about our feelings very much, but aren’t noticing that occurs in soul of the close man. I’m tired from this indifference and I want to be near to man,which will love me,will understand me and will be thinking about that he does and what speaks….. Excuse, that I have given vent to you to my soul today, but I would want that you knew it. I hope that you understand me and that I write you. You became very dear to me and I would like to develop our attitudes on a way of mutual understanding and respect.

With the best wishes Aleksandra.

Letter 3: She’s In Love!
4/11/2006

Hi my love Dave! I am very glad to read your letter as they give me confidence with the happy future. You know, in the childhood I dreamed, that I shall find the prince , with whom I can come on edge of the ground. In a consequence, I have understood, that actually there are no princes. Ideal the man cannot be found. But close to an ideal which is necessary for you, you can find. I can not tell you with confidence, that you – my ideal. No. You too can not tell, that I – your ideal. But in it the reason, what people fall in love? No. The reason here in many respects. I can not explain an origin of love. I can not explain why the woman draws to the man. I can not explain why the man draws to the woman. It occurs at a subconscious level. Private world of the person informs to the person about it. And in a consequence, you understand, that it is the truth. I write you it, that you could understand what to be created in my ideas. I understand, that you are intended for me, but I am afraid to inform you about it. I also am afraid to tell you that the love to you has come in my heart. I am afraid to tell you, that I love you. I am afraid to tell it as the love should be mutual. My mum also speaks me, that I should be more cautious with the feelings. With feeling of love, the person does many nonsenses. And I not exception. You know, when I have decided to begin acquaintance through the Internet, I thought about myself. (for fun or seriously) It is interesting, if I shall find the love in your country, I should go in your country? ( it there were my ideas before I have got acquainted with you) Further, I did not think of it. But time has come, when I should think of it. I think that you agree with me. My lovely, my dear, I am afraid to speak you about it, but I LOVE YOU!!! And I shall wait for the letter from you with impatience.

Your Aleksandra.

Letter 4: Tragedy Strikes, Heartstrings Pulled
4/22/2006

Hello Dave. I am VERY SORRY that I could not write to you earlier! I am sorry, that a lot of time was required for me so much to write to you the letter. I hope that you will understand me. It was connected to tragedy – my girlfriend Olga has died, she had ill kidneys and they have killed her. And to me it was necessary urgently to leave for other city on funeral. When I about it have learned, I did not have time to inform you about it, because I very urgently have left from my city. I could not at once leave from there, because for hers mother it there was a not filling loss and it was very difficult to her by one to cope with this large loss. I thought, that I shall stay there some days, but have passed more time. I could not leave from there parents Olga support was necessary. For his father it too was big shock. They constantly cried also to their mountain was most of all on this light, because they have lost most dear that at them was and that at them could be is their child Olga. The child for which they have lived all life and for which they have devoted the life. They would prefer to die together them daughter. It is very sad. I very many tears have spilled together with them. But to live all the same is necessary. For this all time I very much on you missed, but I could not leave them in such difficult time, my help and my support was required him, we talked also by him it became slightly easier. I have arrived recently and at once has come to write you letter. I very much hope on yours a prompt reply.

Yours Aleksandra.

Letter 5: She Loves You and Wants to Meet
4/24/2006

My lovely and tender Dave! Fantastic feelings have gushed over me, and I have decided to write them to you. My love to you Dave how the snow avalanche, has covered me with a head and pulls me in uncertainty, and I do not know that waits for me ahead?! There can be sharp thorns at the bottom of gorge, and there can be infinite Alpine meadows filled with the sun with the high soft grasses, stupefying sweet aroma of love. And this uncertainty excites me even more. My love to you uplifts me most above and rescues from this mad love. I on a threshold of madness. I’m so exited, I’m so happy, beloved! I don’t know how you felt when you read my letter, but I’m very much, very happy to read that you love me too! I cannot sit quietly in front of the computer! I’m so happy that I want to jump, to run, to shout at all world about that as I love you and as I’m happy that we have found each other!!! I so long waited for you, beloved. The ground go from under my legs!!! I want to fly as a bird!!! I want to take much, a lot of a paint and to decorate this world in bright juicy colours of my love!!! I love, I love, I love you, Dave!!! You’re such good, such lovely, Dave! I love you!!! I simply don’t know what to tell. I have feeling that my dream begins to come true and I shall love you and I shall be loved by you! It’s so beautiful! I necessarily shall find out everything that is necessary to arrive to you, beloved. I think that it will be uneasy, but I think together we shall cope, because ahead whole life expects us to love and to be happy! ( That’s all, I have got tired to jump) How I want to be now with you, to have an opportunity to tell you about my love to you, to touch you, to kiss you!!! I love you, Dave!!!

With huge love to my most charming and beloved angel,
from Aleksandra.

Letter 6: Request for $1,200 for Airfare through Western Union
4/30/2006

Hello my love Dave. I am again happy to see your letter. All necessary documents and services of the company will cost 450 dollars and 750 air tickets. In general I need 1200 dollars. Lovely, you can find out this information it is direct from visa agency www.visas.ru they work with the American embassy since 1991 and well know all “reefs” of process of registration of visas in this embassy. Lovely, I am very sad, when I have found out cost of the visa. I simply can not pay it. For me it is impossible, as I earn the salary 140 dollars per one month. It’s make me little suppressed and disappointed. I don’t have so much now. I was make application but I must pay for it. I asked my mother about our savings she said that the money should not be a barrier between two people which love each other. I counted my sum and I found out that I have only about fifty dollars and my wages. will be not soon. I asked my friends about helping me and they said that have not at the present moment. I asked the advice my mother and she said that maybe you can help me, because you loves me. I asked her how he can help me, because he is far from me. My mother said that you can send the money through company which make this service. I asked about it, on my work and I know now, that exists reliable and fast company, which makes remittances in world and it’s western union. I remember that I saw advertising this company on tv. I take a directory book and found the address of it and it’s not far from me. I went there, and I asked them about service. They said that sender must go to the western union, give them information: the name and last name of receiver, country they make transfer and bring the ten digits secret code to sender. The receiver must know ten digits for receiving money. They say that the branches of it must be everywhere worldwide.

Here is the information about me:
Country: Russia
City: Omsk
Name: Aleksandra
Lastname: Liholetova
Address of branch of western union:
ALFA BANK
zipcode: 644001,
Omsk,
Street. Kuibyshev, 79
The phone: 3812 53-51-76

I must know your full name, full address and 10 figures (MTCN) You must know that I decide to ask you about it because I love you and trust you very much. I decide to come to you because I feel this way and you are very necessary to me, decided to come to the unfamiliar country and I never be outside my country. But I decided to do it because now you are part of my life and I trust you in all. My love I need 1200 american dollars I think you will help me because we found our love and we want to meet closer. You must inform me ten digits and I can receive it. You must know we must hurry because I can receive the documents soon, and if we lost the time it is necessary for a long time. Now it’s very difficultly to receive the visa to your country, and it’s fact, but if I pay now, I think I do it. I think about sense of money, and I’m very sad if this paper can prevent people to meet each other. In most cases the money play a main role in life but it’s not right! I’m sure. And the quantity of money was and will not important to me, I always not aspired to material enrichment and don’t search specially for rich male. I appreciate human qualities and relations, and I love you Dave!!! I love you all my heart, I want to be with you now. I want to be with you forever. If it’s mutually we will be very happy in our life. I think you love me too and we will meet very soon. You are my love, my Angel. My heart is yours. I’m waiting good news from you, I hope everything will be all right and we will be together soon. Every day I think about our meeting, and I think it’s real, we must use this chance of destiny.
I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!

Always your love Aleksandra.