I just discovered Filipinas....

[IainBusby]

To get back to the real point...
I appreciate and understand aromulas good advice.
I'm well aware of scammers and I've passed that point a while back.

I think I might throw this open here.
Any questions about scammers address them directly to the lady in question?
She better in Tagalog than English, but don't underestimate her

When she gets back online she has the answers. I'm sure of that one!!!
So lets hear the questions from the sceptics!!???

Situation report tonight is that she has cleaned up her home after Sundays floods (3 feet of filthy water + lost plenty) and is now faced with another 3/4 days of very heavy rain that may well result in further flooding... She sleeps on the wet floor tonight.
I need to say more??

The colder hearted amongst us might like to think about that a while.
The rest will understand exactly.
That's where I am right now.
Feeling helpless and concerned here safe in Gloucester.

There are no questions you can ask outright that will catch out a scammer. The really good ones will just tell you sob stories or even stories about life and death (someone needs an operation and they'll die soon if they don't have it) matters and hope you will offer to help, these are very deliberate tactics and they quite often work with people who are unwary of how these online scammers get them hooked and reel them in.

I don't want to appear skeptical about your girl or her intentions, but so far she has laid it on a bit thick about her hardships to you already. Until you actually meet her you must always take everything you are told with a large pinch of salt no matter how genuine you may think she appears on the surface.

Iain.

[KeithD]

There are no questions you can ask outright that will catch out a scammer. .

DUH!!!

You ask the girl "Are you a scammer?".

If she says YES, move on, and if she says NO, she's lying!

[Labuyo]

There are no questions you can ask outright that will catch out a scammer. The really good ones will just tell you sob stories or even stories about life and death (someone needs an operation and they'll die soon if they don't have it) matters and hope you will offer to help, these are very deliberate tactics and they quite often work with people who are unwary of how these online scammers get them hooked and reel them in.

I don't want to appear skeptical about your girl or her intentions, but so far she has laid it on a bit thick about her hardships to you already. Until you actually meet her you must always take everything you are told with a large pinch of salt no matter how genuine you may think she appears on the surface.

Iain.

Thanks Iain.
I just posed the question for the sceptics but didn't really expect any that I had not previously considered and already asked.
I'm not surprised by hardships in a 3rd world country and to hear that being posited as something to beware of doesn't quite 'gel' with me.

I live in Gloucester and my first summer here was invaded by floods.
If I tell my friends about that it doesn't mean I'm fishing for 'support', does it?
Natural disasters affect all of us at some time.

I haven't even yet told the whole story here.
How could I, in a sprinkle of posts?
(Forget the thread hijackers and well intentioned sceptics for now)
The scammer issue is well past its sell by date with her and myself.
I'm simply looking for advice, and hopefully, hearing others experiences about correctly applying for visas in the current climate.

My problem is not that she might be a scammer, but rather how to negotiate the minefield of visa applications, etc.
I can use one of the agencies that facilitate these things, but don't see why I should go down that road before checking other peoples real experiences first.
That's what forums are for, I thought?

I may be on the wrong forum here, in which case I retire and pursue other avenues, but I sense a certain amount of goodwill here and I will persevere for a while.
Thanks again.
John.

[aromulus]

My problem is not that she might be a scammer, but rather how to negotiate the minefield of visa applications, etc.
I can use one of the agencies that facilitate these things, but don't see why I should go down that road before checking other peoples real experiences first.
That's what forums are for, I thought?

I may be on the wrong forum here, in which case I retire and pursue other avenues, but I sense a certain amount of goodwill here and I will persevere for a while.
Thanks again.
John.

Ask to your heart's content..................

Agencies do not facilitate anything, they only get your money for work which you have to do yourself anyway....

[Labuyo]

Ask to your heart's content..................

Agencies do not facilitate anything, they only get your money for work which you have to do yourself anyway....

I understand what you say about the agencies totally, but I already have the benefit of a previous users (good friend) experiences and know that the advice/instruction he got was much better than applying for visas without it! IE first time 'blind'. Seriously.

I think I might best ask particular questions as you advise.
Rather than continue this 'introduce yourself' thread.
Which seems to go no further than 'beware scammers'.
Good advice I have to say, but not what I need.
I'm long past that one.
But I don't denigrate good advice. It's very welcome and needed at times.
Many thanks for your understanding and kind thoughts.
John.