Finding & Vetting Providers

The vetting process is where safety begins. Taking shortcuts here is the fastest way to get scammed, robbed, arrested, or worse. Invest the time.

Where to Search

The landscape of advertising platforms changes constantly — sites go down, laws change, new platforms emerge. Rather than listing specific URLs that may be outdated, here are the categories of platforms to look for:

Dedicated Advertising Platforms

Websites specifically designed for providers to advertise their services. These exist in most countries and range from basic classified-style listings to sophisticated platforms with photos, reviews, and verification systems.

• Look for platforms with verification features — photo verification, ID verification, or review systems
• Established platforms tend to be safer than brand-new ones. Longevity suggests a degree of legitimacy and community trust.
• Regional platforms are usually better than global ones for finding local providers

Review Forums and Communities

Online forums where clients share experiences and providers build reputations. These communities often have extensive vetting culture, where experienced members help newcomers avoid pitfalls.

• Look for communities with active moderation and established rules
• Cross-reference reviews — a single glowing review means little, but a consistent pattern across multiple reviewers is more reliable
• Be aware of fake reviews (both positive and negative). More on this below.

Social Media

Many providers maintain professional social media accounts (typically Twitter/X). These can provide a sense of their personality, verify they're a real person, and show recent photos.

• An active social media presence with consistent posting over months/years is a good sign
• Interaction with other known providers adds credibility
• Be cautious of brand-new accounts with no history

Provider Personal Websites

Many established providers have their own websites with rates, services, photos, booking procedures, and screening requirements. A professional website suggests a serious, established provider.

Red Flags — When to Walk Away

Learn to recognize warning signs. Any single red flag warrants caution. Multiple red flags mean walk away.

Scam Indicators

• Prices too good to be true. If someone is offering rates dramatically below market rate, something is wrong — bait-and-switch, robbery setup, law enforcement sting, or trafficking.
• Requesting deposits via gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfer. Legitimate deposits (where they exist) are handled through established payment platforms, not untraceable methods.
• Stock photos or stolen images. Do a reverse image search (Google Images, TinEye) on their photos. If the images appear on other ads under different names, they're likely stolen.
• Aggressive upselling before meeting. If the person keeps adding fees before you've even met, it's likely a scam.
• Immediately sexual messages. Legitimate providers don't typically jump to explicit content in initial messages. Overly forward communication can indicate a sting operation or scam.
• Refusing to provide any verification. While providers value privacy, an absolute refusal to verify their identity in any way is concerning.

Safety Concerns

• Provider seems scared, coerced, or controlled. If someone else is clearly directing the interaction, if the provider seems nervous beyond normal levels, or if you sense coercion — do not proceed. This may be a trafficking situation. Report it.
• Location feels unsafe. Trust your gut. If the neighborhood, building, or room feels wrong, leave.
• Third party demanding payment. If a "driver," "manager," or "boyfriend" appears demanding money, leave immediately.
• Pressure to skip condom use. A provider who pressures you to go without protection is a major health red flag. Conversely, never pressure a provider to skip condoms.

Verification Methods

How to verify that a provider is who they say they are:

Photo Verification

• Reverse image search their photos. If the images show up under different names, it's likely a catfish or scam.
• Ask for a selfie verification — a current photo holding a piece of paper with your name/date or a specific hand gesture you request. Legitimate providers who do verification will comply. Many find this request reasonable.
• Video call verification — some providers offer brief video calls to confirm identity. This is becoming more common and is one of the best verification methods.
• Check for consistency across platforms. Same photos, same name, same writing style across their website, social media, and ads.

Reputation Verification

• Review history: Multiple reviews from different reviewers over time is the strongest indicator of legitimacy
• Community presence: Active participation in provider communities, interactions with other verified providers
• Longevity: A provider who has been active for months or years is far more likely to be legitimate than one who appeared last week

Your Own OpSec (Operational Security)

Vetting is a two-way street. Protect yourself too:

• Use a dedicated phone number — a prepaid SIM or VoIP number (Google Voice, etc.) rather than your personal number
• Use a separate email — create an email not linked to your real name for correspondence
• Don't share more personal info than necessary — first name or alias is sufficient for initial contact. You may need to provide more for the provider's screening process, but only after you've verified their legitimacy.
• Be cautious with provider screening requests. Some legitimate providers screen clients (references, ID checks, employment verification). This is normal and actually a good sign — it means they take safety seriously. However, never send sensitive documents to an unverified contact.
• Payment apps leave records. If privacy matters, stick to cash.

Recognizing Trafficking

This is not optional reading. Every client has a moral responsibility to be aware of exploitation indicators:

• Provider cannot speak freely or seems to be reading from a script
• Another person is clearly controlling the situation
• Provider does not keep their own money
• Signs of physical abuse (bruises, fearfulness)
• Provider cannot leave the premises freely
• Provider is underage (if there is ANY doubt about age, leave immediately and report)
• Multiple people living/working in cramped conditions
• Provider does not have their own identity documents