The prospect of traveling to another country to date relationally minded foreign women is an exciting one for many men. But amidst the romance, beauty, and adventure there is a real possibility of getting scammed.

• Are International Dating Sites Legitimate Free

How to Avoid International Dating Scams? To avoid dating scams, you need to be aware of the warning signs, evaluate your online presence, approach online relationships slowly, set up a phone or video call early, and don’t send compromising pictures. Is There Any Free International Dating Sites for Marriage? There are some free international. International dating websites are perceived to be unreliable and often scams which are frequently filled up with bots that clearly do not do a good job at simulating a human. Dream-Singles has an Anti-Scam Protection Policy on their website which states that keeping the users protected is a priority. All the above-mentioned international dating sites are legit. You can entrust these matchmakers to find you a compatible partner. If you don’t see distance as an obstacle, then you are going to meet a big number of beautiful international females or handsome international males. There are literally thousands of dating agencies on the web, some of them are downright shady. Below is a list of International Dating Sites you might want to take a look at; they are the best known, biggest and are generally considered to be the most legit of the bunch. Romance scams reached a record $304 million in losses reported to the FTC in 2020. That’s up about 50% from 2019. Romance scammers create fake profiles on dating sites and apps, or contact their targets through popular social media sites like Instagram, Facebook, or Google Hangouts.

Personally I think that by and large these scams are predictable, once you know what to look for. The purpose of this post is to give you exactly that: a list of red flag warnings you can use to date safely on the international scene.

I divided the red flags into two categories: one for when you're communicating online, and one for when you're dating women in a foreign country. Hope this post helps!

1) Unsolicited emails or messages that don't make sense

Ever signed up for a dating site and no sooner than you create an account your inbox gets flooded with messages of love and interest? 9 times out of 10 you may not even have your profile picture or information up. This is definitely a red flag.

Think about it. What honest woman is going to sit at her computer for hours and pounce on every new blank profile she sees? I don't even think that's humanly possible. Probably what you are dealing with is a bot: a program or app that scammers use to automatically message dating profiles in hopes to hook the user and start a conversation.

Bots aren't just a problem on international dating sites, they also show up on more mainstream sites as well. I still even get spammy messages on my Facebook every once and a while.

Just because you get hit by a bot email doesn't necessarily mean the site your on is bad. However it does probably mean that the profile is bogus and you shouldn't give them the time of day ( I don't care how pretty the girl looks in the profile picture).

A good dating site will do its best to prevent and suppress dating bots. A bad one won't do anything.

Ever get a message that says something like 'I've missed you so much'; only you've never seen or messaged the woman who sent it? Sometimes this red flag isn't as obvious, and whoever you're corresponding with either a) doesn't answer obvious questions you've asked in your messages, or b) Answers questions you didn't ask.

If you're talking to a woman who uses English as a second language you're likely to see some hiccups in communication from time to time, but if they are consistent and painfully obvious you're probably talking to a bot or a designated letter writer using a template.

A Closer Look:

Scott from Westernwomensuck.com made a bogus profile on an international dating site and was messaged by bots:

'I logged in using the most outrageous information that I could think of:

Height: 5′ 4″ (163) with a weight of 326 lbs (148 kilos)
Age: 73
I even put that I had a kid born in 1967
I then put down hobbies as group sex and collecting beer cans.
I wrote that I am in a wheelchair and that I have AIDS.
In the “about myself” box I wrote that I had murdered my first wife and I was just released from 30 years in prison.
CERTAINLY, I WON’T GET A SINGLE EMAIL!
Right?
The pop ups started almost immediately.

Two women popped right up and said:
“Are you busy? Let’s speak,” and another said, “Hi honey Scott, I miss you so much.”
Interesting, we haven’t met before…'

3) Woman only wants to communicate on the dating site

If you're writing or chatting with a woman and she insists on only communicating through the dating site, you probably have a PPL scam on your hands. You shouldn't be using a PPL site in the first place (remember our 4 Commandments of international dating?).

But if for whatever reason you ended up on a such a site, be warned that the reason the woman (or whoever is pretending to be her) wants to keep you on the site is because she gets commission on the fees you pay to send her messages.

If things get hot and heavy real fast, or if a random woman you've never talked to is telling you her love for you burns with the passion of a thousand suns that's a red flag. There's also the 'I'm lonely/hurt and hopeful that you will understand me' pitch too.

If you are thinking with half of your brain you can tell that these kinds of messages aren't natural. Normal people don't fall madly in love with a profile they just stumbled upon on a dating site.

These types of messages are written by writers who are trying to ensnare the lonely and the desperate.

I actually signed up to one of the most infamous PPL sites (whose name I shall leave unmentioned) just to see what sort of response I would get. I put zero pictures and info on the profile other than my name, age, and where I was from. Below is part of one of the many letters I received almost instantly.

A Closer Look:

An excerpt from a 1st letter I received from a supposed 45 year old Russian woman (mistakes were in the letter)

'Dear *name*,

Let me tell to you very warm and important words . When I saw your profile I understood thatmy life began only now, I felt that I met my destiny..You will tell me now that I don''''t know you ..Yes you are right ,but all these things that I tell you come from my heart and I can not explaine how is it possible....'

I put my age as 28. What normal 45 year old woman is going to fall madly in love with a 28 year old man she knows absolutely nothing about (remember I posted no pictures so she doesn't even know what I look like)? This is the equivalent of getting smacked in the face with a red flag.

If a woman's pictures look like they come out of a model magazine something is probably amiss. Now it's not necessarily wrong if a lady had a professional photo shoot and has a few higher quality type pictures up (slavic women in particular love to do this for fun).

But if she has no natural photos, and the quality of her pro shots look like something from Maxim then yeah there's a problem.

A quick look at the power of Photoshop

6) Girl is chatting for long hours, or strange hours (based on her time zone)

Pay attention to the time zone your lady lives in. If she is available or online for live chats every time you log on she's probably getting paid to chat (or someone else is getting paid to chat on her behalf).

For instance if you're chatting with a girl from Moscow at 7:00PM New York time, you need to realize that in her city it's 3:00AM. What honest normal woman is going to be online chatting full time at 3:00AM every night?

Also don't think video chats automatically mean there isn't a scam going on. Women literally get paid to have video chats with men; or worse, scammers prerecord video of a woman and simply type along with the video in real time.

See how easy it is to make a fake chat video?

I don't care if her dad is sick, she needs money for college, the family buffalo died, she needs a plane ticket, she wants to get a visa, she wants to take English classes, or whatever other sob story she tells you. If she asks you for money, run.

This is the most tell tale sign you're getting played. If she ever asks for money stop talking to her!

8) She doesn't remember what you talked about in your email/messages

Many men have shared stories where they communicate with a woman who lives abroad for months; sharing intimate details, life plans, and the like. Then when they finally come to visit her and they start to reference what they had talked about she either doesn't have a clue or tries to play it off like she knows more than she actually does.

Your girl doesn't have amnesia. She actually doesn't know what you're talking about. Whoever you were sending all those messages to wasn't the woman you're now spending time with. You were communicating with a paid writer who pretended to be her.

9) She insists on a specific translator/sudden need for a translator

If you've been communicating with a woman online for awhile and then when come to her country she suddenly wants to use only a specific translator, something is up.

First of all there's a whole world of translators, why do you need hers?. Second, why does she suddenly need a translator if she's been communicating with you just fine online up until now?

She probably has an agreement with an English speaking friend or acquaintance to cut them in on whatever money she can get you to spend on translator fees (which can be something like $30 an hour).

Also if she suddenly needs a translator, maybe that's because she doesn't know English and it wasn't her you were talking with the whole time.

10) She keeps insisting on particular restaurants, taxis, shops, etc.

If she keeps emphasizing a particular venue or service, and looses interest if you decide against them, then you probably have a professional dater on your hands. It's not uncommon for local women to cut deals with local businesses or small time scammers. Typically a restaurant or driver will overcharge you and she will receive a kickback.

If you want to weed out a potential scammer tell her you want to go on a simple date like a walk in the park or downtown. If she's a pro dater she'll get upset or run for the hills.

So this red flag is identical to #7, but I think it's worth repeating. IF SHE ASKS FOR MONEY RUN! Again, I don't care how sad her story is. No self-respecting woman who just met a man she's interested in is going to ask him for money.

International dating might be one of the best decisions you could ever make in your life, but there are some dangers you have to keep an eye out for. That being said, once you know the warning signs and how scams work they loose a lot of their power.

Use these red flags to help you stay safe and enjoy your dates with the real, beautiful, feminine, and genuine women you do meet.

As with all the posts about scams here at Foreign Wife Happy Life, I want to leave you with some sites and services that are known for not being scams.

No service is perfect and you'll want to keep your eyes peeled anytime you're dating. But hopefully these services can be the tools you need to get up off your ass and start meeting serious foreign women.

Recommended agencies

Dream Connections is an American based company started by the American/Ukrainian couple Mark and Ana Davis. Dream connections offers tours in Ukraine, Colombia, and Thailand.

The company is unique in that they function more like an introduction/matchmaking agency than a romance tour agency (which is good because I don't trust most romance tours).

Each tour has about 15-20 guys and up to (I think) 90 or so local ladies. The company screens both men and women for relational intent and basic background information.

They also feature a unique system where each man has a personal translator/personal assistant for the trip. The dating starts off with a series of short speed dating sessions after which men are free to contact interested ladies and go on dates apart from the group.

Diolli is an premium matchmaking agency based in Kharkiv, Ukraine. The site works with male clients on an individual basis. Women are screened and background checked. The agency favors women clients who are college educated and can speak at least one foreign language.

The agency was started by Svetlana Mukha. After working for other international romance companies and witnessing their questionable practice, Svetlana decided to start her own agency in 2008.

The agency has won recognition and awards in both the matchmaking and international dating industries.

International dating sites have exploded with the advent of the Internet. While there are many honest and trustworthy sites that provide an honest, legitimate service, there are others that need to be avoided. Here are a few things you may have wondered about as you scanned your favorite site looking for the right girl for you. For more information get into the following links to help you make your best choice of your dating site;

#1 InternationalCupid.com

Internationalcupid is designed for people living in different countries to match, send each other messages, and make international connections.

The website allows users to create personal profiles which indicate their personal preferences. Users can also upload photos both publicly and privately, and make instant messaging connections which allow them to chat with other users in real time. The website has an excellent advanced search engine which allows you to find matches based on more specific nuances than the regular search function.

The website’s demographics are more skewed towards older male users who are looking for younger international female matches, which can be frustrating for some female members of the site who did not fit this demographic.

InternationalCupid highlights:

• A large number of online users;
• Available on the computer, tablet, and mobile phone;
• Many free functions for standard members, such as, search function, winks, comments and replying messages from gold/platinum members for free;
• The “block user” feature can prevent harassment from others.

#2 eHarmony.com

eHarmony is designed primarily for people interested in developing long-term relationships based on their personal compatibility.

eHarmony places a lot of emphasis on the success of a relationship being due to compatibility in various areas, including aesthetic preferences, careers, personality types, interests/hobbies, and more. The website has an in-depth preference and personality algorithm called the 29 Dimensions of Compatibility, which are designed to help the site present you with matches that are logistically compatible with you. The entire website experience is heavily tailored towards personal customization; you can choose everything from what type of information shows up on your dashboard to what type of members can view your profile if they are matched with you and more.

The website has a limited amount of communication features that make the website not as dynamic as similar matching sites. For instance, there is no built-in video chat system for members, you cannot search for potential matches as they are automatically given based on your compatibility test, and you can only get a certain amount of matches per day. This means that your potential match pool is a lot more limited when compared to other sites, especially since you can’t actually search for other users on your own and must rely on the 29 Dimensions of Compatibility results.

Overall Rating:4.5/5.0

#3 Match.com

Match.com is an incredibly popular dating website designed for people looking for many different types of relationships, including hook-ups, long-term relationships, and everything in between.

Match.com is notable for its sophisticated search algorithm that is based primarily on the preferences you set when you sign up for a membership. These preferences take into account factors such as ethnicity, relationship status, location, relationship preferences, and even smaller nuances such as hair color. The more you use the site, the more your searches become tailored to your perceived preferences. The website also has a plethora of interaction and privacy options that make it possible to keep your profile private to a select few, or make it possible for most members to contact you if they are interested in taking things further. Members can upload photos and other personal details that will help move along the process of finding a suitable match.

It can take a while to get approved for Match.com, which is frustrating if you are trying to find matches as soon as possible; the reason for the lengthy approval process is that the website’s team wants to ensure that profiles are “real” and not catfishing or simply made up, but this is a downside for many people.

#4 InterracialMatch.com

Interracialmatch.com is designed specifically for singles interested in finding an international match for a variety of different relationship styles.

The website allows users to create profiles which indicate their personal preferences which makes finding and receiving compatible international matches very easy. Interracialmatch.com also has a unique blogging feature which allows members to create their own personal blogs on the site, and read the blogs of other members. Another great feature is the ability to upload private photo galleries and specifically chose which members have access to them, which makes it possible to create galleries specifically for your favorite contacts The service is open to people interested in all sorts of relationships, including long term relationships, marriages, one night stands, and casual relationships.

Depending on your personal preferences, some sections of the user base may be less active than others. This can be frustrating if you are looking for quick matches. The website does require users to pay for a membership subscription before they can see the last active date for members, which is a downside since you won’t know if the matches you’re interested in are active until after you pay.

#5 EliteSingles.com

Elitesingles is a dating designed specifically geared towards busy, professional singles who are looking to find matches quickly and easily.

The most notable feature of Elitesingles is their detailed personality test; the results of this test will determine the various matches that the website recommends to you on a daily basis. Members will receive anywhere from 3 to 7 new matches per day, with the matches being determined by personality and preference compatibility as well as level of activity—users who do not log onto the website and use it will be recommended far less than users who actually participate. This method of matching is ideal for people who don’t have the time to try out searches and filters to browse through endless potential matches on their own.

The 1-month membership subscription is very steep—around $60 for a single month. You can save money by being 3-month, 6-month and annual subscriptions (a yearly subscription is around $215, or about only $17 per month!) but if you just want to try out the website to see if you like it, you’ll have to pay a hefty upfront cost. Although the automatic matching is helpful, the option to do some type of manual searching would make the website more accessible.

Overall Rating:4.0/5.0

#6 LoveMe.com

LoveMe, also known as Love Me: A Foreign Affair, is a geared specifically towards men who are looking for international matching and dating opportunities.

The website is specifically designed for men who are seriously interested in finding women in foreign countries (especially Russia, the Ukraine, Latin America, and Asian countries) for love and eventually marriage. It is a very popular site for men interested in finding international relationships, so there a lot of female matches for members to browse through, which means that most men will be able to find many women who fit their preferences. The website is upfront about its goals for users—marriage—and its operation abides by the International Marriage Broker Regulation Act laws to ensure that any matches founded through the website are legitimate and legal.

The website itself does not look professional and needs a re-design to make it easier to use. The basic paid membership fee is fairly expensive, starting at $95 for the first month and $30 for each month after that; this basic membership comes with the ability to message 100 users. Members will need to purchase the Executive Plan Membership if they want unlimited communication potions and to be able to do things such as: video message women on the website, read in-depth interviews with their potential matches, have a three-way phone call with their matches which includes translation services, or even arrange private meetings and immigration attorney consultants.

Overall Rating:3.5/5.0

#7 OKCupid.com

If you are searching for the top choice for international dating app, this is another option that should be part of your list. One of the best things about this is that you should answer personality questions. Answer it as honestly as possible since this will be used to find your match from the other members of the site. Member participation is one thing that sets it apart from many others. There are also many quirky tests that can be taken. It is also user-friendly, which will make it a snap to use, even for beginners.

Overall Rating:3.5/5.0

#8 Zoosk.com

This dating app started in 2007 as a Facebook application. Now, this is considered as one of the most prominent online dating sites, as proven by the positive feedbacks from majority of its users. One of its best features is the Zoosk Scientific Matchmaking Service, making it easy to be connected to other members. The app can also be used as a virtual currency, which can be used for buying electronic gifts. It also has a newsfeed that is connected to Facebook.

Overall Rating:3.5/5.0

#9 Mate1.com

With this dating app, you will be able to break geographical boundaries and easily connect with other users from different parts of the world. Whether you are attracted to an Asian or a Westerner, among others, it will be easy for you to find a foreign girlfriend. With this adult dating portal, you will enjoy an intuitive website and app that makes it easy to communicate with other members. Whether you are looking for someone to marry or a girl to flirt with, this is an excellent place.

Overall Rating:3.0/5.0

#10 ForeignGirlfriend.com

ForeignGirlfriend is designed for men who are interested in meeting women from foreign countries for love, dating, and eventually marriage.

The website is meant for men who are serious about finding an international woman to fall in love with, marry, and bring back to his home country. Members can search for a potential foreign match by using filters that narrow down women by their age, location/home country, hair color, eye color, ethnicity, and even their education level. Male users can send chat requests or emails to women on the website, who can choose to respond either through the website’s chat function or through an email service.

The website uses a credit system rather than a monthly or annual subscription fee. Credits are required for using features on the site such as contacting women, sending and receiving emails, and finding matches. The site charges $199.99 for 1000 credits, $47.99 for 160 credits, and $7.99 for 20 credits. The credit system can be confusing and the site would be served best through a standard membership fee. Despite being designed for men interested in foreign marriages, ForeignGirlfriend doesn’t have tools to help men serious about marrying their matches such as access to translators or immigration attorneys.

Are International Dating Sites Legitimate Free

Overall Rating:3.0/5.0