10:00:00
Intro: Russian girls presenting their selves
10:00:37
Title: Forever Yours Marina
10:00:40
Presentation Willy Lenssen
I am looking for a nice young Russian woman. I’d like to have children, I’d like to have a normal family. Maybe it’s possible with you. Who knows… Byebye!
10:00:55
Caption: Maasmechelen
Willy Lenssen, a company doctor, is 47 and has been looking for a Russian wife for more than 2 years. Willy is convinced that Russian women look at life differently than Belgian women.
10:01:11
Willy Lenssen:
Ik moet iemand hebben die echt ook kinderen wilt, die echt een gezin wilt opbouwen, die voor een gezin wilt zorgen. Dus een huisvrouw lijkt me aangewezen.
Ik heb natuurlijk ook vrouwen hier leren kennen die zeiden: Ja, ik wil misschien toch één kindje. Ik wil toch een beetje overtuigender … dat ik ook een gezin mét kinderen wil. Verstaat u? En dat is in België zo niet. Vrouwen zijn meer carrièregericht.
10:01:28
Caption: Willy Lenssen
Subtitles:
TIMEIN: 10:01:11:10 TIMEOUT: 10:01:16:11
I need someone who wants children
and wants to have a family life.
TIMEIN: 10:01:16:15 TIMEOUT: 10:01:19:20
Everything pointed to a housewife.
TIMEIN: 10:01:21:12 TIMEOUT: 10:01:26:19
The other women I've met said that
perhaps they'd like to have one child.
TIMEIN: 10:01:26:23 TIMEOUT: 10:01:33:04
What I wanted was to meet someone
who really wanted a family.
TIMEIN: 10:01:33:08 TIMEOUT: 10:01:36:20
And in Belgium I find women more
career-minded.
10:01:39
Willy has made five trips to Russia and the Ukraine, all arranged by a marriage bureau in Antwerp. Each of these trips cost him at least 3,000 euro. Eventually he met Olga, a thirty-year-old teacher from Bryansk in Russia.
10:01:58
Quote Willy
We zaten dus in een hotel en ik zag ieder uur een andere dame. Zij kwam als eerste binnen, als allereerste, nerveus, en dus na een uurtje klikte dat geweldig goed. Dus
zij verstond een beetje Duits, dus we spraken wat Duits, en we waren aan het lachen, we amuseerden ons goed. En na een paar uren, nadat ik enkele andere kandidaten had gezien, zei ik bel die eerste terug dat ik die morgen wil terugzien.
10:02:25
Caption: Olga Lenssen
Subtitles:
TIMEIN: 10:01:58:01 TIMEOUT: 10:02:02:07
I was in a hotel and every hour
they showed in another woman.
TIMEIN: 10:02:02:11 TIMEOUT: 10:02:03:20
She was the first.
TIMEIN: 10:02:03:24 TIMEOUT: 10:02:07:10
After an hour we found that we got on
really well.
TIMEIN: 10:02:07:14 TIMEOUT: 10:02:10:06
She understood a little German,
so we spoke German.
TIMEIN: 10:02:10:10 TIMEOUT: 10:02:13:08
We laughed and had a good time
together.
TIMEIN: 10:02:13:12 TIMEOUT: 10:02:17:17
After a few hours, having seen other
candidates,
TIMEIN: 10:02:17:21 TIMEOUT: 10:02:21:01
I asked to see the first woman
again the next day.
10:02:22
Dat is het leven! Ik kijken deze man en denken: dat is man voor mij. Dat is leven!
W: Liefde!
O: Oh liefde, sorry
Subtitles:
TIMEIN: 10:02:21:15 TIMEOUT: 10:02:27:14
That's life. I see this man and think:
That's the man for me. That's life.
TIMEIN: 10:02:27:18 TIMEOUT: 10:02:30:10
Love.
- Love. Sorry, love.
10:02:32
Marriage proposal
- Willy? You want marriage for Olga?
W: Of course, I want.
- Olga? You want marriage for Willy?
O: Yes, of course.
Subtitles:
TIMEIN: 10:02:41:09 TIMEOUT: 10:02:43:11
I love you. I love you.
TIMEIN: 10:02:43:15 TIMEOUT: 10:02:46:13
And I love you.
- A very beautiful woman.
TIMEIN: 10:02:57:17 TIMEOUT: 10:03:02:01
Will you marry her, Willy? Yes?
- Yes.
TIMEIN: 10:03:02:15 TIMEOUT: 10:03:04:09
And you, Olga?
- Yes.
10:02:50
Six months after their first meeting, Willy and Olga are getting married... in Russia.
Subtitles (Russian)
TIMEIN: 10:02:57:17 TIMEOUT: 10:03:02:01
Will you marry her, Willy? Yes?
- Yes.
TIMEIN: 10:03:02:15 TIMEOUT: 10:03:04:09
And you, Olga?
- Yes.
10:03:07
Quote Willy
Iedereen aan het lachen… Met halve tranen in de ogen van de ouders, he… O:
30 jaar en ze vertrekt naar het buitenland. Het was toch een beetje…
Haar vriendinnen zijn allemaal wel wat jaloers natuurlijk. Die zoeken eigenlijk ook allemaal een wat rijkere man of wat het schoner leven, toch wel hoor…
10:03:30
Quote Olga/Willy
O: Ja, Irina, Olga, Svetlana…
W: Ze willen toch graag een man uit het buitenland hoor. Als ze dat kunnen hebben, graag…
Reporter: Maar waarom dan?
O: Ah, kijken mij. Olga, jij hebt geluk. Ja.
W: Ze zien dat zij hier gelukkig is, maar ze dromen dat het hier een paradijs is, dat hier niet moet gewerkt worden, dat is natuurlijk niet de waarheid. Maar het is een gemakkelijker leven, dat denk ik toch wel hoor.
Subtitles
TIMEIN: 10:02:57:17 TIMEOUT: 10:03:02:01
Will you marry her, Willy? Yes?
- Yes.
TIMEIN: 10:03:02:15 TIMEOUT: 10:03:04:09
And you, Olga?
- Yes.
TIMEIN: 10:03:07:10 TIMEOUT: 10:03:09:03
Everyone was laughing.
TIMEIN: 10:03:10:03 TIMEOUT: 10:03:12:15
Her parents holding back their tears.
TIMEIN: 10:03:13:02 TIMEOUT: 10:03:14:24
Crying, crying.
TIMEIN: 10:03:17:02 TIMEOUT: 10:03:21:17
30 years old and leaving to go and live
abroad. That's not easy...
TIMEIN: 10:03:22:15 TIMEOUT: 10:03:25:23
Her girlfriends are all a bit envious
of her.
TIMEIN: 10:03:26:02 TIMEOUT: 10:03:30:20
They'd also like to meet a decent man
and have a better life.
TIMEIN: 10:03:30:24 TIMEOUT: 10:03:34:18
Svetlana, Olga, Irina.
All my friends.
TIMEIN: 10:03:34:22 TIMEOUT: 10:03:38:21
They'd all much prefer to have
a husband from abroad.
TIMEIN: 10:03:39:00 TIMEOUT: 10:03:40:00
Why?
TIMEIN: 10:03:40:05 TIMEOUT: 10:03:43:05
Look at me.
Olga, you're so lucky.
TIMEIN: 10:03:43:23 TIMEOUT: 10:03:45:23
They see that she's happy,
TIMEIN: 10:03:46:02 TIMEOUT: 10:03:51:07
but they also think that it's paradise
here, which of course isn't true.
TIMEIN: 10:03:51:11 TIMEOUT: 10:03:54:02
But life is easier here, I'm sure.
Quote Olga
Al mijn Russische vrienden hebben problemen met mannen. de Russische man verwaarloost zijn vrouw toch wel hoor. O: In Rusland, ook vele drinken mannen. Ook at is probleem, ook beetje agressief voor vrouwen
10:04:00
Quote Olga/Willy
O: Al mijn vriendinnen hebben probleem met man. Alles. Alles probleem.
W: Een Russische man verwaarloost zijn vrouw eigenlijk toch wel hoor.
O: In Rusland ook vele drinken mannen. Ook dat is probleem. Een beetje agressief voor vrouw.
Subtitles
TIMEIN: 10:03:58:18 TIMEOUT: 10:04:03:16
All my girlfriends have problems
with men. All of them.
TIMEIN: 10:04:03:20 TIMEOUT: 10:04:07:03
It's true that Russian men neglect
their wives.
TIMEIN: 10:04:07:07 TIMEOUT: 10:04:11:16
And in Russia the men drink a lot too,
TIMEIN: 10:04:11:20 TIMEOUT: 10:04:15:10
which makes them aggressive
towards their wives.
10:04:17
Russian song
Subtitles
TIMEIN: 10:04:17:13 TIMEOUT: 10:04:21:10
Our dearest one has come to us
TIMEIN: 10:04:21:14 TIMEOUT: 10:04:23:22
Willy Lenssen
TIMEIN: 10:04:24:08 TIMEOUT: 10:04:28:05
Willy... my darling Willy...
10:04:31
Caption: Antwerp
Talaservis, an Antwerp marriage bureau, brought Willy and Olga together. We met the owners in a hotel lobby together with our Russian interpreter.
Hallo...
Jozef Embrechts and his Ukrainian wife, Natalia. They run one of the few Belgian marriage bureaus whose sole aim is to couple Russian women with Belgian men.
10:04:57
Caption: Natalya Embrechts / Marriage bureau Talaservis
Subtitles (Russian)
TIMEIN: 10:04:52:22 TIMEOUT: 10:04:57:06
I met Jozef and now I'm very happy.
TIMEIN: 10:04:57:12 TIMEOUT: 10:05:01:12
Of course, I wanted my friends
and acquaintances,
TIMEIN: 10:05:01:16 TIMEOUT: 10:05:07:15
in fact all the women registered
with us, to be just as happy.
TIMEIN: 10:05:08:01 TIMEOUT: 10:05:13:14
I think that I've been sent by God
to make people happy.
10:05:16
Natalya and Jozef show us their website where the men can choose their women. The Belgian men are between 25 and 70 and come from all walks of society. The Russian women are mainly young and well-educated.
Quote Natalya
Subtitles (Russian)
TIMEIN: 10:05:28:20 TIMEOUT: 10:05:32:21
That girl is 31 years old.
She has a university degree,
TIMEIN: 10:05:33:00 TIMEOUT: 10:05:36:10
in economics.
- They're all very beautiful.
TIMEIN: 10:05:37:11 TIMEOUT: 10:05:39:12
More beautiful than Belgian girls.
TIMEIN: 10:05:44:02 TIMEOUT: 10:05:48:01
Are Russian women different from
Belgian women?
TIMEIN: 10:05:48:09 TIMEOUT: 10:05:52:16
Very different. A Russian woman
dresses beautifully.
TIMEIN: 10:05:52:20 TIMEOUT: 10:05:54:12
She uses make-up.
TIMEIN: 10:05:54:16 TIMEOUT: 10:06:00:05
She's a good cook. An excellent
hostess. She's intelligent.
10:06:04
All contact between the men and the women is through the bureau. And everything costs money. Sending three letters, 28 euro. A trip to Russia to meet a few women; between 1,000 and 4,000 euro. But... the women are worth it according to Talaservis.
Quote Natalya
Subtitles
TIMEIN: 10:06:20:22 TIMEOUT: 10:06:24:16
I'm very strict and I take my job
seriously.
TIMEIN: 10:06:25:04 TIMEOUT: 10:06:28:23
My Russian partners take their job just
as seriously.
TIMEIN: 10:06:30:01 TIMEOUT: 10:06:35:00
They investigate every woman
and control all their documents.
TIMEIN: 10:06:35:04 TIMEOUT: 10:06:39:17
When they feel a woman isn't being
honest, they refuse her.
TIMEIN: 10:06:40:01 TIMEOUT: 10:06:46:02
Which is why both we and our
partners only offer serious women.
10:06:54
Caption: Natalya Embrechts / Marriage bureau Talaservis
10:06:47
Quote Jozef Embrechts
J: Er zien tientallen websites met misschien 100000 vrouwen die niet serieus zijn.
Reporter: En wat bedoel je met niet serieus?
J: Die niet echt een partner zoeken.
Reporter: En wat zoeken ze dan wel?
J: Een bijverdienste, ik weet het niet …
Subtitles
TIMEIN: 10:06:46:06 TIMEOUT: 10:06:51:07
Dozens of dating websites
don't take their job seriously.
TIMEIN: 10:06:51:11 TIMEOUT: 10:06:53:03
What do you mean by that?
TIMEIN: 10:06:53:07 TIMEOUT: 10:06:56:19
They're not looking for a partner.
- What then?
TIMEIN: 10:06:57:09 TIMEOUT: 10:07:00:00
Maybe some extra cash, I don't know.
10:07:00
Caption: Rollegem-Kappelle
Patrik Decroubele, 43. His wife died two years ago. Shortly afterwards, he decided to look for a Russian wife, since Belgian women are not interested in a widower with 2 children, says Patrick. He signed up to various dating sites.
10:07:25
Caption: Patrik Decroubele
Quote Patrik
Op een bepaald moment kreeg ik ook mails terug. Van mensen die ook contact zochten met mij. Een van die contacten was Natalia, die schreef dat ze uit Sint-Petersburg was. Een mooie vrouw, niet getrouwd en geïnteresseerd om naar het westen te komen.
Subtitles
TIMEIN: 10:07:22:20 TIMEOUT: 10:07:27:09
At a certain moment I started
receiving e-mails,
TIMEIN: 10:07:27:23 TIMEOUT: 10:07:30:24
from women wishing to get to know
me.
TIMEIN: 10:07:32:04 TIMEOUT: 10:07:36:11
One of the women who replied was
named Natalia,
TIMEIN: 10:07:36:15 TIMEOUT: 10:07:40:07
a good-looking woman from
St. Petersberg.
TIMEIN: 10:07:40:11 TIMEOUT: 10:07:45:10
She wasn't married and she wanted
to come to the West.
10:07:45
Mail 1 Patrik
Voice-off:
Hello Patrik! I am very happy to get your letter again. Who am I looking for in my life? I am looking for a man who can be not only a good husband but a faithful and understanding friend as well. I want to have a happy family. Thanks! Natalia.
10:08:06
It isn’t long before the 27-year-old Natalia Bespalova starts sending Patrik love letters.
10:08:17
Quote Patrik
Na het overlijden van mijn vrouw ok, had ik, heb ik geen liefde meer gekend. Dus voor mij was dat positief om terug ja, te lezen dat er iemand terug interesse voor je heeft. Een gezin met je wil, nog kindjes wil.
Subtitles
TIMEIN: 10:08:17:10 TIMEOUT: 10:08:20:21
I hadn't found love since my wife had
died.
TIMEIN: 10:08:22:13 TIMEOUT: 10:08:25:17
So, naturally it made me feel good
TIMEIN: 10:08:26:24 TIMEOUT: 10:08:31:10
to read that someone was interested
in me,
TIMEIN: 10:08:31:14 TIMEOUT: 10:08:34:09
and wanted a family and children.
Mail 2 Patrik 0T
10:08:37
Voice-off:
Hello Patrik! How are you? I hope you fine. I am very happy to receive your letter. I want to see you very much.
10:08:44
Quote Patrik
Ik stelde toen voor haar eens te bezoeken. Maar zij zei neen, het is beter als ik kom voor een paar maand want het is beter zei ze want ik moet me aanpassen aan België, aan u. Dus het is beter als we het proberen. En ik vond dat natuurlijk fantastisch.
Subtitles
TIMEIN: 10:08:44:17 TIMEOUT: 10:08:48:15
I suggested to her that I come
and visit her.
TIMEIN: 10:08:48:24 TIMEOUT: 10:08:53:19
However, she replied it was better
that she came here for a few months,
TIMEIN: 10:08:53:23 TIMEOUT: 10:08:57:12
to see if she liked Belgium
and if we could be happy.
TIMEIN: 10:08:57:16 TIMEOUT: 10:09:01:15
She wanted to give it a try,
which I thought was great.
10:09:03
Natalia then asks Patrik for money for the airfare and for a visa, totalling some 400 euro.
10:09:09
Quote Patrik
Na een paar mails was ik w dat van plan om dat te doen ik had daar toevallig met een collega op het werk over gesproken en die persoon zei “ja ge moogt zeker geen geld opsturen want ik heb een vriend die dat ook gedaan heeft, die heeft geld opgestuurd en die heeft nooit iemand gezien.
Subtitles
TIMEIN: 10:09:09:09 TIMEOUT: 10:09:14:07
After a few e-mails, I was considering
sending the money,
TIMEIN: 10:09:14:11 TIMEOUT: 10:09:18:01
and by chance talked about it
with someone I knew.
TIMEIN: 10:09:18:05 TIMEOUT: 10:09:21:19
One thing I shouldn't do, he said,
was send money.
TIMEIN: 10:09:21:23 TIMEOUT: 10:09:27:20
A friend of his had done exactly that,
and had never seen anyone.
10:09:29
Natalia keeps pressing Patrik, but he still doesn’t send any money. Natalia breaks off contact with him. Patrik, still in love, wants to know more about her. He comes across her name on a website about swindlers, scammers. Women who are not looking for a relationship, but for money.
10:09:48
Quote Patrik
Ik heb er geen geld aan verloren. Enkel eventjes wat hartpijn.
Subtitles:
TIMEIN: 10:09:47:20 TIMEOUT: 10:09:50:15
So, I hadn't lost any money on it,
TIMEIN: 10:09:50:20 TIMEOUT: 10:09:56:00
the only thing I did have I suppose,
was a bit of heartache.
10:09:58
Caption: Brussels
We want to find out who these swindlers are and sign up to dating sites using the name Alex, a man looking for a Russian wife.
10:10:10
Mail
Voice-off:
I’ve been surpirsed when have seen your profile on a datingsite. Why so nice man are alone? I shall wait you letter honey!
10:10:19
We’re contacted by Marina Chernykh, also 27, a Russian. By the third e-mail she’s already in love and calls us her future husband.
Mail
Voice-off:
Hello my dear Alex!
As it is good, that you are in my life and as it is bad, that you are so far from me. I frequently think of the future destiny. In ideas I present the future husband, the future child.
For ever yours Marina
10:10:48
By the eleventh mail Marina is asking for money to come to Belgium and meet us.
10:10:53
Mail
Voice-off:
My dear and favourite angel to me still have told, that all official registration together with tickets all will cost about 752 euro. … My dear you can help me?
10:11:09
Is Marina really in love or does she just want to swindle us out of 752 euro?
10:11:15
Quote Jan Guldentops
Reporter: Wie schrijft ons die mails? Het meisje van de foto?
J: Vermoedelijk niet
Subtitles
TIMEIN: 10:11:14:17 TIMEOUT: 10:11:18:10
Did that girl write those e-mails?
- I think not.
10:11:19
Mail
Voice-off:
Hello my future husband Alex!
10:11:22
Internet expert, Jan Guldentops, examines the e-mails. ///
He finds them very suspicious.
Mail
Voice-off:
I very strongly miss on you and within patience I wait for our meeting with you. Forever your loving Marina.
10:11:38
Caption: Jan Guldentops, internet expert
Quote Jan Guldentops
J: Vermoedelijk heeft zij ooit haar fotos doorgegegven. Komen ze van een van ex-vriendje, komen ze van … Het internet denk ik niet, want dat zou duidelijk zijn. er gaan zoveel digitale fotos rond. Dus ‘t kan iedreen zijn.
Reporter: Wie stuurt ons die mails?
J: Ik vermoed gewoon een organisatie die er munt uit slaat en die foto’s verzamelt.
Subtitles
TIMEIN: 10:11:37:02 TIMEOUT: 10:11:43:11
Possibly she passed on her photos,
or perhaps an ex-boyfriend did.
TIMEIN: 10:11:43:15 TIMEOUT: 10:11:46:22
I don't think they come from
the Internet.
TIMEIN: 10:11:47:01 TIMEOUT: 10:11:51:12
Everyone's exchanging digital photos,
it could be anyone.
TIMEIN: 10:11:51:24 TIMEOUT: 10:11:55:14
So, who is sending us these e-mails?
TIMEIN: 10:11:55:18 TIMEOUT: 10:12:00:11
I suppose it's a gang trying to cash in
by collecting photos.
10:12:01
Mail
Voice-off:
Hello my love Alex. I miss you, please, write me. Bye my love, your Marina.
10:12:09
Quote Jan Guldentops
Men begint zoveel mogelijk mensen te mailen. En dat zijn aardig wat mails. Je kan tussen het half miljoen en het miljoen mails per dag gaan sturen op die manier. Volgende stap is als er iemand reageert. Als er iemand reageert, gaat men die man bespelen. Men gaat die man zeggen van kijk: jij bent toch de man van mijn dromen en alle Russische mannen zijn slecht en slaan hun vrouw. Maar gij, een westerse man … En men bespeelt die en de relatie gaat dan direct heel diep. Tot op een bepaald moment de dame in kwestie wil afspreken en ze dus een visa nodig heeft of een ticket nodig heeft of een vliegticket of een operatie voor haar dochter en xx honderden of duizenden euros nodig heeft en of haar nieuwe vriend, die toch in een rijk land woont, dat alstublieft zou willen overschrijven. Dat is eigenlijk de basis van de romance scam.
Subtitles:
TIMEIN: 10:12:09:10 TIMEOUT: 10:12:14:18
They start by mailing as many people
as possible. That's a lot of mails.
TIMEIN: 10:12:14:22 TIMEOUT: 10:12:19:07
You can send anything up to a million
e-mails a day if you want to.
TIMEIN: 10:12:19:11 TIMEOUT: 10:12:22:06
Then they wait for someone to react.
TIMEIN: 10:12:22:10 TIMEOUT: 10:12:25:16
Once someone does, they start
to manipulate him.
TIMEIN: 10:12:25:20 TIMEOUT: 10:12:32:16
They write that he's the man of their
dreams, that all Russian men are bad,
TIMEIN: 10:12:32:20 TIMEOUT: 10:12:37:00
and that they beat their wives, not like
Western men.
TIMEIN: 10:12:37:04 TIMEOUT: 10:12:40:03
The relationship progresses at top
speed,
TIMEIN: 10:12:40:07 TIMEOUT: 10:12:44:09
until the moment comes when
the woman in question
TIMEIN: 10:12:44:13 TIMEOUT: 10:12:45:21
wants to see him.
TIMEIN: 10:12:46:00 TIMEOUT: 10:12:51:04
But she needs a visa, or an airline
ticket, or her daughter needs surgery.
TIMEIN: 10:12:51:08 TIMEOUT: 10:12:55:16
So, she badly needs so many
hundreds or thousands of euros,
TIMEIN: 10:12:55:20 TIMEOUT: 10:13:00:20
and surely her new boyfriend in that
rich western country can help her?
TIMEIN: 10:13:01:05 TIMEOUT: 10:13:05:08
That's in fact the basis of a romance
scam.
10:13:06
All over the world there are gangs trying to make money this way. Marina’s e-mails appear to have been sent from some remote part of Russia where there is a hard core of scammers.
10:13:18
Quote Jan Guldentops
Deze Marina Chernykh bestaat niet. Ze komt puur uit het brein van meesteroplichter.
Subtitles
TIMEIN: 10:13:18:05 TIMEOUT: 10:13:20:10
This Marina Chernykh doesn't exist.
TIMEIN: 10:13:20:14 TIMEOUT: 10:13:25:21
She's purely and simply the brainchild
of a master con man.
10:13:28
We’re now pretty certain that Marina is just a fabrication from a Mafia organisation...
///
... until we get a strange call.
Telephone conversation
It’s Marina
Reporter: Hi
- My dear I would like to talk you about our future plans.
Reporter: I really want to see you. I want to spend my holidays with you. I want to I want talk to you. I want to look in to your eyes.
Reporter: That’s very nice.
- The problem, the big problem for me you know about that is the money.
Reporter: How much money?
- All together I need 752 euros if I’m not mistaken. If you can help me my dream will come true.
10:14:21
Could there really be a Marina? We still doubt it. However, in her e-mails she’d written that her parents were dead, although she did have a sister. We decide to test her.
Telephone conversation
Reporter: Can you tell me, how are your mother and father doing?
- They are very good and say hello to you.
Reporter: And your brother and sister? How are they?
- My brother is good too.
Reporter: Your brother is also good?
- Yes. I will write you a mail tomorrow, ok?
Reporter: I’m really looking forward to see you.
10:14:57
The woman at the end of the line is obviously lying... and quite clearly, had never sent any of the e-mails. But then, who did send them? And who is the woman in the photos?
10:15:09
Caption: Moscow
Mail
Voice-off
My Dear. For sending the money you need my full name. My name Marina Chernykh. My address: Russia, City Moscow. Street Koshkina 7.
10:15:27
This is where Marina should be living. A block of flats on the outskirts of Moscow. We’re curious to find out who’ll be living here. The woman in the photos or a Marina Chernykh. Somebody has to come and collect the money.
Subtitles:
TIMEIN: 10:15:39:11 TIMEOUT: 10:15:42:06
Hello. Do you know a Marina
Chernykh?
TIMEIN: 10:15:43:11 TIMEOUT: 10:15:45:17
Do you know this girl?
- No.
TIMEIN: 10:15:45:21 TIMEOUT: 10:15:47:20
No? You've never seen her?
TIMEIN: 10:15:48:00 TIMEOUT: 10:15:50:06
Do you know this girl?
TIMEIN: 10:15:50:18 TIMEOUT: 10:15:52:15
No, I don't.
- No?
TIMEIN: 10:15:52:19 TIMEOUT: 10:15:54:18
You've never seen her?
- No.
TIMEIN: 10:15:54:22 TIMEOUT: 10:15:57:17
Do you know Marina Chernykh?
TIMEIN: 10:15:58:09 TIMEOUT: 10:16:01:17
Yes, yes I do.
- You know her?
TIMEIN: 10:16:02:18 TIMEOUT: 10:16:05:09
Doesn't she live over there?
TIMEIN: 10:16:06:13 TIMEOUT: 10:16:10:17
I think she lives up there.
On the third floor.
TIMEIN: 10:16:11:05 TIMEOUT: 10:16:14:22
Show the photo to the guard.
He knows everyone.
TIMEIN: 10:16:21:16 TIMEOUT: 10:16:22:16
Good day.
TIMEIN: 10:16:25:14 TIMEOUT: 10:16:28:02
Do you know Marina Chernykh?
TIMEIN: 10:16:28:22 TIMEOUT: 10:16:31:14
What was her last name?
- Chernykh.
TIMEIN: 10:16:37:02 TIMEOUT: 10:16:39:23
There's no one here by that name.
- No?
10:16:46
The woman in the photos is nowhere to be found. We arrange to meet Elena Garrett, a Russian private detective, married to an American. Western men call in her services when they think a woman is out to swindle them. She believes that Marina Chernykh is working for a gang of con men.
10:17:11
Caption: Elena Garret, private detective
Quote Elena Garret
Somebody with that name should exist It is very unusual for a scammer to be able to manufacture a good enough false id to actually receive money by Western Union with a false ID. It is easier and cheaper for him to hire a prostitute, a drug addict, an university student who needs money really badly, and say: go to Western Union, get some money for me and you will get a percentage.
10:17:39
The gang is well-organised and always goes about things the same way, according to Elena. Passionate love letters and exciting photos should be enough to get western men to transfer money.
Quote Elena Garrett
Reporter: So they are naïve…
E: Of course they are naïve, but these people hire psychologists to write those letters They start to call your future wife. It implies that you start to feel like a future husband. They tell I love you. In the next letter they say: Our love. You have not said that you love her, but she already says ‘Our love’. We want to see each other, she starts to tell you how you are going to feel. And surprisingly, people fall for that. So I would say it's almost like a snake, before it strikes it usually stares at the victim and the victim starts to get hypnotised by the stare. Those people want that kind of effect.
10:18:38
Flashback telephone conversation:
First of all I want to spend my holidays with you. And I want to talk o you, look into your eyes.
10:18:46
Since we still hadn’t transferred any money, the con men hired a woman to ring us and convince us to pay the amount. It’s now pretty certain it wasn’t the woman in the photos.
Flashback telephone conversation:
If you help me, my dream will come true.
Quote Elena Garrett
They do not like have one person do all. Because if the person gets caught, they know too much. So the person they are taking the photo’s of, they are never going to put her on the phone with the person who is the victim of these photos. Because if she gets caught, she can give out a lot.
10:19:25
The con men’s victims are spread all over the world, and Belgium is no exception. The Belgian Embassy in Moscow receives on average 35 complaints a week.
10:19:25
Caption: Mark Van de Vreken, Belgian Embassy Moscow
Quote Mark Van de Vreken
M: Het merendeel van de klachten zijn jammer genoeg mensen die al een of twee keer geld hebben overgemaakt en dan pas zich beginnen vragen te stellen en dan pas de ambassade contacteren.
Reporter: En over welke bedragen gaat we het dan?
M: Bedragen die zeer regelmatig voorkomen zijn 2000, 3000 Euro. Met excessieve gevallen tot 12.000 dollar heb ik vorige week gezien.
Subtitles
TIMEIN: 10:19:36:17 TIMEOUT: 10:19:41:13
Most complaints are from people
who've already transferred money.
TIMEIN: 10:19:41:17 TIMEOUT: 10:19:46:03
They start wondering what's
happening and only then contact us.
TIMEIN: 10:19:46:07 TIMEOUT: 10:19:49:00
What amounts are we talking about?
TIMEIN: 10:19:49:14 TIMEOUT: 10:19:53:15
2,000 and 3,000 euro are not
exceptional,
TIMEIN: 10:19:53:19 TIMEOUT: 10:19:58:11
and last week there was a case of
12,000 dollars.
10:19:59
The Belgian Embassy advises victims to make a formal complaint. Most of them are too ashamed to do anything, which leaves the police nothing to go on.
10:20:13
Caption: Josjkar-Ola
We know that Marina’s e-mails come from Yoshkar-Ola, a town some 700 km from Moscow. Apparently 1 in every 100 inhabitants makes a living out of swindling unsuspecting western men.
10:20:33
Mail:
Voice-off:
Hi my favourite Alex. It is very sad that until now I not have received a line after our telephone conversation. Why? You have assist to write to me. You the most important person in my life.
10:20:53
Together with our Russian interpreter, we go to see Anna Goudova from the public prosecutor’s office. According to her, two years ago the police dealt a heavy blow to the scam business. They arrested as many as 150 people, including 20 gang leaders.
10:21:17
Quote Anna Goudova
10:21:17
Caption: Archives september 2006
10:21:38
TIMEIN: 10:21:07:20 TIMEOUT: 10:21:09:09
How did they do it?
TIMEIN: 10:21:09:13 TIMEOUT: 10:21:15:05
The system the organisation, or gang,
used was extremely clever.
TIMEIN: 10:21:17:08 TIMEOUT: 10:21:20:17
One group of people wrote the letters.
TIMEIN: 10:21:20:21 TIMEOUT: 10:21:25:15
Another group took care of
the technical side,
TIMEIN: 10:21:25:19 TIMEOUT: 10:21:30:24
the computers, the Internet and so on.
Others handled the bookkeeping.
TIMEIN: 10:21:31:03 TIMEOUT: 10:21:36:24
Some wrote the scenarios, but didn't
necessarily write the mails.
TIMEIN: 10:21:37:03 TIMEOUT: 10:21:41:04
There were those who collected
the money from the bank,
TIMEIN: 10:21:41:08 TIMEOUT: 10:21:46:04
and those who recruited girls
to make the calls to western men.
TIMEIN: 10:21:46:08 TIMEOUT: 10:21:49:19
The gang leaders used friends,
relatives,
TIMEIN: 10:21:49:23 TIMEOUT: 10:21:53:23
or students who wanted to earn some
extra money.
10:21:54
The gang leaders mostly hired students who had a good knowledge of computers or languages. They in turn received a percentage of the money western men transferred over there. A welcome bit of extra cash in a region with little future. Unemployment is high in Yoshkar Ola and the average monthly wage is a pitiful 250 euro.
Subtitles (Russian)
TIMEIN: 10:22:17:22 TIMEOUT: 10:22:20:08
How did the first contact occur?
TIMEIN: 10:22:20:12 TIMEOUT: 10:22:23:05
I didn't have direct contact with them.
TIMEIN: 10:22:23:09 TIMEOUT: 10:22:28:14
A few years ago a friend told me of an
easy way to earn good money.
TIMEIN: 10:22:28:18 TIMEOUT: 10:22:34:08
I was surprised, but I thought the job
sounded interesting.
TIMEIN: 10:22:34:12 TIMEOUT: 10:22:39:17
He said that all he needed was some
photos of me on a hard disk.
TIMEIN: 10:22:39:21 TIMEOUT: 10:22:43:16
For that I would receive a nice little
sum every month.
10:22:45
According to her, the woman didn’t know that the scammers were using her photos to con western men. She also had to go to the bank every time someone from the West made a money transfer. She received between 5 and 10 percent of the sum, but said she didn’t realise what was going on.
Subtitles (Russian)
TIMEIN: 10:23:01:13 TIMEOUT: 10:23:06:00
They didn't tell me what they did
nor with whom they worked.
TIMEIN: 10:23:06:05 TIMEOUT: 10:23:09:20
Nothing about what they did.
- And are you sorry?
TIMEIN: 10:23:10:04 TIMEOUT: 10:23:13:19
And are you sorry?
- I have nothing to be sorry about.
TIMEIN: 10:23:13:23 TIMEOUT: 10:23:19:04
I wasn't prosecuted and neither did
I have to pay a fine.
TIMEIN: 10:23:19:08 TIMEOUT: 10:23:24:15
I heard that when they arrested
the gang they played with fire.
TIMEIN: 10:23:24:19 TIMEOUT: 10:23:27:07
Trouble broke out at the court.
TIMEIN: 10:23:27:11 TIMEOUT: 10:23:32:04
I only read that scammers existed first
in the newspapers.
TIMEIN: 10:23:32:22 TIMEOUT: 10:23:37:08
I wasn't directly involved.
I was a small fish in the ocean.
TIMEIN: 10:23:37:12 TIMEOUT: 10:23:43:11
Once I'd heard what was happening,
I stopped immediately.
10:23:33
Caption: Archives September 2006
10:23:45
This gang worked out of 4 flats and for a year and a half sent mails non-stop, 24 hours a day, to men all over the world.
10:23:59
Caption: Anna Goudova
Subtitles (Russian):
TIMEIN: 10:23:58:07 TIMEOUT: 10:24:01:02
There were some 100.000 victims,
TIMEIN: 10:24:01:06 TIMEOUT: 10:24:07:02
spread over the US, Canada, Belgium,
France, Greece and England.
TIMEIN: 10:24:07:06 TIMEOUT: 10:24:09:03
In fact, the European Union.
TIMEIN: 10:24:09:07 TIMEOUT: 10:24:11:14
How much money did they earn?
TIMEIN: 10:24:11:18 TIMEOUT: 10:24:15:02
Each flat averaged about 11,000 euro
per day.
TIMEIN: 10:24:15:06 TIMEOUT: 10:24:18:11
Amongst the money that was lost,
TIMEIN: 10:24:18:15 TIMEOUT: 10:24:24:17
the amounts range from 10,000
to 50,000 euro per victim.
10:24:26
This month, 14 members of the gang will go on trial in Josjkar Ola. ///
However, the network is anything but wound up. Via e-mails, Marina Tsjernykh’s gang continues to try to convince us to transfer money to them. And... they continue to call us. This time we insist on a personal meeting.
10:24:47
Telephone conversation
Reporter: Is it possible to maybe come and see you?
- Well My darling. I think it’s not necessary. Because you will waste money. I would like to see your country. I think its more simple for me to come to you.
Reporter: I think I am already falling in love , I really want to see you.
Reporter: Marina?
- I’m sorry darling. Why don’t you want me to come to you.
Reporter: But can we say like ....ze heeft opgehangen.
Subtitle:
TIMEIN: 10:25:27:10 TIMEOUT: 10:25:28:22
She's hung up.
10:25:30
There are still marriage bureaus in Josjkar-Ola trying to couple women with western men. However, business is bad. Thanks to the scammers, a lot of men believe that any woman coming from Josjkar Ola must be conning them.
Subtitles:
TIMEIN: 10:25:35:10 TIMEOUT: 10:25:38:18
Take a seat. Did you bring your
passport?
TIMEIN: 10:25:54:09 TIMEOUT: 10:25:57:19
Another one? Or was that it?
- One more.
10:26:03
Caption: Maria Samochkova
Subtitles (Russian):
TIMEIN: 10:26:00:08 TIMEOUT: 10:26:07:11
I'm looking for a young man who will
love me and our children.
TIMEIN: 10:26:07:19 TIMEOUT: 10:26:10:12
A strong, masculine, kind man.
10:26:13
This marriage bureau, Maksim Introductions, meticulously checks whether the women are working with con men. That’s what they say, anyway.
10:26:23
Caption: Konstantin Sitnikov Maksim Introductions
Subtitles (Russian):
TIMEIN: 10:26:21:00 TIMEOUT: 10:26:25:09
We check whether their addresses
and phone numbers are valid.
TIMEIN: 10:26:25:13 TIMEOUT: 10:26:30:23
We strictly forbid them requesting
money or gifts.
TIMEIN: 10:26:31:02 TIMEOUT: 10:26:36:21
If we find out someone's scamming,
we drop them immediately
TIMEIN: 10:26:37:05 TIMEOUT: 10:26:42:03
Then we place their details
on a special site for scammers.
TIMEIN: 10:26:42:17 TIMEOUT: 10:26:48:24
That way, we limit their chances
of continuing their scams.
10:26:58
Once the woman has hooked a potential husband, he has to pay for her English lessons. And it doesn’t stop there: he’s charged for letters, telephone calls and should they meet via the webcam, that’s charged to him too.
10:27:10
English class
Teacher: I want to learn English, because it’s an international language.
Teacher: So Marina, talk about yourself.
Marina: I want to married…
Teacher: … to get married…
Marina: I want to get married … In the USA… I have boyfriend. His name Richard.
Teacher: Do you love him?
Marina: Yes.
10:27:43
This Marina is happy to have found her Richard. It’s the same story wherever you go: in Russia there are more women than men, 10 million of them, which makes it especially difficult to find a good husband.
10:28:08
Caption: Elena Smirnova, English teacher
Go to a nightclub for example. You will see about 500 or 600 girls there and about 30 men. Then go to a restaurant and you will see a table like that and of 4 or 6 women around it. No men… There are a lot of small Russian towns like that, with no industry… A lot of problems like alcoholism… Drugs… They just want a happier life.
Caption: Marina Klueva
Subtitles (Russian):
TIMEIN: 10:28:39:18 TIMEOUT: 10:28:43:07
I was looking for the man of my
dreams at a marriage bureau.
TIMEIN: 10:28:43:11 TIMEOUT: 10:28:48:08
I have found him.
I'm going to keep house for him.
TIMEIN: 10:28:48:15 TIMEOUT: 10:28:54:10
I will become a good wife for his
children and our children.
10:28:58
Caption: Moscow
Back in Moscow, Elena Garrett, the private detective, tells us that most Russian Marriage Bureaus really aren’t to be trusted. Without the women being aware of it, some bureaus e-mail thousands of men and ask for money for airfares or a visa.
SVO Elena Garrett privé-detective OT ENG
Very few people come in and jump in full gear in scamming. Most of the people come in with fairly good intentions, start to get pressed for money and start breaking their own rules and eventually they become what they hoped they never become. But many of them, start going down and down and down the hill.
10:29:39
We decide to put it to the test...
Our Russian interpreter, Evgenia, will go undercover and present herself at various marriage bureaus in Moscow...
She is, as far as they’re concerned, looking for a Belgian husband.
Subtitles (Russian):
TIMEIN: 10:30:08:06 TIMEOUT: 10:30:12:24
Hello. Take a seat.
How can I help you?
TIMEIN: 10:30:13:03 TIMEOUT: 10:30:16:06
I want to meet a foreign man.
- Fine.
TIMEIN: 10:30:16:15 TIMEOUT: 10:30:21:11
We work with four, five sites...
No, five sites.
TIMEIN: 10:30:21:15 TIMEOUT: 10:30:27:08
One of them targets Americans and
Europe, especially England.
TIMEIN: 10:30:27:12 TIMEOUT: 10:30:30:06
Shall we take a photo of you first?
TIMEIN: 10:30:30:10 TIMEOUT: 10:30:34:07
Some girls pose in a swimsuit.
It depends what you want.
TIMEIN: 10:30:34:11 TIMEOUT: 10:30:40:13
However, foreigners always react
extremely quickly to a naked woman.
TIMEIN: 10:30:40:17 TIMEOUT: 10:30:45:05
If you pose without a swimsuit,
they'll write immediately.
TIMEIN: 10:30:45:09 TIMEOUT: 10:30:47:16
Men will always be men.
TIMEIN: 10:30:47:20 TIMEOUT: 10:30:51:20
We work like this: we place your
details in English.
TIMEIN: 10:30:51:24 TIMEOUT: 10:30:53:02
On the site, yes?
TIMEIN: 10:30:53:06 TIMEOUT: 10:30:58:13
Maybe on all five. We'll see.
This site's the best at the moment.
TIMEIN: 10:30:58:17 TIMEOUT: 10:31:04:07
That's the site for Europe.
For England and Belgium.
TIMEIN: 10:31:04:11 TIMEOUT: 10:31:09:13
We get a lot of letters. We see which
ones best fit the girl.
TIMEIN: 10:31:09:17 TIMEOUT: 10:31:14:10
We don't send on everything.
We answer the e-mails.
TIMEIN: 10:31:14:14 TIMEOUT: 10:31:19:13
I handle the correspondence.
For as long as it comes via this office.
TIMEIN: 10:31:19:22 TIMEOUT: 10:31:21:24
Good. Thank you. Goodbye.
10:31:23
This bureau handles all communication which makes it simple for them to ask money from men without the woman having any inkling as to what’s going on.
10:31:34
Caption: Evgenia Vanioukova, interpreter
E: Ze schrijft alles, voor alle meisjes schrijf ze alle brieven.
Reporter: Halen ze daar hun winst dan uit?
E: Zij vragen geld voor elke brief dat de man ontvangt, betaalt man.
Ze heeft duidelijk gezegd dat alle brieven worden door haar geschreven ook niet met mij besproken voor alle emsijes schrijven ze brieven ze vragen geld voor elke brief
Subtitles:
TIMEIN: 10:31:33:03 TIMEOUT: 10:31:37:10
She writes all the mails and letters
for every single girl.
TIMEIN: 10:31:37:14 TIMEOUT: 10:31:39:14
Is that how they make money?
TIMEIN: 10:31:41:01 TIMEOUT: 10:31:46:22
Yes, they ask money for every letter
that they send out to the men.
10:31:48
Each man pays 4 to 8 euro per mail, so every woman that signs up at the bureau is essentially a gold mine. The letter that the bureau draws up for her is sent to thousands of men. Even when women have found a partner, some of the bureaus continue to send e-mails.
10:32:04
Quote Elena Garrett
Most of the people never check if they really took down their advertisement. If you look back on their website, you might be surprised that 3 or 4 years later your add is still there. And more so, not only on their website, the've also decided to sell your photo to several other websites. And now your photo is displayed, instead of one agency on maybe 20 other different agencies. And all those agencies are making some kind of money on you.
10:32:35
The next bureau on our list is Otto’s Marriage Bureau.
On its Russian website, the bureau states that they handle all correspondence and that the women need do nothing at all.
Moreover, they work with marriage bureaus all over the world, including those in Belgium.
The address is simply mentioned on the website.
Subtitles (Russian):
TIMEIN: 10:33:01:09 TIMEOUT: 10:33:06:03
I'm looking for the Otto Agency.
It should be somewhere here.
TIMEIN: 10:33:06:13 TIMEOUT: 10:33:08:21
It doesn't ring a bell.
- What name?
TIMEIN: 10:33:09:00 TIMEOUT: 10:33:11:24
Otto.
- A marriage bureau.
TIMEIN: 10:33:14:15 TIMEOUT: 10:33:18:06
Did they have an office here?
Have they moved?
TIMEIN: 10:33:18:10 TIMEOUT: 10:33:22:13
I couldn't say. It hasn't been here for
some years now.
TIMEIN: 10:33:22:17 TIMEOUT: 10:33:24:21
Right. Thank you very much.
10:33:33
Quote Evgenia Vanioukova
Ze hebben daar een paar jaar geleden gezeten, maar ze zitten daar niet meer. Dat bestaat niet meer.
Subtitles:
TIMEIN: 10:33:31:21 TIMEOUT: 10:33:36:18
They did have an office there a few
years ago, but not any more.
TIMEIN: 10:33:37:05 TIMEOUT: 10:33:38:14
It's ceased to exist.
10:33:40
Which is hardly surprising since corrupt bureaus change address regularly to escape the police.
Some bureaus simply make up the whole thing. They steal photos from other dating sites and lure men to Russia for a woman who doesn’t exist.
10:34:02
Quote Elena Garrett
Ok, imagine that you decide to finally to come and visit me. And you tell the agency, I'm coming in June, and they say, that's great, we're going to arrange an apartment for you, we're going to give you a driver, we're going to give you a bodyguard. All of this costs this much per month or per week, and your lady will be there to meet you with the flowers. And when you come, he comes with bad news, your lady had an emergency or her grandma suddenly felt very bad, she had to leave 2 days before the trip. They are not afraid of you coming there because have plenty of making money on you there. And they will always have an excuse why your lady didn't get to the meeting.
10:34:53
Caption: Rollegem-Kapelle
Even after a bad experience, Patrik Decroubele didn’t give up in his search for a Russian wife. Via a dating site he got into contact with 32 year-old Oksana, a single mother.
10:35:16
Caption: Patrik Decroubele
Dus nadat ik mijn profiel had aangemaakt op Elena’s Models, was ik aan het kijken tussen al die mooie vrouwen, en… Ja, is het toeval of niet, Oksana was de eerste vrouw die… die precies… waarheid uitstraalde of wat… Ik heb mijn interesse doorgemaild aan Oksana en we zijn beginnen mailen.
Subtitles:
TIMEIN: 10:35:12:09 TIMEOUT: 10:35:15:08
I placed my profile with Elena's
Models,
TIMEIN: 10:35:16:17 TIMEOUT: 10:35:20:19
and I was looking at all the beautiful
women in the photos.
TIMEIN: 10:35:23:13 TIMEOUT: 10:35:27:17
Was it by chance, who knows,
but Oksana was the first woman...
TIMEIN: 10:35:28:19 TIMEOUT: 10:35:30:24
that seemed...
TIMEIN: 10:35:33:05 TIMEOUT: 10:35:35:21
to exude honesty or something...
TIMEIN: 10:35:36:00 TIMEOUT: 10:35:40:15
So I let Oksana know I was interested
and we started mailing.
10:35:47
Caption: Oksana Decroubele
It was really like nice to get letters from him… So I felt, yes, this is the person who can be
my soulmate.
10:35:52
Patrik and Oksana were married six months after their first meeting. Neither of them have any regrets.
10:35:58
Quote Patrik
Ik denk als ge iemand zoekt via internet, moet ge een stuk geluk hebben, maar moet ge ook uit uw doppen kijken. Als ge u niet voorstelt als iemand die rijk is, Als ge de andere persoon duidelijk maakt dat hier niks te rapen valt, wat er dan nog overschiet aan interesse, dan weet ge dat dat echte gevoelens zijn.
Subtitles
TIMEIN: 10:35:58:07 TIMEOUT: 10:36:02:06
You need luck when you look for
somene via the Internet,
TIMEIN: 10:36:02:10 TIMEOUT: 10:36:04:24
but you have to watch what you do.
TIMEIN: 10:36:05:03 TIMEOUT: 10:36:09:01
If you don't put yourself forward as
someone well-off,
TIMEIN: 10:36:09:05 TIMEOUT: 10:36:14:01
if you make it clear to the other person
TIMEIN: 10:36:14:05 TIMEOUT: 10:36:18:03
that life isn't a bed of roses here,
then, if there's still interest,
TIMEIN: 10:36:18:07 TIMEOUT: 10:36:20:19
you know the feelings are real.
Wedding film
10:36:30
Quote Patrik/Oksana
Patrik: Het einde van een zoektocht, een zoektocht naar geluk… Nu is het aan ons om het geluk te laten voortduren…
Oksana: ja.
Subtitles:
TIMEIN: 10:36:30:04 TIMEOUT: 10:36:33:16
The end of a search, a search for
happiness.
TIMEIN: 10:36:37:04 TIMEOUT: 10:36:42:16
Now it's up to us to make it last.
- Yes.
10:36:54
Marina Tsjernikh’s gang aren’t giving up. We receive yet another mail.
It seems that Marina has found someone at last. There’s now another woman looking for a husband.
10:37:01
Mail
Voice-off:
Hello
My name is Anastasiya. I am the modest girl from Russia. My age of 26 years. I search for the future husband. For me you seem interesting by the man. I shall be glad to learn you better. Anastasiya.
End