A new scam technique? caveat emptor!

[+ Just Sayin]

An ad appeared on Rentmen for a cute guy yesterday; it has disappeared now; his name started with a C and ended with lopez or lopes and he had an area code 352 number; I messaged him on the RM app and when I asked him where he was, he asked for my ZIP code; when I gave that to him, he gave me the address of a nearby hotel; he also wanted a deposit for one-half of his fee, which I declined.

I thought this was odd, because he told me that the deposit was for his "manager" or something similar; I decided to text him several hours later; he asked me my ZIP code again, and I gave him a different one, and he gave me the address of a hotel in a different area; he again asked for a deposit, and I told him that I was sorry, that I only had cash. His last text to me several hours later was "did you understand me?"

Have others experienced this?

[rvwnsd]

I've neither heard of nor seen this pattern before. Hate to say it, but it does sound like a scam. 

[+ FrankR]

2 hours ago, Just Sayin said:

An ad appeared on Rentmen for a cute guy yesterday; it has disappeared now; his name started with a C and ended with lopez or lopes and he had an area code 352 number; I messaged him on the RM app and when I asked him where he was, he asked for my ZIP code; when I gave that to him, he gave me the address of a nearby hotel; he also wanted a deposit for one-half of his fee, which I declined.

I thought this was odd, because he told me that the deposit was for his "manager" or something similar; I decided to text him several hours later; he asked me my ZIP code again, and I gave him a different one, and he gave me the address of a hotel in a different area; he again asked for a deposit, and I told him that I was sorry, that I only had cash. His last text to me several hours later was "did you understand me?"

Have others experienced this?

There is a young, blond guy in NYC doing the same thing on Grindr. Buyer beware. 

[Gymowner]

5 hours ago, Just Sayin said:

An ad appeared on Rentmen for a cute guy yesterday; it has disappeared now; his name started with a C and ended with lopez or lopes and he had an area code 352 number; I messaged him on the RM app and when I asked him where he was, he asked for my ZIP code; when I gave that to him, he gave me the address of a nearby hotel; he also wanted a deposit for one-half of his fee, which I declined.

I thought this was odd, because he told me that the deposit was for his "manager" or something similar; I decided to text him several hours later; he asked me my ZIP code again, and I gave him a different one, and he gave me the address of a hotel in a different area; he again asked for a deposit, and I told him that I was sorry, that I only had cash. His last text to me several hours later was "did you understand me?"

Have others experienced this?

ive had similar on scruff. great looking "masseur". said he could meet me that day and rates were reasonable. i wanted a legit massage. he said he would give me his address after i made a deposit on his website. even had a website! i said "sorry... i only do cash after the massage". he mumbles back a few times then understood i wouldnt fall for this trap and gave up.

[ICTJOCK]

Definitely odd for sure.  I’d beware and watch

[Tandy Newton]

Saw this where someone was pretending to be this guy:

Rainer - Male Escort, Gay massage - West Hollywood | Rent.Men

RENT.MEN

---

Rainer Gay Escort in West Hollywood, California, available for Gay Escorting,Erotic Massage,Bodywork. | Find all the best Male Escorts at Rent.Men

 

[nomad]

9 hours ago, Just Sayin said:

An ad appeared on Rentmen for a cute guy yesterday; it has disappeared now; his name started with a C and ended with lopez or lopes and he had an area code 352 number; I messaged him on the RM app and when I asked him where he was, he asked for my ZIP code; when I gave that to him, he gave me the address of a nearby hotel; he also wanted a deposit for one-half of his fee, which I declined.

I thought this was odd, because he told me that the deposit was for his "manager" or something similar; I decided to text him several hours later; he asked me my ZIP code again, and I gave him a different one, and he gave me the address of a hotel in a different area; he again asked for a deposit, and I told him that I was sorry, that I only had cash. His last text to me several hours later was "did you understand me?"

Have others experienced this?

This is a remote farm of scammers, probably out of India.  Taking a page out of Nigerian's scamming old ladies playbook.  They will get progressively more and more aggressive for you to send them a deposit because their agent/manager won't let them see you without.  If they send you images, it's mocked up.  Don't fall for it.  See (feel up) the goods in person before playing.  

[TorontoDrew]

I get approached by "masseurs" quite frequently with this type of scam.  Usually with borrowed photos.

[+ Just Sayin]

1 hour ago, Enronnja said:

Saw this where someone was pretending to be this guy:

Rainer - Male Escort, Gay massage - West Hollywood | Rent.Men

RENT.MEN

---

Rainer Gay Escort in West Hollywood, California, available for Gay Escorting,Erotic Massage,Bodywork. | Find all the best Male Escorts at Rent.Men

 

really? how could practice fraud using the likeness of Rainer's amazing derriere? now that's what I call downright immoral! 

[guru68]

5 minutes ago, Just Sayin said:

really? how could practice fraud using the likeness of Rainer's amazing derriere? now that's what I call downright immoral! 

Hopefully it didn't make his brown eye blue.

[RamPoundAss]

I thought this was an old scam. What’s new about it? Asking for a deposit to be sent in advance is almost always a scam. Whether it’s booking on a massage website, joining their (paid) website, sending via Venmo or other online payment systems, etc. Occasionally you get a legit escort who is looking to screen for serious clients by asking for a deposit. Though I suspect they lose a ton of legit business that way. Or if it’s a long travel distance or extended session. But for a “standard” session it’s a scam 90% of the time. 

[+ FrankR]

If you do decide to pay a deposit - which I do NOT recommend - at least take precautions. Insist on Paypal where you can file a claim and get your money back when you get defrauded. Dont use Venmo, Zelle, Cashapp or their website. 

[+ Tygerscent]

There are so many red flags there that even my ass is bleeding just thinking about it~   
  Consider the potential implications of paying someone in advance for sexual services~ 

Edited August 13, 2023 by Tygerscent

[+ DrownedBoy]

This is a massively old and tired scam. I just hang up if the person asks for a deposit and doesn't have a verifiable record.