I want to speak in defense of Lubov Baranova. I spent three weeks in Chernivtsi and was treated very graciously and kindly. I met Mrs. Baranova almost daily and sometimes several times a day. I can only speak well of her and her marriage agency.
Many of the complaints on this site are about her fees. Of course she charges fees! She is a business woman and must earn a living. She is a professional matchmaker. Her fees are very reasonable--and I am speaking as a lower-middle-class man who must watch his budget. Do you expect chauffeur service, translators, guides for free!? Twenty-dollars for all-day chauffering service is very reasonable. And if you are corresponding with women, many of whom can't speak English, you should expect to pay for a translator. Or you can take the trouble to learn Ukrainian. And the $1000.00 engagement fee was well worth it. Mrs. Baranova helped me for many months to find the perfect woman for me, she often provided me with home-cooked meals, and on the night of September 11 we watched together in horror the news reports about the bombing of the World Trade Center. She grieved for what America was undergoing. If you expect to find the ideal mate without expending anything, your attitude and understanding is immature--whatever your age.
If you expect to use people, to have other people support your search for a mate,to travel to Eastern Europe on five dollars a day and come home with a pin-up wife, you are living a fantasy. To bad-mouth people who do not live up to this childish, whining, self-indulgent fantasy is not only infantile but cruel and unjust.
For those of you reading this bulletin board who are mature and responsible, do not be afraid of Mrs. Baranova. She is a human being, of course, with normal human failings, but she is a gracious gentlewoman. She introduced me to many beautiful, well-educated, professional women. All of them were very marriageable and I would have been proud to introduce any of them to my family. I did not meet any prostitutes or scam artists. Those who claim they did certainly met their own reflections.
All whom I met in association with Mrs. Baranova were fine, educated people. I consider them friends and look forward to visiting them again.

This was the best propaganda joke of the day! :-)AMAZINGLY FUNNY! :-)

I was in Chernivsti in September, right after the September 11 WTC disaster and spent over one week with the Baron. I was scammed by her girl and do not have the same baseless opinion that you have.

Well I will not deny what you claim to be true.

However, my sources, including a former Baranova INSIDER--someone who was actually working for her-- confirmed that much "correspondence" is conducted by Baranova employees on behalf of the profiled-women. I am not talking about translation, I am talking outright fabrication.

My informants also confirmed that Baranova often keeps money transmitted to her "clients" without even informing them of the money.

These are the facts that speak for themselves.

--The Author

What this gentleman has written here about Baranova is the truth. She will have her employees write the letters for the ladies and I use the term, Ladies lightly sucker the men to send money and she will keep it for herself. Do not send any money!!! and keep aware of what is going on with her agency. My wife worked at her agency for several months as he doctor and told me many things that make me sick to my stomach on the way she extorts men. So beware of this SUKA!!!

Frank,

I had a simular experience with Baranova and agree with most of what you say. A cautious person can find true love and avoid most scams. Baranova is a shrewd buinesswoman who doesn't let ethics stand in the way of getting you to visit. Once there, she worked extremely hard to make sure I was happy, and I feel she earns her fees. She charge the girls to be in her club and continues to be in demand with them because she is so successful at matching people up. The cautions I would say about her agency are the same I'd say about any agency.
1. Don't send money to someone you've never met.
2. Letters are a good way to get a feel for the culture, but don't hang your heart on them. Anyone can say what you want to hear, they're trying to sell themself, just like you are.
3. Meet as many ladies as you can once you get there, then narrow it down as you get to know them better.
4. Never marry someone you haven't lived with in your home country. Remember, you marry the children too, so make sure they come when she does.
5. Don't try to impress the lady with money, it will come back to haunt you later.

And last, don't expect much positive support from this board. The last time I posted anything positive about Baranova, the lynch mob (most who had never even been to Chernovtsi) made exagerated claim about my character. Some even claimed I was Baranova. My phone number was posted on this board, and I encouraged anyone to call and explain the specifics of their complaint with Baranova, but noone ever called. I think they just enjoyed spouting BS on this board.

In any case, I wish you luck.

Don't believe a word of what these dripping scammers say, believe the sickest and negative here on the board,it's all the truth how sick these people are in order to get some money *S* it includes their foreign business partners who sponsor&support this scam underground business.This is not a small scambusiness it's a big scamindustry (on high proffesional level)

STAY OUT :-O

You were one of the very fortunate persons to deal with Baranova. My wife worked for her at one point and I had several friends that worked for her as well. She is not all she seems to be. She will do anything for a buck which means screwing you out of everthing in your wallet and bank account.

A couple years ago I was corresponding with one of her "girls" (read that her staff of herself). I finally made the mistake of sending, I believe, $100 by western union. of course, Baranoa wanted me to send it in her name, so no doubt it all went into her pocket. I finally realized it was a scam after the "girl" started forgetting all the lies told.....example..."My father and mother and I will be gooing to church tomorrow." The liars forgot they had previously stated that "father" was deceased. Oh, maybe the "girl" just forgot pop had passed away.
Why deal with a known scam artist? She may actually occasionally do someone right just to keep the seed od doubt planted out there.....and maybe these guys claiming to have been dealt square are ALSO just her staff. Stay away from these crooks.

She got me to as recently as September 8 2005. Was anyone fortunate enough to meet Oksana Matichick? Got me for close to $3000.00 plus ring and other fees. She backed out of the marriage two months before her visa expired.

Matichick or Mateshchuk? I was burnt Dec 2007, ring, $3000, Baranova's days are numbered, word on the street says ole girl did time for mail fraud

Any updates on the scammer Baranova and Svetlana Mateshchuk? Still pisses me off when someone can play with peoples emotions, tell you they love you and take your money. Julia H who was an interpreter for her organization ripped off a guy for over $9000 Any ideas on getting them shutdown? Cat are you out there?.............Scout

Is Baronova still scamming ?