So you met someone online from Russia and you are eager to meet face to face for the first time… Private investigators in Russia are advising people in this situation to proceed with caution! Do not let the excitement put you at risk.  Experienced investigators say it’s better to have a client be cautious and request a professional background check investigation rather than travel all the way to Russia, and find out their online contact is a fraud, and possibly be a risk for serious crime.

Law enforcement agencies receive reports every day of citizens who have been victims of fraud by people they met online.  The U.S. embassy in Moscow has a permanent alert on their website regarding this situation.  Don’t think it can happen to you?  Think again.  But, there are serious risks as well.  Meeting a criminal or letting a criminal know where you will be traveling in Russia can put you in harm’s way.  Don’t be a statistic, and don’t let these devastating events happen to you.

If you are planning on traveling to Russia to meet someone you’ve never met, whether it is for business or romance, be safe and speak to a professional investigator to lower your risk.

Many people, especially men from developed countries, find themselves victim of love scams, extortion and blackmail, and other more serious crimes due to a relationship they built over the internet with whom they thought was a Russian lady. “Some victims have been in this online relationship for so long, that the last thing that comes to their mind is that it could all be a complete hoax”, says Nicholas Donkova, Director of Private Detectives at Russia PI. Many victims are in shock when they find out that everything they have been told in the last months or even years is a big lie.

Investigators from the Russia PI team recommend the following:

1. Be aware that Russia is a high risk country. No matter how much time you have been in contact with someone or how convincing their story is, fraud can happen to you. Love fraud in Russia is handled by mafia rings, so not only you could end up being extremely disappointed, but you could also put your life at risk. Consider that fraud is a possibility, and get informed. Know the risk is real and criminals conducting the scams are experienced con artists.
2. Verify the identity and background. Before even thinking about buying a ticket, make sure the person you have been talking to online is really who she claims to be.  A background check conducted by local investigators in Moscow, St. Petersburg or the city of origin will provide you with the basic information everyone needs to know before taking a big step. Many foreigners base their relationships on what the person has mentioned about themselves: what their name is, where they live, if they have any children, where they work, etc. It is sad to see people who have been deceived quite from the beginning of a “relationship”, and it´s worse to find out this has been going on for months or even years. So the first question anyone in this situation should ask himself is: is this person telling the truth about their life? Facts cannot be denied or changed. You either work or not at a certain place, you do live at a certain address or you don´t. Companies keep records of the people who work there, schools  and landlords do it also. Trained investigators can verify birth records, marriage and criminal records, business registration, address and identity, court records, passport and documents, education and employment, and more.   If after investigating the basics you find out that some of the things do not match, then it would be better to cancel or to proceed with extra caution.
3. Be prepared for emergencies. Let the people you care for (family and friends at home) know about your plans. Where exactly are you staying at, how many days will you be there, give them phone numbers and ways to contact you. It is also important to get informed about the emergency protocols in Russia: where to call for the police, ambulance, your country´s embassy, etc. For instance, the U.S. Department of State has some general recommendations that you should check before leaving anywhere. Research options of receiving money from abroad in case you´re robbed.  Have specific itineraries and copies of all your documents –especially passport. It might sound a little paranoid, but after all, you are traveling thousands of miles to meet a stranger. What could be crazier than that? You do not know for sure who is the person you might be meeting, so having clear emergency plans is useful.

4. Never send money or personal data. Whether it’s business or pleasure, romance or personal, don’t send money to anyone you’ve never met, especially in Russia.  Protect your personal and sensitive data, and don’t hand over this important information to someone you’ve never met in person.  Doing so is a fast track to have your identity stolen or company secrets lost.  Or, maybe you will become a victim of blackmail or have your online accounts drained.  Russian internet criminals are savvy and effective.  Verify BEFORE your trip with a professional background check investigation or comprehensive due diligence to mitigate your risk.

Many victims of scam return to their countries with a broken heart, but the truth is things can get a lot worse than that. Having a bad experience in a country that you don´t know and where you do not speak the language could result in tragedy. Be cautious, and speak to an expert today.

C. Wright
© 2015 Russia PI™

© Copyright 2015 Russia PI.  All Rights Reserved.  This content is the property of Russia PI, LLC and is protected by United States of America and international copyright laws.