sarettah
03-09-2005, 08:37 AM
http://www.newcriminologist.co.uk/news.asp?id=-787786563
Internet Dating Scams - Short History - from Pimps, Porn and Murder on the Internet
It is estimated that the proceeds of Internet Dating Scams can exceed almost $US2.5 million a year. Elena Petrova, owner of 'Russian Brides Cyber Guide', is the world's foremost authority on Internet dating. Elena effectively polices the industry and her site, and her comprehensive 'blacklist', is the standard to which all others should conform.
History:
The history of dating and marriage scams started ages ago, and ironically, it was not the Russians who invented them. Legendary 'scammer', Jeff Peters, who practised his skills in the matrimonial industry long before the Internet, and his loyal friend, Andy Takers, decided to organise a low risk venture by placing an ad in a newspaper for singles.
"Wealthy nice widow is looking for an honest man who will take care of her and her finances. Age and looks are not important but he must have a heart of gold."
To ensure that the police would not trouble them with their little enterprise, Peters, and the aptly named, Takers, found a real widow. Then they charged every male applicant 50 dollars to have his letter forwarded to the mystery "Widow X". Money came pouring in, expenses were covered, and the devious venture started to make a profit.
Today, it is very easy to set up such a scam. Anyone can do it. All one needs is a web site, a cluster of pictures of attractive women, and post them on the Internet.
Western Agencies:
Western, usually American agencies, usually start by placing ads in local Russian newspapers. The ads promise help in finding a partner abroad. Women send letters and photos to the address and usually they will send applications to a number of different agencies. When an agency has enough clients, they launch a web site and offer their clients' portfolios to men who are seeking a foreign partner.
These agencies also may offer gift delivery, translation and email forwarding services. The average price per address is about $US 10, translation is around $US 9 a page, and email forwarding $US 4 - $US 8. Very seldom are the addresses of the women verified, and almost never are women contacted by the agency on a regular basis. Also, some agencies buy or rent addresses from Eastern European agencies and share in the profits from sales.
When the agency has a database of over 1000 women, it starts offering romantic tours to Russia and the Ukraine. At this stage, the Western agency can afford to have an office in Russia, and the staff invites all female clients to participate in social events, though usually only women from the same city attend as most cannot afford to travel very far.
At these events, the girls, most of whom are gullible and financially insecure, are 'encouraged' to dig even deeper into their purses by the unscrupulous agent. If they do, they are invited again and again.
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Internet Dating Scams - Short History - from Pimps, Porn and Murder on the Internet
It is estimated that the proceeds of Internet Dating Scams can exceed almost $US2.5 million a year. Elena Petrova, owner of 'Russian Brides Cyber Guide', is the world's foremost authority on Internet dating. Elena effectively polices the industry and her site, and her comprehensive 'blacklist', is the standard to which all others should conform.
History:
The history of dating and marriage scams started ages ago, and ironically, it was not the Russians who invented them. Legendary 'scammer', Jeff Peters, who practised his skills in the matrimonial industry long before the Internet, and his loyal friend, Andy Takers, decided to organise a low risk venture by placing an ad in a newspaper for singles.
"Wealthy nice widow is looking for an honest man who will take care of her and her finances. Age and looks are not important but he must have a heart of gold."
To ensure that the police would not trouble them with their little enterprise, Peters, and the aptly named, Takers, found a real widow. Then they charged every male applicant 50 dollars to have his letter forwarded to the mystery "Widow X". Money came pouring in, expenses were covered, and the devious venture started to make a profit.
Today, it is very easy to set up such a scam. Anyone can do it. All one needs is a web site, a cluster of pictures of attractive women, and post them on the Internet.
Western Agencies:
Western, usually American agencies, usually start by placing ads in local Russian newspapers. The ads promise help in finding a partner abroad. Women send letters and photos to the address and usually they will send applications to a number of different agencies. When an agency has enough clients, they launch a web site and offer their clients' portfolios to men who are seeking a foreign partner.
These agencies also may offer gift delivery, translation and email forwarding services. The average price per address is about $US 10, translation is around $US 9 a page, and email forwarding $US 4 - $US 8. Very seldom are the addresses of the women verified, and almost never are women contacted by the agency on a regular basis. Also, some agencies buy or rent addresses from Eastern European agencies and share in the profits from sales.
When the agency has a database of over 1000 women, it starts offering romantic tours to Russia and the Ukraine. At this stage, the Western agency can afford to have an office in Russia, and the staff invites all female clients to participate in social events, though usually only women from the same city attend as most cannot afford to travel very far.
At these events, the girls, most of whom are gullible and financially insecure, are 'encouraged' to dig even deeper into their purses by the unscrupulous agent. If they do, they are invited again and again.
.................................................. ..............