AnastasiaDate is an international online dating website that primarily connects men from North America with women from Eastern Europe.
[6] Following the growth of AnastasiaDate,[7] the company spun off three websites during 2007, each connecting western men with women from different areas of the world: AmoLatina,[8] AsianBeauties (now AsianDate), and AfricaBeauties.
The Fortune article observes: "And thanks to people like me willing to pay to talk with beautiful young women like Anastasia – who was paid to respond – the trade is doing pretty well".
[1] Users that register on AnastasiaDate may also be co-registered on their affiliated partner websites:[25][26][27] AfricanDate/AfricaBeauties, ArabianDate, AsianBeauties/AsianDate, AmoLatina, ChinaLove, YourChristianDate, EuroDate, FlirtWith, DateMyAge, YourTravelMates, Dil Mil, uDates and Dating.com.
[28][29][30][31] The Guardian journalist reported that "none of the men I became close to on my tour ended up in lasting relationships, and the majority appeared to fall victim to a number of sophisticated scams".
A girl on the site who was interviewed "explained the whole sordid array of techniques, from a light impersonalised online-chatting version to a full-service chauffeur-driven platinum fraud, where men are rinsed of cash for a full week in Odesa, thinking they are cementing a lifelong relationship while actually being strung along on platonic dates that end with them dispatched to the airport with heavy hearts and empty wallets".
He concludes as well that "the staffs of local bridal agencies will often pose as the women in the profiles, responding to incoming messages in order to keep the rubles rolling in".
During the investigation experts at International data security firm Group-IB confirmed that the attack was carried out by Ukrainian nationals Gayk Grishkian and Inna Yatsenko.
[36] Subsequently, a complaint filed by the company helped Ukrainian authorities arrest the two hackers and an analysis of data stored in their confiscated devices confirmed their involvement in the crimes.
[1] News outlets call AnastasiaDate the leading "premium international dating" website and have observed its efforts to seemingly rebrand the mail-order bride industry, within which it is grouped.