I found this while researching some wedding customs on the net and found these articles- I knew it was a big business in Russia (got several sham proposals while I was there both times) and I knew it was a problem here in the US, but I didn't realize it was quite so prevalent or apparently so lucrative in many places!

Woman Faces Jail over 27 Sham Marriages


UK to Crack down on Sham Marriages

That first one was a terribly written article - it was only at the end that I figured out how she was actually making money out of these marriages! :D

I imagine it is a similar problem in Australia - there's a whole lot of people who want to migrate here and this seems a good a way as any to do it if you can't get in legally. Surely she realised that if she didn't want to get caught she should be a little less blatant about it! Criminals are often fairly stupid though ;) .

I thought the thread might have been about the weird new trend for couples getting married to have it paid for through advertising - get your meals and flowers and everything sponsered in exchange for adspace at the wedding and reception. Classy! :eek: :D I imagine that's the way you and Nacht are going with it, Cloudy? ;)

Well, the only reason I'd ever get married in this country is to get a green card - and I will if I have to. I don't ever wanna wife but I do wanna stay in the States. [img]tongue.gif[/img]

A wise man, my uncle Bim, once said:

Young Whackmiester, when it comes to marriage,
RUN!!! RUN LIKE THE WIND!!!

Aelia, I agree about the article. I've seen better written things, but the idea of 27 sham marriages shocked me. I mean I've heard of people doing it for the money (knew some in Russia) but I'd never heard of anyone doing it more than once! That women had nerve, if not brains! ;) :D

I've heard of people doing that- sponsored weddings where they get someone to pay for their reception, flowers etc and they advertise the vendors at the reception...uh..not my thing, but I suppose if you don't mind ads on your napkins, and can't afford things you'd like any other way it's one alternative. But I admit, I'd sure like it if I hadn't had to pay out quite so much of my paychecks over the last few months! :D

Sure you do, just get one o' them old-style marriage situations where you get as many wives as you want. Think of it, you could assign one woman to each household task. One for cooking, one for cleaning, one for shopping etc. All barefoot, and preggers. And then of course, you could put them on rotation for various 'nightly jobs' :D Now, you just try and tell me that doesn't sound good man :D

[img]graemlins/laugh2.gif[/img] Aww, c'mon Whacky, you could be rich if you pick up tips from Mrs. 27 Sham Marriages in the first article...just don't get caught! ;) :D :D

Oh My God!!! Dezerrie? How could you?

HEHE...time for that annullment, Donut? ;) :D