Are Anastasia date or Dream Marriage scam’s or not is quite a hot debate on many blogs and sites, I will be slightly controversial and say no, the reason I will say no is because they do not promise you will pay a few hundred dollars and end up married to the next potential super model, unfortunately quite a few guys get caught up with this idea and slightly lose all sense of reality.
The reality is internet dating via these so called marriage sites is not cheap, neither do they make any claims to be cheap, the reality is you can easily end up spending anything between $2,000 – $20,000 with no guarantee of success at the end of it.
Are the sites a scam or are the girls real?
Once you have faced up to that financial reality, you are ready to face the next big question, are the sites a scam or are the girls real. As I stated earlier and slightly controversially earlier no most of the well know sites are not a scam for the reason I stated earlier, and yes there are some genuine girls on these sites.
Now in defense of the guys complaining these sites are a scam, you should read the sites disclaimers carefully, most shout as loud as they can that they have strong anti-scam policies. In defense of the sites it does not matter how good the site is and what kind of policies they put in place they cannot tell what is in the girls heart and her motives for signing up to the site are.
What are myths about Russian and Ukrainian women?
But a lot of the sites do not help themselves when it comes to avoiding the many complaints some of the more vocal critics have.
1) “We do not pay the girls to chat”
True but they do not publicize the fact they pay the local agent, and then in a desire to make more money the local agent will then pay the girls to chat. This is very common; you will soon work out how genuine she is when you try to encourage her to chat away from the site.
2) Translation services
If you need a translator to talk to your chosen one, then this really should make you question what kind of relationship you are going to build, communication is the key to any successful relationship! and if you need a translator just to communicate the basics you are going to struggle to build the lasting relationship you want. Do you want a translator there on your wedding night?
3) Age gap – “Russian girls want older guys”
Reality check time, yes there are girls that are mature for their age and do look for older guys, but they are a small minority. A 10 year age gap is fine and most will not think this is a problem, even 15 years can work, but when the gap is 20, 30 or more years then you should ask yourself what on earth are you both going to have in common once that initial shine wears off.
4) Final reality check
Do these sites claim to be a charitable organization? No they do not, they are in business to make money, despite many laudable claims they are not charities out to spread happiness and marriage. It is a business and it is a very lucrative business! As stated earlier you are going to spend a LOT of money with no guarantees of finding the right one, then even if you are lucky you are going to spend even more on trips there to see her, marrying her and bringing her to your country.
Conclusion
You have to accept the fact quite a few of the girls on these sites are there to earn money, but even those girls can fall in love, personally I know of 3 successful couples that have meet on Anastasia date and Dream Marriage, and as a final reality check for you, look at the success stories, how many are potential supermodel 20 year old married to 50 year old guys that have had an argument with the ugly stick and lost?
James
After reading numerous articles and comments on this dating topic, thought it might be nice if something positive was mentioned.
I initially visited Odessa in September 2011 as a solo tourist and NOT as a dating exercise. I had several months earlier experienced the traumas of a long term relationship ending, and decided a holiday to a location outside my comfort zone was needed. A travel agent suggested Russia, but living in Australia and given the time of year and season, I thought that would be too cold and chose Ukraine as a better alternative.
I arranged and booked my own guide/ interpreter through Liliyan Royal Travels , who also made my accommodation booking and prepared necessary documentation to apply for a visa.
I had heard all about Russian dating sites, non of which was good, so I had absolutely interest in becoming involved.
Liliya met me at the Odessa Airport was fantastic as a guide/ interpreter, explaining customs and showing me so much of the beautiful city Odessa. She had a New Zealand boyfriend so was familiar with my “Australianisms”. We became good friends, nothing more. We still maintain contact. While in Odessa however, I noticed many signs advertising “Anastasia Date” and questioned Liliya. She advised against doing anything, explaining how bad it was and imparted some of her own experiences. She was quite emphatic it would be a negative experience. I left Odessa with only good memories.
Upon arrival at home I found my curiosity about Anastasia Date still present, so I “invested ” some money to join and see what the fuss was about. Mistake! The saying “curiosity killed the cat” was never truer!
Being a mature aged Australian male in his late 40″s who thought himself reasonably shrewd to life’s pitfalls, I soon found my ego massaged with the numerous chat requests from attractive young ladies. Although caution to the cost involved existed, it was easily forgotten when caught up in the moment and my ego felt good. After considerable cost and realizing that chatting was merely expensive “television watching” I decided to return to Odessa and meet 3 ladies. One of these ladies had been happy to exchange contact details to communicate off site with emails and limited Skype communication.
I arrived Odessa in March 2012, being met at the airport by one of the ladies and her interpreter. I soon fell victim to an Anastasia date of expensive restaurant meal with the interpreter consuming as much food and alcohol as the “lady”. I was even asked to buy phone credit for the “non English speaking lady” so she could communicate with me! Go figure that one!
There was no second date.
There was however some good from that holiday. The lady who communicated off site met me in front of McDonalds, alone. No interpreter. She had requested a day off work to meet me and we had a wonderful day together. She spoke English well, but I still had to be careful what and how I said things in case of misunderstandings. As she said, English is not her native language. She asked for nothing, and in fact paid our taxi and bus fares. I initially had reservations because of our 20 year age difference, but soon felt completely at ease and unaware of the difference until I saw photos of us.
All that was in 2012. Since then I have returned 7 times to see her, and in 2014 we began a partner/ fiance’ visa. I am returning again to Odessa at the end of September with my 16 yo son so we can be a ” family” for a limited time.
What the future holds, who knows? Will the age difference become a problem, who knows? All we both know is that even after difficulties and issues we have experienced to date, including distance and time, we still communicate often everyday and want to be together. I know I will be a happy and very lucky man.
If it all fails, I know that my life has been enriched by all the wonderful people I have met there, and now call friends.
I hope this adds another dimension to the discussion 🙂