I’ve heard of scams where the women simply ask for money. How can I tell if “my girl” is a scam artist?
Don’t send money. It’s as easy as that. No respectable Russian woman, no matter her economic situation, will ask a man she has never met for money. Of course you must be sensitive to her financial situation, and not expect her to be able to travel hours from her hometown to see you. Even sending parcels in the mail is a bad idea because the customs tax she will have to pay is often worth more than the contents!