Probably the most outrageous thing for a victim after being deceived by a Russian scammer is to think that the criminal is still out there, enjoying life while still deceiving others. And unfortunately, this is all too common and true.  Criminals simply move from one victim to the next, often without even being reported or investigated.  The anonymity of the internet protects the criminal.

Online Russian criminals are sometimes characterized by being resourceful hackers, savvy criminals, working in networks to protect themselves. The crime ring is composed by many different people who have specific tasks. Some of them are writers and are dedicated to writing the scripts used for chatting with the victims. Others are just the face, usually models of adult sex content sites or web cams. There are people who forge documents, technical people who take care of erasing any tracks that can lead back to them, hackers who access the victims’ computers, and so on.

According to Russian private investigators, the main reason why these criminals still get away with their fraud is because people still refuse to get professional help. The most effective way to end their dark business is to stop the money flow. No business can survive without profits, and if people knew they were communicating with a criminal there is no chance they would be sending funds.

How to stop the money flow?

By uncovering the romance scam or fraud before any funds are sent or stolen is critical. Prevention is the key that Russia PI™ has been promoting for years. When a private investigator conducts a background check investigation in Moscow and uncovers a fraud, not only is this saving the person who hired the investigation. It is also helping the greater good. One victim less means losses for the criminal organization. If more people are willing to invest in a professional investigation in the early stages of a relationship – not after sending money or having their identity or money stolen – then the criminals will be left out of their business.  If the business is left profitable, it attracts fewer players.

Can the authorities help?

Authorities cannot help when people do not report the crime. Too many victims remain silent about their situation because they feel embarrassed to tell others. However, keeping the crime unreported is like it never happened. Nobody will be able to stop the criminals if victims do not let the police know about the situation.   The police in different countries have channels to report the fraud. For instance, the U.S. Internet Crime Complaint Center, which is part of the FBI, has a platform available for people to report the crime. Other countries like the U.K. and Australia have their own reporting agencies.

Reporting fraud and scams to your Embassy or consulate in Moscow is also important, and when doing so, victims can ask for assistance in reporting to local law enforcement in Russia.

Things to keep in mind

The most effective way to stop Russian romance criminals is to avoid it in the first place.  Prevention is the key!  Be skeptical and hire a professional investigator to verify the facts, and avoid being a victim.  Do you due diligence.  Know the risk and take the appropriate steps.  A skilled investigators in Russia can help and get the answers you need, so you can make an informed decision and avoid Russian fraud.  If you’ve met someone from Russia, if you’re communicating with a company or individual in Russia, contact us today for a free quote.  We have highly trained investigators on the ground in Russia, we speak the language and we have access to local and government records.

Get a free quote today for a background check investigation, due diligence or surveillance.

C. Wright
© 2018 Russia PI™

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