wolfgangdc

I'm not sure what the consensus is - except maybe there is no consensus!

I think there are things we can do for safety without prying.

Googling an advertised phone number? Good idea IMHO. Might reveal a major scam or worse.

I did this recently though and the escort's real-name resume popped up first. I didn't tell him but might later. It was shocking how easy it was and was not my intent.

Twice I got friend-requests from escorts I'd hired, in their real names. I accepted both. One is a friend, the other I think just proposes friendship to whomever Facebook suggests.

I just got a Facebook "someone you may know" for another escort in his real name. I suspect he got the same for me. I will see him later this month and was debating if and how to disclose. Emailing afterwards may be good.

Maybe this is a good rule: if a basic web search for safety reasons reveals the escort's identity then should not be an issue to disclose though wait for the right time. Some like Juan would appreciate it. A deep dive though that becomes a clear invasion of privacy should be avoided and certainly not disclosed.

If you've ever connected your phone number to Facebook, or allowed the Facebook app to use your contacts, it will go through your newest contacts, see if they've done the same, and recommend those new people you added. This goes for LinkedIn as well.

Even if you change, or remove your phone number, or revoke access, it doesn't mean the other person has.

If you really want to protect your identity, use another phone number. +1 for google voice