By Katerina Stewart

Hello, gentlemen!

I am a 27 y/o Russian woman engaged to an American. We met each other on an interest group chat, so you can see it wasn't a marriage agency. We grew as best friends, then felt that special emotion when you can't get enough talking for 10 hours a day. A year has passed, I am still waiting for my visa to be approved, my love was divorcing his former wife (that has left him with nothing, speaking of American women).

The reason I am here is that a friend of my husband (let me call him like this), has decided to marry a Russian woman, thinking they all should be as nice as me. My husband is 34 while I am 27 and somehow looking 17 (hope I don't sound like that :)), while this friend in America is 48 and also wants a young woman. He got some ads of Russian women, and I could tell pretty easy it was all scam. Can I share my opinion with you, speaking from a point of view of a Russian woman, and I hope mature enough.

Trust me, there are many hints that you can see but still can't because of difference of cultures. Although scammers know this and try to be careful.

First of all, an average girl can't speak English professionally unless she's a graduate of a Foreign Languages College or has lived abroad for years. Be VERY careful on that. If she does, then she's using a translator, and you will end up with someone unable to understand you on the phone.

Don't trust pitiful stories this easy. If she tells you she's a manager in a small bankrupting company and she speaks professional English, then she's not.

The problem with looks (and sex) can be solved pretty easy. HAVE her take a webcam and get on any program where you can see her.

I have read here that one American man said that a real Russian girl would never ask for money. He was perfectly right. She would rather starve. I and my husband have 10 hours time zone and we absolutely HAD TO talk for many hours a day. I worked as a translator, and as I was about to switch jobs, my husband asked me not to do it. I have a daughter and parents to support, so eventually with all his eloquence (and my tears) we agreed on his help of 400$ every month, because this is what I earned before. I am sure he can prove how tough it was for him to get any information if I was through with the money or not. And I can't explain how many complaints I had to hear from my mother on my "greedy nature" etc. Only now she understands how much we love each other.

Reading these letters I had a strange feeling. If it was me corresponding with those girls, I would never have answered first time. Such empty, stupid, ridiculous letters. They were falling in love with you in a heartbeat... I hope you are looking for a life partner, not a brainless doll. What about Russian charm, faithfulness?

I could tell much more here, but I would save your time. I went through many letters written to my husband's friend saying "this girl is real", "this one is not", "ask her this question", "let her prove this". It's always nice to trust, but falling down is painful.