Don’t Reply to Suspicious Date Request

This person sounds like a great catch—“kind, sociable and fluffy”—what more could you want? The only problem is, the recipient of this e-mail is not and has never been a member of a “site of acquaintances” (meaning an online dating site, presumably). Other red flags are the .ru reply address, indicating Russian origin, and poor grammar. Taken all together, these signals add up to something suspicious.

If you get an e-mail like this one out of the blue, don’t reply, and definitely don’t send money. For more information about dating scams, see the FTC’s guide.

From: “Olga” <[email protected]>

To: […]

Sent: Monday, February 11, 2013 12:48:15 PM

Subject: I wait for the answer

You have drawn my attention to a site of acquaintances. I hope, as I shall like you. How I to you in a photo? The truth – pretty? 🙂 But in a life I more nice!!!

And as I cheerful, kind, sociable and fluffy! I like to go in for sports, read books, to listen to music. I love winter and summer. I do not love spring and slush.

If I have interested you, with pleasure I shall tell about myself more in the following letter.

I wait for the answer on [email protected]