Scammer-loner is a real woman who uses her real name and real photographs. That’s why trying to call her or sending flowers will not expose her: she will talk to you on the phone, and happily let the flower delivery person take a picture of her for you. Unlike scammer rings, she will patiently read and answer each letter, making sure her replies are personal and touching. She will not desperately fall in love with you right away (eventually, she will, but not on the third letter). She will tell you all about her family, her loving and hardworking parents, her painful divorce, and her wonderful job of a kindergarten teacher – a job she adores despite the fact that it only pays $40 per month.
She is patient and cunning, and she is a good psychologist. She knows exactly what to say and how to present herself. She will be careful not to scare you off with a quick money request, the correspondence can continue for months before she starts cautiously approaching the subject. She will first drop a hint, subtly mentioning some financial difficulty and maybe even telling you of happily resolving it. If you ignore it, she will let it go. Some time later she will try again. She may even refuse small financial help if you offer it, like helping with Internet costs – only to try and pull off the same old Visa & Tickets trick later.
Once again, remember the rule: Money Request = Dump the Girl. She can make it all look very real, using forged visa or even a fake travel agency website that will confirm her “itinerary.” Do not fall for that. Never send money to anyone you have not met in person. Tell her that you would rather come to Russia to see her yourself and see how fast she will come up with an excuse why she cannot meet you.