Fiancee visa scam - Valentina Drozdova
(Odessa,Ukraine)
Earlier this year I was the victim of a
fiancee visa scam which was perpetrated by two women in Odessa,
Ukraine, Valentina Drozdova and Natasha Blazhko. In the months since I uncovered the scheme, I
have discovered that it was on-going since 2000 and there were many other men
involved. Criminal fraud charges are in the process of being filed and at least two of the other victims will be sending in their
stories as well Because we are still building our case, I have left out the details
about my contacts with these other men in my description of my relationship with
these women so as not to let them know exactly how much we do know about
the scam at this time. We are hoping that by posting this maybe some other
men who had been involved with them will come forward and provide more
damaging evidence against them. After we have made our case, we will provide
you will all of the additional details. The following documents are attached which I
hope you will post on your blacklist page. A letter describing my relationship.
How we met etc.. along with copies of her requests for money Pictures of
Natasha and Valentina
Coincidently, about a week ago I received a letter from a woman in Russia. I just
found a brief mention of her on your recent updates. She is Olga in Ulanovsk.
Having gone through all of this and having read your web page about common
scams I was immediately suspicious. I wrote back and sure enough it followed
the scheme almost to the letter and by the 6th email she was requesting $350.00
for a tourist visa. So things don't get confused I will send the details - her name,
pics and letters to you separately. Also, just a small suggestion about the site.
When I first received her email I checked your blacklist page and didn't see her
but I didn't know there were update pages. Maybe you could put a link on bottom
of the blacklist page to the page that has the updates listed because it's kind of
buried in the site. Thanks for your help. You have a great site and are providing a
great service! Sincerely, David G.
My name is David and I am a single white American male, aged 49,
self-employed and living in Houston, Texas. Two women in Odessa, Ukraine -
Valentine Drozdova and Natasha Blazhko have since 2000 been working an
elaborate visa scam apparently on dozens of men. Briefly this is how it worked.
They posted their pictures on Match.com Corresponded with men and encouraged them to come visit them. Then they would tell them to stay at an
apartment owned by Natasha's mother charging whatever rent they thought the
market would bear. This varied from 60$/day to $120/ day and they would split
the proceeds. As I was only involved with Valentine I can only speak about how
she operated. She would correspond with a guy and encourage him to visit her in
Odessa. When he visited, she would stay with him in the apartment and have sex
with him. Towards the end of the visit she and Natasha would talk about making a
fiancee visa and if he agreed then Valentine would bring him to meet her mother
and ask permission to marry. Then after he returned to the states the requests for
money would begin.
Here is the complete story -
I began corresponding with Valentina back around September of 2001. It was
really accidental. I just randomly selected the Ukraine on match.com one evening
when I didn't see anyone new on the local profiles. I thought it would be fun to see
what women in other countries write in their profiles. I had never even heard about
"Russian Brides" syndrome. When I came to her profile, I thought she was really
pretty so I sent her a note saying she was the most beautiful woman I had ever
seen. I never expected her to even answer. I just figured it would make her day,
and she would smile and delete it since I was in Houston and she was in
Odessa. About 2 weeks later I got a long email from her. I didn't even remember
who she was and had to look up her profile. After a few months of emails I
decided that it would be fun to go to Odessa and meet her in person. I hadn't
taken a vacation in several years and I figured it would be a great adventure. I
scheduled my trip for the week of Valentines Day and her birthday figuring that
would be at least two really romantic evenings together. She was very excited
about it and made arrangements for an apartment for me to rent while I was there.
It turns out that this apartment belonged to her friend Natasha's mother and the
three of them were splitting the proceeds from the rent. When I arrived in Odessa,
Valentina and Natasha met me at the airport. Natasha was pretty fluent in
English and did most of the translating for us while I was there. Valentina spoke
no English - ( I have since found out that Valentina is very fluent in English but
pretended to not speak any.) and I spoke about 100 words of Russian. Anyway it
was a magical two weeks, like a fairy tale. .Her daughter Julia joined us at the
apartment on weekends and during the week she stayed at Valentina's flat with
Valentina's mother. A few days before I was going to leave, Natasha and
Valentina and I had dinner together and Natasha asked me if I wanted to do a
fiance visa. This came as a big surprise to me. After all I had only known this
woman for 10 days but it had been such a great 2 weeks that I figured sure, at
least I can lock her into and exclusive relationship, and then visit a few more
times and be sure it was all real. I was even taken back to her mother to ask her
permission to marry Valentina. Up to this time she never asked me for money
and even when I was there she never asked me to buy her anything. I just paid for
all of our cabs and meals and the concerts we went to. So I went back to the
states "engaged." Now I was aware of the visa scams and was skeptical about all
this from the start but having her daughter stay with us and having me meet her
mother sort of threw me and I was fairly certain that things were legitimate.
We kept writing and I made plans to go out either mid-May or at the beginning of
June. She nixed mid-May saying that Julia was having exams and she needed to
help with that, so I set it for June 1 till June 20th. Now about 2 months before the
trip she emailed me and asked me for help to pay for her passport which was
$100.00 and money for English lessons which were $120 per month. Since I was
the one who encouraged her to do this (take English lessons) I didn't feel it was
unreasonable so I sent her around $600 to cover a few months of lessons and the
passport. Then a few weeks before my departure date she emailed me again and
asked me if I would buy her a hot water heater, saying that the government had
cut off the hot water. I had read about that on-line so I figured since I was going to
be staying in her flat and it was still cold there hot water would be nice. So I sent
her $400.00 for that. The money was sent via Western Union. Copies of her
emails requesting the money are shown and the end of this message.
OK - so I fly to Odessa and stay with her for 3 weeks in June. About a week of
this was in Fyadorovkov, the village where her mom lives and where she grew up.
I thought it would be great seeing where she came from. I kept working on my
Russian during the 4 months between the two visits and had about 500 words by
the time I made the second trip, so I was able to talk with her a lot more and get
a better read on what type of person she was. After I got to Odessa, almost from
day one she talked a lot about money. Everything was "these are Italian shoes
$300.00," "this is a French suit - $700.00." And kept making comments about
how she was a "doroga" woman (expensive woman) and that perhaps I should
find one who was "ni doroga" not expensive. This raised a flag for me because
she was supposedly earning about $200/month and it seemed unlikely that she
was able to afford all this stuff on her own. Even on the first day I was there, she
asked me to buy her a new bed and a new washing machine. I told her I didn't
see the point since she was going to be moving to the states with me in a few
months. Finally I got fed up with it and I called Natasha and we all sat down and
talked about it. . I told her I hadn't come to Odessa to buy a wife. That since I left
in February she had emailed me over and over telling me how much she loved me
and how she couldn't wait to see me again. Repeatedly encouraging me to come
back as quickly as possible. Two nights before I left we got together with Natasha
again and once again had the conversation about money. So I flew back
to the States with a lot of doubts and second thoughts about her and her
apparent fixation with labels (Italian, French) money. I left her documents for the fiancée
visa with her as a few things were still missing and told her to fed-ex them to me
when everything was complete. I decided that I would mull things over some more
and perhaps make at least one more trip before I brought them to the states. The
day after I got back a friend of hers here in the states called me and asked me
how I was. I told her about the trip and she told me to be careful. That Valentina
lies and that Valentina had told her she was marrying a millionaire. I told her that
we had discussed money and that it didn't seem to be a problem. I thought she
was just exaggerating about me but later I realized that she had already made
arrangements to marry before I got there. I didn't hear anything from her after I got
back. I sent her several emails and after about 2 weeks had passed, I finally
emailed Natasha to see if there was any problem. She emailed me back and said
no that she was in the village. So I figured she just went back out to get the copy
of her birth certificate that she had applied for when we were there and was just
hanging at her moms. Then Sunday I got an email from the friend of hers here in
the States. She asked me how I was and I said busy and that I was looking
forward to hearing from Valentina when she got back from the village. She
emailed me back an hour later and said David I have to tell you, Valentina got
married. So then her comment about the millionaire she had made when I first
came back made sense. I realized that she must have had this planned before I
made my trip and that my feeling about only being there to spend money on her
while I was there was correct. Well, I was furious. Evidently I flew out of Odessa
on June 20th and he flew in on June 21st. I wasn't so upset about losing her
because as I've said I had a lot of doubts about her but I didn't like being played
like that and I had still made an honest commitment to her and I expected the
same. I also felt that most likely the guy she had married was only chosen
because he had the deepest pockets and was probably clueless about her
"character." I felt that I had a moral obligation to let him know whom he was
involved with so he could make a better choice. So I hired a private detective in
Odessa to go to the marriage license agency and get his name and address for
me. I have since learned from talking with other friends of hers that this had been
going on since 2000 and there have been a whole string other men providing a
very comfortable income.
Valentine and Natasha's Details:
Valentine Drozdova
Dnepropetrovsky Road 109, #4
Odessa, Ukraine 65017
pupchik@hotmail.com
Natasha Blahzko
Lustdorfskaya Road 119 , #3
Odessa, Ukraine 65088
tata@farlep.net
First request for money - March 15, 2002
My Dear David,
I hope you are fine. I miss you… I would like to ask to help me with money now,
because it will be difficult for me to pay for my passport, English lessons and
Juliya. Nobody helps me now, I hope just you. I am really glad that you met with
immigration lawyer. When you send me a list of requirements you should use
FedEx they are faster. …….the rest of the letter was just b.s. about some
holiday.… I LOVE you, I WANT YOU TO BE ME NEAR NOW!!!!! YOURS FOREVER,
VALJA
Second request for money - May 22, 2002
Hello my love!!!!!! How are you??????????
My darling love I hope you're doing fine. I miss your kiss's so much. I need your hugs. My love I have a little problem.
And I hope you'll help me. It's rather cold outside and it's rather cold inside my
flat. And I haven't any person to warm my soul. Our government turned off the hot
water and central heating. That's why I couldn't talk because the hot water goes
cold very fast. I need a hot bath so much. I'm afraid I'll be so dirty and fat next
time when we meet. Could you help me with buying and box for heating and
saving hot water. And I will always remember you while I'll having a bath. I know
that you made a lot for me but I need such king of man like you. I need
someone's care and attention. My darling I need 300$ US for it. You have to help
me. It's very difficult without a hot water. I hope you will help me my love.
I love you! I miss you!!! I want you!!
  
LATER COMMENT FROM A VISITOR IN DEFENCE
OF NATASHA BLAZHKO:
Dear Sir/Madam
I refer to the allegations made against Natasha Blahzko from Odessa
Ukraine which were published on your website. I believe these
allegations to be untrue. I too have had dealings with Natasha and can
state from experience that she is an honest and reputable
individual. Natasha assisted my now wife (from Odessa, Ukraine) and I
to correspond and to meet. We are both happily married and living in
Australia. During the courtship with my wife and the subsequent
preparation of her visa, Natasha helped my wife and I to translate
each others letters, obtain invitations and facilitated my visits to
Ukraine from Australia. She often did this at some expense and
inconvenience to herself. Yes, Natasha offered me accommodation in
Ukraine, but I was free to choose whether I accepted this or not.
David suggests that there was some element of fraud in this
and that Natasha's modus operandi was to lure men to Ukraine simply so
that they would use her apartment - I can assure you that this is
untrue and absurd. From my experience, there was no pressure, nor were
any consequences if I chose to book accommodation elsewhere. It is
also true that Natasha on behalf of her clients requests money to
assist women with their English. In my wife's case, I sent the money
thru Western Union directly to my wife. Natasha does not ask for money
to be sent to her. It is interesting to note that David in his
written comments freely admits that he is uncertain whether Natasha is
a 'scammer'. He says (and I quote line 7 para 3 of his letter): "
As I was only involved with Valentine I can only speak about how she
operated." Accordingly, his comments in relation to Natasha can
only be regarded as speculation and must be read in this light. I am
unable to comment on the allegations against Valentine Drozdova - it
is more than likely that the allegations involving her are true.
Natasha helps many women in Odessa but unfortunately, not all her
clients are bona fide in their expectations about relationships with
foreign men. David's experience is unfortunate and probably the result
of him choosing the wrong woman to correspond with and being a little
bit naive.
regards
Michael
(name and address supplied)
Later comment from David (the author
of the initial comment), 11 Nov. 2004:
1. Natasha Blazhko married a man from Austin Texas who brought her to the
U.S. About 3 weeks after arriving in the U.S. she disappeared and was last
reported back in Odessa.
2. Valentina Drozdova married a man from Oregon who found out about her
involvement in the internet scams and was last reported still living in Odessa.
Tanzilya
Gabasova/Valya Podlesnaya
Hello, I have had a few e-mails from a woman in Kazan Russia, who contacted
me through Date.com After just 3 e-mails and 2 pictures, she tells me that she
has a friend in the US Embassy that can expedite her Visa, Passport, and Travel
Documents, but her friend will only be working there until Oct 17, so I have to
send her $1950usd right away through Western Union. After becoming skeptical,
I starting looking for ways to check her out, when I came upon this web site and
low and behold, I found a picture of the woman, but she is now using a different
name and address. You have her listed as Valya Podlesnaya from Mariupol,
Ukraine but she told me she is Tanzilya Gabasova. My home address: Russia,
city Kazan, street-Chavaina, house-18, apartment-13. I want that you have
translated money through the Western Union in Bank. To me have told that you
can transfer (translate) money in any bank of Russia and I can receive them in
Kazan. So please update your profile on her to add this new name. Thanx alot,
Bill
Valentina
Mironenko/Fortune Agency
I am a 48 year old from the USA and I originally contacted this women through
Match.com In September 2001 and corresponded through February 2002 and
was scammed out of about 3500 US dollars. I wish I had found this site sooner.
Rather than repeat the same letters please refer to your archives about Valentina
Mironenko and the agency which she scams with called Fortune, the letters are
identical along with the photos. Her letters stopped when she developed a blood
disorder and could not receive a visa frome the USA and I contacted the Fortune
agency when I had not heard from her and they said she was no longer a client of
theirs. I informed the agency of the money I lost and they said they would get the
monmey back from her if she had scammed me and no one has ever resopnded.
If you would like to see the same letters and comments about Valentina she is
also listed at Russian-Detectives.com. with the same letters and pictures. And I
have warned all other scam lists and agencies about her. She is also listed
currently at Frienfinder.com as Mermaid3000 and at the Absolute Agency as
Lonelyheart or A2828644.If you need any futher copies of letters or photos please
contact me at bob.pelton@gte.net P.S. Like so many I wish I had known about
this site earlier.
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