How to spot online scams? Am I too paranoid?

[CalifSur]

I've read through several threads regarding this topic. So thanks to the prior posters.

In addition to the traditional paid sites tailored to Colombia (like CC), I've noticed a certain U.S.-based "free" interenet dating site that has SOME profiles of Colombian women.  I've used this free site (P.O.F.) here in the U.S. for many dates in the past and NEVER had any problems for dating U.S.-based women.

HOWEVER, I've noticed a few profiles of Colombian women that just make me wonder, IF POSSIBLY, there could be some scammers out there trying to lure some American men into their trap.  I based this on the following:

1. I noticed a FEW profiles with very similar wording but different girls.
2. A few beautiful, young girls with advanced degrees but limited English.

I realize this is not the strongest evidence but I just wonder....

For example on point 2 above, I noticed this very pretty 25 yr old girl claiming she is an "economist" with a Master's degree. Her profile is linked here
http://www.plentyoffish.com/member20435476.htm

If the link is no good trust me that she is pretty and a bit scantily clad. Her profile reads as follows:

"I like going out with friends, watchign movies, traveling and i think that i am a cute girl , i dont know what else to say, i am looking for a good guy that want me and appreciate who i am, i would love to find a person with a different culture, i love all american culture, and i would like to visit it someday. This is a new experience for me because, first: i dont speak english so well, and second: i´ve never been in a dating web site like this, but i think it´s cool to know people from differents cultures and get friends or a relationship by this way "

I realize there are plenty of smart, beautiful girls in the world. And I am not sure the term economist in Colombia infers the same meaning as it does in the USA (usually a doctorate degree is required in the USA).  Just looks fake to me.  Am I paranoid?

Any thoughts?  Thanks.

[Jeff S]

Scammers? Trying to find rich Americans to send the money? Say it isn't so....  

Yes - you are being too paranoid. All you need to know is what a trap looks like to not fall into it. Your nuts aren't going to fall off if you chat with her - just don't send her money - pretty simple really. If she is a scammer you'll find out soon enough. Let me teach you a Spanish word very effective against scammers: NO!

Online translators tend to translate bookkeeper into economist - this is especially true with Russia, so my guess is that she's a bookkeeper, but it seems odd to see that translated from Spanish. My guess is that she saw it on a Russian site and thought it sounded good - so I'd be somewhat wary.

[Zon]

The last woman I REALLY liked was Kristina from Omsk, Russia.  It started out slow, but the connection was story book. After 30 days of correspondence, my BS meter went off the charts, and I insisted on live chat.  Nada.  Then, I told her I realized that I was really talking to the fat, bald guy in the photos who she said was her father.

Russia is FULL of online scams.  I would not trust 1 out of 100.    ColombianCupid is full of another type of scammer ... (there are many different kinds of prostitutes) but they all boil down to the same thing.

If she likes you too much, too fast, with out any good reason, there you go!

I do better in person.  I think most men do.  Online is a very very weak substitute

[ignorante]

For example on point 2 above, I noticed this very pretty 25 yr old girl claiming she is an "economist" with a Master's degree. Her profile is linked here
http://www.plentyoffish.com/member20435476.htm

If the link is no good trust me that she is pretty and a bit scantily clad. Her profile reads as follows:

  She is on the AFA or loveme sites, too, also from Cartagena, the same age, fewer pictures.

[mudd]

you REALLY REALLY have to be careful when meeting any girl on line, either in Colombia, Russia, Ukraine, Philippines, Dominican republic, any country.  any time i was going to travel to a foreign country, i would find somebody who knew somebody in that city that could verify any girl i was serious in meeting. i was amazed how many girls were so serious in meeting in person and seemed so nice, but soon as i mentioned that i had a friend in their city who wanted to meet them in person, to verify they were who they said they were, they disappeared or made excuses not to meet.

[InnocentVixen]

If she likes you too much, too fast, with out any good reason, there you go!

braziliangirl and I talked about this some time ago, about how hard it is not to get excited over someone that sounds like a good man, is attractive and seems to be seriously interested in meeting, just keep in mind that latinas are not shy to express their feelings and even if you don't feel like a movie star, you might sound like the man she has been looking for.

I agree online is not so great, if you are looking for a colombiana you might as well go, there seem to be plenty of eager attractive ladies to chose from whether you use the agency route or not.

but soon as i mentioned that i had a friend in their city who wanted to meet them in person, to verify they were who they said they were, they disappeared or made excuses not to meet.

interesting approach, might be a bit awkward but I would do it, if you don't have a friend in the city the next best thing would be video chat and phone calls without previous notice.

[ignorante]

soon as i mentioned that i had a friend in their city who wanted to meet them in person, to verify they were who they said they were, they disappeared or made excuses not to meet.

  If some Colombian woman wanted to send some unknown person over to verify I am real, I might start making excuses, too . . .  That would be way too weird.

[Researcher]

         At this point I wouldn't take anyone too seriously until I met them in person.The internet is a great way to meet someone but a lousy way to get to know them,IMHO.

  Researcher

[whitey]

Yes - you are being too paranoid. All you need to know is what a trap looks like to not fall into it. Your nuts aren't going to fall off if you chat with her - just don't send her money - pretty simple really. If she is a scammer you'll find out soon enough. Let me teach you a Spanish word very effective against scammers: NO!

I always love reading your posts, Jeff.  You have a great economy of words ... every sentence is chock full o' wisdom!

[piglett]

Scammers? Trying to find rich Americans to send the money? Say it isn't so....  

PRO pics in the profile can mean PRO dater/scammer

most times regular chicks have regular pics IMHO


pig

[CalifSur]

PRO pics in the profile can mean PRO dater/scammer

most times regular chicks have regular pics IMHO


pig

Piglett: Yes...I agree. Professional pics raise a red flag. Plus, "her" reply to me was pretty fast, did not give "her" name, and her last login time was very recent.  It's late on the west coast in the USA.....doesn't this "girl" need to sleep and go to her job as an economist (or bookeeper). 

[CalifSur]

Thanks to everyone who replied!  It's really great having all the HELP on this site!  I was the blind leading the blind until about a week or so ago.

[CalifSur]

Scammers? Trying to find rich Americans to send the money? Say it isn't so....  

Yes - you are being too paranoid. All you need to know is what a trap looks like to not fall into it. Your nuts aren't going to fall off if you chat with her - just don't send her money - pretty simple really. If she is a scammer you'll find out soon enough. Let me teach you a Spanish word very effective against scammers: NO!

Online translators tend to translate bookkeeper into economist - this is especially true with Russia, so my guess is that she's a bookkeeper, but it seems odd to see that translated from Spanish. My guess is that she saw it on a Russian site and thought it sounded good - so I'd be somewhat wary.

Jeff: Thanks for the info.  You are right: NO is a GREAT universal word.  I concede my paranoia....I worry these scammers are looking to get my personal info or passwords or send me a virus.  I will give NO personal info but a virus is possible.

[whitey]

If the link is no good trust me that she is pretty and a bit scantily clad. 

IMO, this is a great way to weed out potential scammers or women that wouldn't make good wife material.  I had a quick look at her profile, and would exclude her based on the pictures she chose to show of herself.  A decent, serious woman would want to look good, but wouldn't be scantily clad and showing off too much cleavage.

I realize there are plenty of smart, beautiful girls in the world. And I am not sure the term economist in Colombia infers the same meaning as it does in the USA (usually a doctorate degree is required in the USA).  Just looks fake to me.  Am I paranoid?

It's possible at that age to have a masters in Colombia ... it could be real ... or maybe a translation problem. 

A friend of my wife's that works at the bank with her is 25, has 2 degrees (none of which are masters), danced professionally when she was younger, and is super hot.  She was just promoted to a regional management job in a smaller city.

If you saw a picture of her Hallowe'en costume this year, it would curl your toes.  It's on her Facebook, but you'd never see her post that kind of picture on an online dating profile. 

[Ray]

I worry these scammers are looking to get my personal info or passwords or send me a virus.  I will give NO personal info but a virus is possible.

Now that’s interesting.

You are the first one that I can think of on this forum who was concerned about getting a virus from a girl online. Maybe Herpes or AIDS, but not a computer virus…   

Ray

[jm21-2]

Too bad you're not interested in Chinese girls. If you get on QQ with an English name and saying you're from the US you will get a lot of girls who want to practice English randomly messaging you. Skype to some extent as well. All normal girls as far as I could tell and never had a scammer. I guess my first Chinese GF kind of scammed me out of some money but I think that was just her being spoiled and us having problems. Never asked for anything before meeting and we talked for several  months constantly.

[Alabamaboy!]

I think you can see a lot in the pictures if you really have your head screwed on straight. If the girl is loaded with Bling-Bling while wearing a bikini in high heels, when she is out she always has a beer in her hand and surrounded by different guys, has a bunch of pics of her in cars or partying in cities where she does not live....then tries to tell you about how difficult her life is, you should scratch her off the list.

I think most of the guys who have met good women in Colombia have done so with the more modest, easy going gals. The attention whores, high maintenance girls are best left to the Colombian guys. Because in the end, unless you are a young Brad Pitt, you are not going to be able to compete well with her gang of party boys, dance partners, school mates, and sugar daddy types that will be prowling around her in Colombia 24/7.

I think some lines that you see frequently in the profiles that should set off the alarms in your mind are: "I like to go out and party every weekend" Because I think those party girls are either going to want to continue that lifestyle in the US or look for someone else to do it with. And most of us here seem to be more working class and not so much for the non-stop party scene. Unfortunately that is one thing I must admit, that in general, the Colombian guys have us beat as party boys....at least with dealing with Colombian women.