Internet Dating Fraud
from the sneaky-people dept
An online dating company has gotten in trouble for running a big online fraud. How it worked was 40 to 60 staff members of PlatinumPersonals went to other dating sites, and wrote people who had posted to those sites, pretending to be single people looking for dates. They suggested they check out their own profile which was at PlatinumPersonals. When people checked out the profile, they were forced to sign up for a "free" membership. Once that was completed, they received a supposedly real email from someone at the site including a picture of a "good looking" person of the opposite sex. However, in order to contact this person they were forced to buy a $20/month subscription. Of course, after that, the person never contacted them again, because they didn't exist.
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Well DUH!
male perspective:
1) Expect offers for russian brides
2) generic replies (I like your profile, we have alot in common) then asking you to call a 1800/1900 number or go to a different site.
female perspective:
1) generic replies (its like being in a meat market bar)
2) genital pictures mailed w/o asking
About time someone gets nailed for this.
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FRAUD
NOW AS FAR AS THE OTHER THREE. PASSION ADS-SEA OF LOVE-HOTMATCHUP I WOULD HAVE TO TELL EVERYONE DONT WAIST YOUR TIME AND MONEY!!!! THEY ARE ALL A FRAUD LIKE YOU TALKED ABOUT!! PASSION ADS WONT EVEN LET ME DISCONTINUE MY MEMBERSHIP DONT REALLY KNOW WHAT I CAN DO. ANY IDEAS?
TODD
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Re: FRAUD
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fuckin assholessss
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internet dating fraud
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ANASTASIAWEB FRAUD
If you are corresponding with ladies on anastasiaweb.com know that you are getting ripped off—if you haven’t already figured it out. This site is made up of a conglomerate of independent dating agencies across Ukraine whose sole purpose for existence is to… guess what? These agencies are either employing fictitious characters or manipulating their member ladies to make money from your correspondence. These ladies represent their cash crop and the more you write the more they make. The fewer questions they answer for you, the more likely you are to write again and again. They see it as a legitimate way to entertain lonely suckers—and couldn’t care less about their “feelings.” (It’s not hard to see why, once you look up the local wages, you make a good source of income for them.)
Upon revealing to a lady your intention of traveling to Ukraine, the agency will either, a) block you access to her profile, b) knock the lady off the website for recycling, c) tell the lady to tell you she can’t meet you after all because she’s busy taking care of other things (obviously more important than you), and, to get the last possible correspondence dollar out of you, d) encourage you to travel to Ukraine and once you arrive tell the lady to tell you she cannot meet with you after all because she has other (more important) things that have come up (such as an illness in the family, work/school obligations, or simply too busy with another sucker). Some agencies will send you several pictures with the letters in the hopes you will pay for each picture or, worse, send you pictures without a letter (or a, “tell-me-what-you-think” note). Note also that most agencies will edit or omit any of your statements to a lady which may put the agency at a disadvantage; not to mention the questionable translations that create misunderstandings.
The few ladies that are available for “viewing” will do so only under the agency’s terms and only after they fail to make you use the website’s costly phone introduction service. A coordinating interpreter will call you to set up a time to meet you at your hotel so you can pick up the tab for the taxi and then drive you to the most expensive restaurant in town serving Euro prices. You will be expected to pay $15 to $20 per hour to the assigned interpreter. This interpreter is generally a freshman university student with no experience abroad and a mediocre understanding of English at best. Worst of all, they will generally hide this fact by translating into something else, not translating at all, and, of course, not asking you what you mean. To confirm for yourself, just ask the interpreter sporadically if she understands what you mean by some of your crucial words or phrases. Also, they never interpret in the first person as may be expected of a professional interpreter, and worse yet, they’ll engage in conversation with your date and gloss over what they discussed with you—if you’re lucky. At the end of your costly date, you will be asked to pay for the lady’s and interpreter’s taxi back home, which can very well be at a far end of town.
DO THE MATH: How many dinner dates, interpreter hours, host taxis, and hotel or apartment weeks/months will you need to convince a lady to marry you? (Oh, did she not mention she already has a “sort-of-but-not-really” boyfriend, so she cannot see you, “just whenever?” (And you thought this whole time she was just waiting for you, right?) And yes, if you’re one of the lucky guys, she’ll take you out shopping after your first dinner date to see what a “gentleman” you are. And on your next date, and the one after that… Guess who’s expected to pay for the shopping goods?
Another thing, you will need extra cash for the taxi drivers because they will all rip you off consistently. DO NOT LEAVE THE TAXI before the driver gets out or you might never see your suitcase again, as was reported to me by another traveler. As far as some vagrants are concerned, one actually insisted I walk him to the cash machine to pay for his bus trip back home (supposedly he had just left the hospital for tuberculosis treatment). By “insisted,” I mean, I had to run to get this guy off my back. In other incident, a couple of morons pulled out a knife on me in a quiet park avenue once they determined I spoke English; guess what they wanted? Really, it’s not half as funny as it is in the movies. Fortunately for me, these were amateur robbers or you wouldn’t be reading this. In yet another incident downtown Odessa, I was assaulted by my hotel staff when I chose to leave early for another hotel, that actually had hot water, even though I had already paid for three nights ahead and they would not return my money. (Evidently, they wanted the key so they could double their take on the room.) I later learned from a citizen in another town that folks in Odessa are known for taking pride in ripping off foreigners and even their own.
If you’re traveling to different towns around Ukraine, you should hire an interpreter to help you get around and call taxis for you; instruct the interpreter to ask for a price for the trip and not to inform the driver you’re a foreigner. (Keep your trap shut.) Having an interpreter at hand is particularly important at airports, bus and rail stations, no clerks speak English; in fact, they get irritated if you do. Expect folks to butt in line—nothing unusual about this. I once refused to ride with one taxi driver and this guy walked to the other taxi drivers at the station to tell them not to take you anywhere. Yes, they will actually comply just to show you how much they appreciate your business—taxis are not regulated here. Don’t expect comfortable taxis; the windows are fixed shut and the driver will smoke in your face (and hope your suitcases aren’t too big). If you travel by bus, be prepared to share the unventilated air with folks smoking and coughing on your face. Relax and enjoy the ride—meandering around pot holes on 2-lane back country roads and listening to blasting radios on board.
Another traveler at my hotel complained his credit card had been hacked at a local Internet Café. Before embarking on your trip, keep your credit/debit card on file, at safe web sites, with all your creditors back home if you plan to pay your bills from abroad over the Internet. NEVER input your credit/debit card number at any Internet Café. Bring at least two debit cards with you; preferably from two separate banks or bank accounts (and separate codes to keep in your head) and divide your funds. Only carry one with you at all times or carry them separately on your person. Keep only a minimal balance on the account for every day use and transfer funds from savings only as needed at safe internet banking sites. Use cash machines only at established Ukrainian brick and mortar banks, i.e., Private Bank, Union Credit Bank. Look at the surroundings, watch your back, and if a group of men arrive together, cancel the transaction, if you can, and leave quickly. Most machines have an “English” option and I would recommend using them only during daylight hours if alone. Do not use your credit/debit card about town; use only cash. Some major shopping centers, such as Aphina mall in Odessa, have a major bank available.
Get your cell phone provider’s proprietary lock off your phone back home so you can change the cell chip in a phone shop in Ukraine; or buy a second cell phone on arrival. I’ve used an MTC chip without any problems throughout Ukraine. Extra minute cards are available in many shops and from street vendors. You can dial the States by dialing 000 (1) (area code) (telephone number) for about 50 cents a minute (1 represents the U.S. Country Code).
After three months out here, and corresponding with a dozen or so women, I could not establish a relationship with any one Anastasiaweb lady available for “viewing.” No, I am not fat, ugly, or demanding! Was simply turned off on the basics. But I don’t want to spoil your Valentine plans so I’ll stop here. Enjoy your stay in Ukraine and consider planning other things to do while traveling. Then again, you might reconsider that trip to Hawaii…
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FRIENDSHIP WITH LADIES
I AM AUSTRALIAN BOTH TURKISH MAN,60 YEARS OLD,RETIRED TEACHER ON TURKISH LITERATURES AND LANGUAGES.I WANT CORRESSPONDING WITH LADIES BY MY E-MAIL.I AM WAITING PLENTY E-MAILS FROM LADIES.BEST REGARDS FROM ISTANBUL.
Mr.irfan.gungor@hotmail.com
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100% FREE Online Dating Site
There are lots of people who have no idea as to how they must prepare for blind dates. While blind dating seems like an interesting adventure, it could turn out to be a disaster if you dont take enough time to ready yourself. Although blind dates are set up by friends or family, youd like to think that they know the two personalities fairly well to make them come together. However, they dont have the slightest clue as to what can be expected from it.
Your friends may have taken the trouble of asking a man/woman out on a date with you, but the person at the other end has no idea what theyre in for. Descriptions by friends or family members dont always tell the whole story of an individual. Its up to you to make a unique connection with a person, even if it is the very first time youre meeting them. There are a few things which must be taken into consideration so as to avoid striking disaster on a blind date.
Make a good first impression
Considering that youve never met your date for the evening before, your first notion can make or break the future of the two of you. It is important to dress well as its the first thing he/she will notice about you. Wear clothes that you find comfortable so that you dont have any problems with the same during your evening out.
Go easy on the food and drinks
It is very easy to get carried away when food and drinks are in your sight. However, you might want to take it easy as consuming excess of either of the two may not go down well in your dates books. Dont get too comfortable with the individual as youve only just met them. Make sure that your personal belongings are not left alone with your date.
Do your bit to make it a happening evening
Blind dates can be ironic for the reason that you have no idea what youve signed up for. Regardless of who your companion for the evening may be, it is important that you do your part to make the date as fun as possible. Engage in conversations about the things you may have in common as this will lay the foundation stone for other topics that may be of mutual interest.
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