Russia can be any traveler’s dream. A country with great culture, history, beautiful landscapes and people. However, it is also known for being a place where anything can be accomplished for the right price. Experienced hackers, scammers and fraudsters are all around, and as a result of widespread fraud, especially romance related, and many foreigners have suffered serious financial and legal consequences.

“Forging documentation is a common practice in Russia,” says Nicholas Donkova, Director of Private Detectives at Russia PI.  Conditions like poverty and the desire for social escalation take many Russians to the edge. The hope to get rich quick and effortlessly is corrupting people, especially when considering that so many Russian scammers have succeeded for years.

Most scammers use fake passports, visas and ID’s not to get out of the country, but to make a living in Russia at the expense of decent people that are just looking for love, or that are willing to help someone else who they think is going through hardship.

When people meet online on dating websites and apps, it is hard to tell who is real and who is not. In this scenario, having documents that backup a fake identity is important. According to private investigators in Moscow, foreigners feel comfortable and safer after their online romantic partner has sent them a passport or visa copy. It feels safer because it looks like a confirmation of the person’s intention to go forward in a relationship, and to share who they really are. The problem is it not transparency, but just a trick to catch their victims.

Russian online criminals forge digital or scanned copies of ID’s and passports on a daily basis, and they accomplish such a good job that the fraud is difficult to uncover. This is why hiring a background check investigation in Russia is so important.

Local private investigators on the ground in Moscow or Saint Petersburg can verify the documents you have received as proof of good will and honesty. Identification document copies can be verified directly at the issuing agency. This kind of documents also provide additional information for investigators to check, like birth and marriage records.

Romance scammers can go a long way to succeed in their goals, so do not be fooled by a seemingly legitimate document. The best is always to have a reputable Russian investigator obtain reliable evidence directly from the government offices in Russia.

Keep in mind that no online relationship is safe without evidence. Ask for as much information as you can, share as little as possible about yourself and loved ones, and always hire a professional to help you verify the facts. Even without documentation, investigators can conduct a dating background check with the full name and date of birth.

If you’re in a personal or business relationship with someone in Russia, and that person or company has sent you copies of documentation, speak to a reputable investigation company with highly trained investigators on the ground, like Russia PI™.

C. Wright
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