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Feedback

I know that many scams are out there and everyone needs to be very careful! Just never send money. But.........I met and married a beautiful Russian lady that is more than I could have ever dreamed of. I went to Vladivostok last October after emailing and talking on the telephone for several months.  She came here on 12/23/01 and we were married on 2/27/02. She is  intelligent, hard working, sexy, gorgeous and we are very happy together. 

Larry



Black List - page 133: UPDATES
October 10, 2002 - page 1

To send your own story, please click here


Agency Inamorata

I'd like to report an attempted scam by this so-called 'agency'. I had been emailing with Diana Ivanova for about five days and she was quickly 'falling in love' with me. Then I get this message. Needless to say, I did not send any money, nor I have responded back. I wouldn't be very polite in my response and I was concerned that maybe they would have some way of getting some sort of sophisticated virus through. I just left them. I am sending her photos and more information immediately after this.

From: "Agency Inamorata" <inamorataagency@inbox.ru>

Dear Mr.S Dilks, Welcome to our Agency! You responded to an advertising of a young lady named Diana from our Marriage Agency. Having correspondence with her doesn t obligate you to anything, but if you are really interested in this girl we d like to ask you, if it s possible for you, to help her cover some agency expenses such as a translation of your letters and an internet provider service. Be sure that your money will reach the destination,just put a name of your chosen girl on your money transfer receipt. A monthly rate is 70$USA. Also, if you d like to make a birthday present to your girl such as flowers, perfume, a book etc., we ll be glad to do it for you and for her foe a reasonable price. We can also provide an English class for her, if you want her to speak good English to you and when the happinest moment comes and you ll deside to come to Odessa to meet with her, we ll be glad to assist you with visa, logistics and interpreter. Thank you for your consideration and good luck! Agency Inamorata


Elena Metelkina (Ekaterinburg, Russia)

To the man who wrote about being scammed by Elena Metelkina from Ekaterinburg. The phone number for US embassy in Ekaterinburg is 3432-62-98-88, ask for Robert Austin, or Dale Epper, General Consul. Email address is consulyekat@state.gov. Perhaps they can provide you some assistance? They were of no help to me in another matter. TK 


Evgenia Skornyakova (Saint Petersburg, Russia)

My name is Matt and I am single white male 41 who works for the State of Alabama. I was approached by her from DreamMates.com on September 24, 2002. After a few emails she tells me she would like to visit me and was working on getting her visa together. I offered no money at this time only that maybe we should get to know each other a little better. So after a couple more emails she tells me she has started the process for her visa and didn't have enough money to cover all the other expenses for documentation and wanted $300 for the rest or she could not get her visa. Also to wire the funds through Western Union within five days. I was pretty sure this was a scam so I checked this website and found her picture under another name Olga/Olya Cherapanova Cheboksary,Russia. I deleted her first email to me but here is the one asking for money.

Her Letter asking for money:

Hello my love Matt!!!! Thank you so much for your nice letter! Well, I looked for visa one else and to me it is necessary to pay 55 dollars for the visa and 30 dollars registration and more it is necessary to pass inspection in hospital X-ray and it to cost 137 dollars and more and more registration of the documents, foreign passport, i.e. 396 dollars should suffice me. You understand? I went to embassy and at me was 50 dollars and I start registration the visa, it is necessary to pay for it, I have told, that I have 50 dollars and they have told well, give 50 dollars. And me have started registration. I so have understood that for the visa of this money will suffice, because to me so have told. But today I went there and to me have told, that to me gave the visa that it to finish registration urgently it is necessary to bring all those documents, i.e. medical and other. I have told, and it is possible later in some days, because I do not have not enough money to receive all these documents, at me at once have shouted, have scolded and have told, that for you then have begun to make the visa if you do not have not enough money, but I speak, that the visa costs 45 dollars and registration a little more, but to me have not explained at once to receive the visa, is necessary that were applied all necessary documents, I has certainly apologized, and has told, that I shall bring soon, one of these days. To me have told, that they may wait about 5 days and if I shall not bring the necessary documents they will stop to make the visa to me. And it is even worse, that if I not shall have time, to me have told that may not make to me the visa more, they will take offence at me, for my acts. But I promised, that I shall make all correctly and to me have believed. My life has very much changed, after I have learned(found out) you. I asked the help mum, but she(it) has answered me, that has no such money and may not help me. Then I to go today to bank and to try to take the loan, to pay the visa. It has turned out to take the loan from me, but only 50 $, more I can not allow myself. Now I have 50 more $ for my visa. And full cost of the visa of 396 dollars. Me does not suffice now 300 $ to pay the visa.Therefore I very much ask you, try to borrow from somebody money if you now do not have it, at the friends for example. Because to me now in such situation the help nobody may, I searched already, but not any successes. Therefore I hope only for you, you one to me may the help. Because I believe in you, and in both of us, that all at us will be Ok! And I hope, that all will be good. I know it. I ask you to send this money to me as soon as possible. Please send to me 300 dollars in these 5 days. Ok? It's very important. I wait! I want to tell that the money better to send by the bank system called Western Union. This system is very reliable also transferring money is carried out during 15 minutes. By the way you must send the money on my passport data. Here is my data: Evgenia Skornyakova, RUSSIA, St.-Petersburg, Lenin Street 24, apartment 55 . After you will send money you in bank will tell ten figures (MTCN, control number) and do not forget to write your full address and full name which you will fill at sending money and should inform me it. I wait your answer as soon as possible. Please, help me. I know, that you good man and you correctly all understood. I wait you. See you soon. Your forever Evgenia! 

Hope this helps, Matt


Fiancee visa scam - Valentina Drozdova (Odessa,Ukraine)

Earlier this year I was the victim of a fiancee visa scam which was perpetrated by two women in Odessa, Ukraine, Valentina Drozdova and Natasha Blazhko. In the months since I uncovered the scheme, I have discovered that it was on-going since 2000 and there were many other men involved. Criminal fraud charges are in the process of being filed and at least two of the other victims will be sending in their stories as well Because we are still building our case, I have left out the details about my contacts with these other men in my description of my relationship with these women so as not to let them know exactly how much we do know about the scam at this time. We are hoping that by posting this maybe some other men who had been involved with them will come forward and provide more damaging evidence against them. After we have made our case, we will provide you will all of the additional details. The following documents are attached which I hope you will post on your blacklist page. A letter describing my relationship. How we met etc.. along with copies of her requests for money  Pictures of Natasha and Valentina 

Coincidently, about a week ago I received a letter from a woman in Russia. I just found a brief mention of her on your recent updates. She is Olga in Ulanovsk. Having gone through all of this and having read your web page about common scams I was immediately suspicious. I wrote back and sure enough it followed the scheme almost to the letter and by the 6th email she was requesting $350.00 for a tourist visa. So things don't get confused I will send the details - her name, pics and letters to you separately. Also, just a small suggestion about the site. When I first received her email I checked your blacklist page and didn't see her but I didn't know there were update pages. Maybe you could put a link on bottom of the blacklist page to the page that has the updates listed because it's kind of buried in the site. Thanks for your help. You have a great site and are providing a great service! Sincerely, David G.

My name is David and I am a single white American male, aged 49, self-employed and living in Houston, Texas. Two women in Odessa, Ukraine - Valentine Drozdova and Natasha Blazhko have since 2000 been working an elaborate visa scam apparently on dozens of men. Briefly this is how it worked. They posted their pictures on Match.com Corresponded with men and encouraged them to come visit them. Then they would tell them to stay at an apartment owned by Natasha's mother charging whatever rent they thought the market would bear. This varied from 60$/day to $120/ day and they would split the proceeds. As I was only involved with Valentine I can only speak about how she operated. She would correspond with a guy and encourage him to visit her in Odessa. When he visited, she would stay with him in the apartment and have sex with him. Towards the end of the visit she and Natasha would talk about making a fiancee visa and if he agreed then Valentine would bring him to meet her mother and ask permission to marry. Then after he returned to the states the requests for money would begin. 

Here is the complete story -

I began corresponding with Valentina back around September of 2001. It was really accidental. I just randomly selected the Ukraine on match.com one evening when I didn't see anyone new on the local profiles. I thought it would be fun to see what women in other countries write in their profiles. I had never even heard about "Russian Brides" syndrome. When I came to her profile, I thought she was really pretty so I sent her a note saying she was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. I never expected her to even answer. I just figured it would make her day, and she would smile and delete it since I was in Houston and she was in Odessa. About 2 weeks later I got a long email from her. I didn't even remember who she was and had to look up her profile. After a few months of emails I decided that it would be fun to go to Odessa and meet her in person. I hadn't taken a vacation in several years and I figured it would be a great adventure. I scheduled my trip for the week of Valentines Day and her birthday figuring that would be at least two really romantic evenings together. She was very excited about it and made arrangements for an apartment for me to rent while I was there. It turns out that this apartment belonged to her friend Natasha's mother and the three of them were splitting the proceeds from the rent. When I arrived in Odessa, Valentina and Natasha met me at the airport. Natasha was pretty fluent in English and did most of the translating for us while I was there. Valentina spoke no English - ( I have since found out that Valentina is very fluent in English but pretended to not speak any.) and I spoke about 100 words of Russian. Anyway it was a magical two weeks, like a fairy tale. .Her daughter Julia joined us at the apartment on weekends and during the week she stayed at Valentina's flat with Valentina's mother. A few days before I was going to leave, Natasha and Valentina and I had dinner together and Natasha asked me if I wanted to do a fiance visa. This came as a big surprise to me. After all I had only known this woman for 10 days but it had been such a great 2 weeks that I figured sure, at least I can lock her into and exclusive relationship, and then visit a few more times and be sure it was all real. I was even taken back to her mother to ask her permission to marry Valentina. Up to this time she never asked me for money and even when I was there she never asked me to buy her anything. I just paid for all of our cabs and meals and the concerts we went to. So I went back to the states "engaged." Now I was aware of the visa scams and was skeptical about all this from the start but having her daughter stay with us and having me meet her mother sort of threw me and I was fairly certain that things were legitimate. 

We kept writing and I made plans to go out either mid-May or at the beginning of June. She nixed mid-May saying that Julia was having exams and she needed to help with that, so I set it for June 1 till June 20th. Now about 2 months before the trip she emailed me and asked me for help to pay for her passport which was $100.00 and money for English lessons which were $120 per month. Since I was the one who encouraged her to do this (take English lessons) I didn't feel it was unreasonable so I sent her around $600 to cover a few months of lessons and the passport. Then a few weeks before my departure date she emailed me again and asked me if I would buy her a hot water heater, saying that the government had cut off the hot water. I had read about that on-line so I figured since I was going to be staying in her flat and it was still cold there hot water would be nice. So I sent her $400.00 for that. The money was sent via Western Union. Copies of her emails requesting the money are shown and the end of this message. 

OK - so I fly to Odessa and stay with her for 3 weeks in June. About a week of this was in Fyadorovkov, the village where her mom lives and where she grew up. I thought it would be great seeing where she came from. I kept working on my Russian during the 4 months between the two visits and had about 500 words by the time I made the second trip, so I was able to talk with her a lot more and get a better read on what type of person she was. After I got to Odessa, almost from day one she talked a lot about money. Everything was "these are Italian shoes $300.00," "this is a French suit - $700.00." And kept making comments about how she was a "doroga" woman (expensive woman) and that perhaps I should find one who was "ni doroga" not expensive. This raised a flag for me because she was supposedly earning about $200/month and it seemed unlikely that she was able to afford all this stuff on her own. Even on the first day I was there, she asked me to buy her a new bed and a new washing machine. I told her I didn't see the point since she was going to be moving to the states with me in a few months. Finally I got fed up with it and I called Natasha and we all sat down and talked about it. . I told her I hadn't come to Odessa to buy a wife. That since I left in February she had emailed me over and over telling me how much she loved me and how she couldn't wait to see me again. Repeatedly encouraging me to come back as quickly as possible. Two nights before I left we got together with Natasha again and once again had the conversation about money. So I flew back to the States with a lot of doubts and second thoughts about her and her apparent fixation with labels (Italian, French) money. I left her documents for the fiancée visa with her as a few things were still missing and told her to fed-ex them to me when everything was complete. I decided that I would mull things over some more and perhaps make at least one more trip before I brought them to the states. The day after I got back a friend of hers here in the states called me and asked me how I was. I told her about the trip and she told me to be careful. That Valentina lies and that Valentina had told her she was marrying a millionaire. I told her that we had discussed money and that it didn't seem to be a problem. I thought she was just exaggerating about me but later I realized that she had already made arrangements to marry before I got there. I didn't hear anything from her after I got back. I sent her several emails and after about 2 weeks had passed, I finally emailed Natasha to see if there was any problem. She emailed me back and said no that she was in the village. So I figured she just went back out to get the copy of her birth certificate that she had applied for when we were there and was just hanging at her moms. Then Sunday I got an email from the friend of hers here in the States. She asked me how I was and I said busy and that I was looking forward to hearing from Valentina when she got back from the village. She emailed me back an hour later and said David I have to tell you, Valentina got married. So then her comment about the millionaire she had made when I first came back made sense. I realized that she must have had this planned before I made my trip and that my feeling about only being there to spend money on her while I was there was correct. Well, I was furious. Evidently I flew out of Odessa on June 20th and he flew in on June 21st. I wasn't so upset about losing her because as I've said I had a lot of doubts about her but I didn't like being played like that and I had still made an honest commitment to her and I expected the same. I also felt that most likely the guy she had married was only chosen because he had the deepest pockets and was probably clueless about her "character." I felt that I had a moral obligation to let him know whom he was involved with so he could make a better choice. So I hired a private detective in Odessa to go to the marriage license agency and get his name and address for me. I have since learned from talking with other friends of hers that this had been going on since 2000 and there have been a whole string other men providing a very comfortable income. 

Valentine and Natasha's Details:

Valentine Drozdova
Dnepropetrovsky Road 109, #4
Odessa, Ukraine 65017
pupchik@hotmail.com

Natasha Blahzko
Lustdorfskaya Road 119 , #3
Odessa, Ukraine 65088
tata@farlep.net

First request for money - March 15, 2002

My Dear David, 

I hope you are fine. I miss you… I would like to ask to help me with money now, because it will be difficult for me to pay for my passport, English lessons and Juliya. Nobody helps me now, I hope just you. I am really glad that you met with immigration lawyer. When you send me a list of requirements you should use FedEx they are faster.  …….the rest of the letter was just b.s. about some holiday.… I LOVE you, I WANT YOU TO BE ME NEAR NOW!!!!! YOURS FOREVER, VALJA

Second request for money - May 22, 2002

Hello my love!!!!!! How are you?????????? My darling love I hope you're doing fine. I miss your kiss's so much. I need your hugs. My love I have a little problem. And I hope you'll help me. It's rather cold outside and it's rather cold inside my flat. And I haven't any person to warm my soul. Our government turned off the hot water and central heating. That's why I couldn't talk because the hot water goes cold very fast. I need a hot bath so much. I'm afraid I'll be so dirty and fat next time when we meet. Could you help me with buying and box for heating and saving hot water. And I will always remember you while I'll having a bath. I know that you made a lot for me but I need such king of man like you. I need someone's care and attention. My darling I need 300$ US for it. You have to help me. It's very difficult without a hot water. I hope you will help me my love.   I love you! I miss you!!! I want you!!


LATER COMMENT FROM A VISITOR IN DEFENCE OF NATASHA BLAZHKO:

Dear Sir/Madam

I refer to the allegations made against Natasha Blahzko from Odessa Ukraine which were published on your website. I believe these allegations to be untrue. I too have had dealings with Natasha and can state from experience that she is an  honest and reputable individual. Natasha assisted my now wife (from Odessa, Ukraine) and I to correspond and to meet. We are both happily married and living in Australia. During the courtship with my wife and the subsequent preparation of her visa, Natasha helped my wife and I to translate each others letters, obtain invitations and facilitated my visits to Ukraine from Australia. She often did this at some expense and inconvenience to herself. Yes, Natasha offered me accommodation in Ukraine, but I was free to choose whether I accepted this or not. David suggests that there was some element of fraud in this and that Natasha's modus operandi was to lure men to Ukraine simply so that they would use her apartment - I can assure you that this is untrue and absurd. From my experience, there was no pressure, nor were any consequences if I chose to book accommodation elsewhere. It is also true that Natasha on behalf of her clients requests money to assist women with their English. In my wife's case, I sent the money thru Western Union directly to my wife. Natasha does not ask for money to be sent to her. It is interesting to note that David in his written comments freely admits that he is uncertain whether Natasha is a 'scammer'. He says (and I quote line 7 para 3 of his letter): " As I was only involved with Valentine I can only speak about how she operated." Accordingly, his comments in relation to Natasha can only be regarded as speculation and must be read in this light. I am unable to comment on the allegations against Valentine Drozdova - it is more than likely that the allegations involving her are true. Natasha helps many women in Odessa but unfortunately, not all her clients are bona fide in their expectations about relationships with foreign men. David's experience is unfortunate and probably the result of him choosing the wrong woman to correspond with and being a little bit naive.

regards

Michael
(name and address supplied)

Later comment from David (the author of the initial comment), 11 Nov. 2004:

1. Natasha Blazhko married a man from Austin Texas who brought her to the U.S. About 3 weeks after arriving in the U.S. she disappeared and was last reported back in Odessa.

2. Valentina Drozdova married a man from Oregon who found out about her involvement in the internet scams and was last reported still living in Odessa.


Tanzilya Gabasova/Valya Podlesnaya 

Hello, I have had a few e-mails from a woman in Kazan Russia, who contacted me through Date.com After just 3 e-mails and 2 pictures, she tells me that she has a friend in the US Embassy that can expedite her Visa, Passport, and Travel Documents, but her friend will only be working there until Oct 17, so I have to send her $1950usd right away through Western Union. After becoming skeptical, I starting looking for ways to check her out, when I came upon this web site and  low and behold, I found a picture of the woman, but she is now using a different name and address. You have her listed as Valya Podlesnaya from Mariupol, Ukraine but she told me she is Tanzilya Gabasova. My home address: Russia, city Kazan, street-Chavaina, house-18, apartment-13. I want that you have translated money through the Western Union in Bank. To me have told that you can transfer (translate) money in any bank of Russia and I can receive them in Kazan. So please update your profile on her to add this new name. Thanx alot, Bill


Valentina Mironenko/Fortune Agency

I am a 48 year old from the USA and I originally contacted this women through Match.com In September 2001 and corresponded through February 2002 and was scammed out of about 3500 US dollars. I wish I had found this site sooner. Rather than repeat the same letters please refer to your archives about Valentina Mironenko and the agency which she scams with called Fortune, the letters are identical along with the photos. Her letters stopped when she developed a blood disorder and could not receive a visa frome the USA and I contacted the Fortune agency when I had not heard from her and they said she was no longer a client of theirs. I informed the agency of the money I lost and they said they would get the monmey back from her if she had scammed me and no one has ever resopnded. If you would like to see the same letters and comments about Valentina she is also listed at Russian-Detectives.com. with the same letters and pictures. And I have warned all other scam lists and agencies about her. She is also listed currently at Frienfinder.com as Mermaid3000 and at the Absolute Agency as Lonelyheart or A2828644.If you need any futher copies of letters or photos please contact me at bob.pelton@gte.net P.S. Like so many I wish I had known about this site earlier.


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