Craigslist Drama

[Guest maleescort]

After the CL Killer thing Craig's List has been on a lot of scrutiny and are being pressured by law enforcement to get rid of their erotic services section. The founders have even been ambush interviewed on cable news.

 

Just this week CL has become more restrictive in what they allow in the section. They stopped allowing the IMG HTML tag, so I can longer link to image deposit, and they only allow one photo to be posted. Also, ads previously expired in 30 days and now they expire in just one week.

 

Also I got a scary phone call the other day and I am still not sure if it was a prank call or the real thing. Someone from a restricted number who sounded very authoritative (and there was background call center noise behind him), told me he was from federal law enforcement and that I would have to remove my "prostitution" ad immeadiately. I hung up on him and he kept calling back repeatedly. He said I would be fined hundreds of dollars for having a nude pic in my ad, and he had my ISP. So I changed it to a G one just to be on the safe side. I called around and another male escort said he had gotten the call but no female escorts said they did. If you are a CL escort - can you tell me if you got this call? Is it a prank or for real?

 

All the busts I have heard of on CL have involved young female escorts, not male. Do you know of male busts?

 

Thanks!!

[+ Lucky]

I wouldn't pay any attention to a phone call such as you received. No doubt it is disturbing, but without proper identification you cannot be sure where the call originates. If the "law" is telling you to remove the picture, the only effective means is a court order where you are given the right to tell your side of things. Occasionally a court finds an emergency situation requiring the order to become effective before a hearing, but that is not likely when it just involves a pic on craigslist.

[jackcali]

I don't know much about law enforcement, but I don't think they operate through call centers. I think when the cops want you, they come for you. They don't call first.

 

That being said, you're right that a lot of attention is being directed toward craigslist, so you may want to be more cautious about what you post in your ads for a while.

[+ Lucky]

A quick look at the Palm Springs listings under erotic services shows a drop in ads and many clothed providers. It's like going to church!

[seaboy4hire]

A quick look at the Palm Springs listings under erotic services shows a drop in ads and many clothed providers. It's like going to church!

 

It's been a while since I've taken a look at the TOS for the erotic section but I think that showing nudity or at least genital was at one time against the rules. I'm in the middle of fixing dinner so I'll double check when I am done. The whole $5 fee is a joke. Anyone can flag an ad and regardless if the ad is against TOS one doesn't get their $5 back. Granted it's only $5 but it is the principal.

 

Hugs,

Greg

[seaboy4hire]

Mmmm dinner is done and smells delish! Broiled pork chops, stuffin and corn on the cob! Mmmm mmm good! So here is why it seems everyone is clothed

 

7. CONDUCT

 

You agree not to post, email, or otherwise make available Content:

 

a) that is unlawful, harmful, threatening, abusive, harassing, defamatory,

libelous, invasive of another's privacy, or is harmful to minors in any way;

 

b) that is pornographic or depicts a human being engaged in actual sexual conduct

including but not limited to (i) sexual intercourse, including genital-genital,

oral-genital, anal-genital, or oral-anal, whether between persons of the same or

opposite sex, or (ii) bestiality, or (iii) masturbation, or (iv) sadistic or

masochistic abuse, or (v) lascivious exhibition of the genitals or pubic area

of any person;

 

It seems at least in my experience CL has been getting tough on this before all this drama popped up.

 

Hugs,

Greg

[Guest RianB]

thats crazy, and that call you got...yeah that sounds weird. Fined? It just doesnt make any sense. Only craigslist has the right, and to only remove your ad. And like jack said, they wont be calling they'll just come. Or maybe they opened a call center to call every craigslist erotic services ad in the country

 

To me, craigslist's 'policies' are just...I dont even know the word for it. Like not being able to use image hosting anymore, one picture? From what I heard in the UK they dont charge to place an ad there, but then again its 'legal' so they've got everyone by the balls here. Typical American rules and regulations always trying to 'clean things up'.

 

I stopped using it (atleast in Dallas) earlier this year. They're automatic system always declined one of my cards for no reason, and held it, although every other website took it. And that $5 per day adds up quickly and can end up costing more than a monthly on the other sites, with much less in return.

[josephga]

iv known for months you can't post nude pics on the cl. you can't use certain words either. I used the word massage cream and the word cream can"t be used. by the way never answer restricted numbers or blocked calls.

[MsGuy]

This guy is a crank. The calls did not originate from any Federal law enforcement agency. The calls were so wrong in so many different ways that there is no point in trying to list them all.

[josephga]

the police wont call you up and tell you that you can't do this or that. they will call you up get you to promise sex for money or in my case a release for money then will arrest your azz.lol. most of the arrest happen as out calls to hotel rooms.

[Guest maleescort]

Thanks

 

Thanks for the responses. But I am still unsure about a couple things.

 

Could a government agency track my ISP and send me a big fine in the mail because I posted a nude photo on CL?

 

Are male escorts ever busted from CL? I have only heard of it happening to female escorts and thier johns.

[josephga]

I don't think the government would mail a fine for a nude pic on the cl. but imo if the rules are you don't post nude pics then you should follow the rules. But as far as a government agency tracking your isp the answer is yes. if the owners of most message boards can see your isp then im sure the government can if they choose. when it comes to being arrest for escorting iv never heard of a male on the cl getting arrested but anythings possible. I think if you find yourself in the room with LE most likely you would get charged with something. Here in Atl allot of females get charged with escorting without a permit.

[MsGuy]

Thanks for the responses. But I am still unsure about a couple things.

 

Could a government agency track my ISP and send me a big fine in the mail because I posted a nude photo on CL?

 

Are male escorts ever busted from CL? I have only heard of it happening to female escorts and thier johns.

 

Track your ISP? Easily

 

Send fine in the mail for nude photo? No

 

Bust you from CL? Not for the ad itself. A vice cop could use your ad to contact you as part of a sting operation. The ad could then be used as evidence of your intent in meeting the undercover cop later. If you live in a city where the police are using CL to target female escorts, you need to be especially careful in how you word your ad and in how you discuss business with new clients. There's nothing that stops them from extending their sting to male escorts. The cops usually don't but that's more a matter of police policy and mindset than law.

 

I hate it that you had to go through this kind of scary experience but that caller, however convincing he may have seemed on the telephone, was not acting on behalf of any Federal law enforcement agency.

[devonhunter]

i have friends in florida who also got these kind of "you better watch out" calls... probably closeted deacons at a local church.

[Guest RianB]

i have friends in florida who also got these kind of "you better watch out" calls... probably closeted deacons at a local church.

 

PMSL! Can you imagine...See thats why most of the main sites only advertise in certain cities. You have craigslist which is accesible everywhere and you get all kinds of things coming out the woodwork

[Guest AndrewJames]

NYC arrests?

 

While I was in London, I was staying with a friend who is also an escort. He got a message on his Gay romeo warning that Escorts and Clients who had met online had been arrested in NYC? Does anyone have any details? Is this just a CL thing or is it affecting the Professional Sites as well?

[Steven_Draker]

While I was in London, I was staying with a friend who is also an escort. He got a message on his Gay romeo warning that Escorts and Clients who had met online had been arrested in NYC? Does anyone have any details? Is this just a CL thing or is it affecting the Professional Sites as well?

 

Andrew, check your email !

 

Cheers, Steven ~