Warning for Boston based and visiting Escorts

[Romann]

Hello hello!

 

I trust this message will find everyone well and happy on such a fine day! I was with a client of mine here in Boston a few days ago who owns a number of attorney firms in several states (currently representing escorts who have been busted) who told me some very interesting information concerning the Boston Police and sting operations currently going on so here it goes...

 

I was asked if I posted any face pictures especially on M4RN and Rentboy. Since I don't post face pictures for specific reasons (one of which will be quickly revealed in just a moment) I had told my client no and asked why. He had informed me that the Boston Police are searching the sites noted above for residing and visiting escorts with face shots. Profiles with posted face shots and dates of when they're going to be in Boston are being compiled and agents are being posted in hotel lobbies and a coordinated effort to involve the Concierge staff to identify escorts as they check into hotels. At that point, the police are working with the hotels to determine what rooms the escorts with face shots posted on various sites are in and from there the sting operation begins. That said, the stings are being done via phone and email where they are intentionally trying to trap escorts into discussing money for "services" which as we all know is a big NO NO!

 

PLEASE, everyone be careful especially in the Boston area as the police are really cracking down on this by working with the hotel and their staff. This efforts is be charged by the terrible murder of a female escort 3/4 months ago at The Westin and is being used as another example to shut down such sites like Craigslist (I'm not sure why anyone even bothers with that site anymore with all the recent and what appears to be future attention it and other sites will receive) in an effort to stop escorting of all types.

 

I hope that everyone finds this information helpful as I found it very interesting and am also very grateful that my client shared this information with me. I do trust this client very much and feel that he was informing me because he was truly concerned and felt that I should know. I also told him that I was going to share this information with others because again, I would truly hate to see anyone get busted.

[Cooper]

Question...

 

"He had informed me that the Boston Police are searching the sites noted above for residing and visiting escorts with face shots. Profiles with posted face shots and dates of when they're going to be in Boston are being compiled and agents are being posted in hotel lobbies and a coordinated effort to involve the Concierge staff to identify escorts as they check into hotels."

 

Romann, I've tried to research this alarming information but come up empty handed. Can your "client" provide any documentation or links to substantiate his claims? Has anyone else heard or read of such police activities in Boston? Coop

[Romann]

I don't think such links or documentation do or will exist as that would completely thwart what the police are trying to accomplish. He was speaking out of concern and from the testimony from the escorts that he and his firm are representing who have recently been busted and through evidence against the escorts in question.

 

If anything, everyone should be concerned with their safety from all angles.

 

"He had informed me that the Boston Police are searching the sites noted above for residing and visiting escorts with face shots. Profiles with posted face shots and dates of when they're going to be in Boston are being compiled and agents are being posted in hotel lobbies and a coordinated effort to involve the Concierge staff to identify escorts as they check into hotels."

 

Romann, I've tried to research this alarming information but come up empty handed. Can your "client" provide any documentation or links to substantiate his claims? Has anyone else heard or read of such police activities in Boston? Coop

[Kevin Slater]

Ah! The ol' "there's no evidence so it must be true" argument.

 

It stretches credibility that police would be stationed in hotel lobbies just waiting should some escort check in. It also makes no sense that they would target only those who show their faces; why not simply call any given ad and run the sting?

 

The original post seemed to want to imply the cops were sending the message "keep it out of the hotels, guys". Assuming for the moment that that was the case, it would still be far more productive use of time to call any escort ad (showing face or no), ask him where he is, then get those at hotels to discuss sex for money.

 

In any case, I'm skeptical. But yes, the upshot that we should all be cautious is always good to heed.

 

Kevin Slater

[Mark Gordon]

Stings

 

Thankyou for sharing this disturbing information with us, Romann. It is good to know what the potential risks are & what we can do to minimize our chances of entrapment. I have been considering touring some US cities in the NE, but have been hesitant because of such reports. I would be interested to hear more opinions on how real this threat is in US cities & what escorts can do to reduce their level of risk.

[Cooper]

Follow up

 

"I don't think such links or documentation do or will exist as that would completely thwart what the police are trying to accomplish."

 

Romann, These are serious allegations. Since many escorts who place ads with face pictures on Rentboy and M4RN are members/lurkers here, I was curious if any of them have had or heard of a problem with the Boston police... Other than the information supplied to you by your "client", I can't find another source to substantiate these claims. You would think if an escort was the subject in a sting operation because he posted his face picture on either of these sites that he would have spoken up and notified Rentboy or M4RN. Has anyone else heard of such activities involving the Boston Police? Police activities involving Craigslist are well documented. Coop

[Romann]

You're very welcome.

 

Thankyou for sharing this disturbing information with us, Romann. It is good to know what the potential risks are & what we can do to minimize our chances of entrapment. I have been considering touring some US cities in the NE, but have been hesitant because of such reports. I would be interested to hear more opinions on how real this threat is in US cities & what escorts can do to reduce their level of risk.

[Mark Gordon]

Reporting of Stings

 

Romann, I've tried to research this alarming information but come up empty handed. Can your "client" provide any documentation or links to substantiate his claims? Has anyone else heard or read of such police activities in Boston? Coop

 

What sort of research did you do so quickly, Coop? A Google search? A call to Rentboy? Why put "client" in quotation marks? Why would Romann's client manufacture such a story? This forum is one of the few places where this sort of subject might get discussed & I think Romann's input should be valued. However, there are only 434 active members of this forum, most of whom are clients, so I wouldn't expect to hear multiple reports of every gay escort sting going down in the USA. Any escort caught in such a sting might likewise be quite hesitant for business & legal reasons to publicize the details in this forum. Supposing escorts caught in stings through their ads on Rentboy & M4RN did report their situation to these websites, I would imagine that the websites would not consider it to be in their own best business interests to destroy the illusion that escorts can advertise & operate without fear of the law.

[+ Charlie]

What would be the point of such a sting operation? Attempts to entrap sex workers are normally the province of smaller urban police forces, and are usually done for political purposes. Why would a major urban police force utilize its resources to arrest individual callboys, rather than go after agencies, and not even publicize the arrests? If they did want to do it for some obscure reason, why go after only escorts who advertise with face pictures? It doesn't make sense to me.

[Ivan]

What would be the point of such a sting operation? Attempts to entrap sex workers are normally the province of smaller urban police forces, and are usually done for political purposes. Why would a major urban police force utilize its resources to arrest individual callboys, rather than go after agencies, and not even publicize the arrests? If they did want to do it for some obscure reason, why go after only escorts who advertise with face pictures? It doesn't make sense to me.

 

Remember the Craisglist killing, which was in a major tourist hotel? Nice for publicity for a city tht depends on conventions and tourists, and busiiness is really down. And the mayoral race is heating up .... Seems odd, but nothing surprises me in politics.

 

Does Boston have agencies? And you need face pictures to identify someone.

[Guest RianB]

Romann...you know I love you, but I have to say what that guy told you is absolute B.S.

 

I say so for several reasons. First off, that whole thing that happened at the Westin has had both clients and escorts running for their money. While I was there last month I found getting incalls to my hotel very difficult due to the whole scare, people were afraid I'd sting them.

 

Now, I have to say I advertised on rentboy and men4rent for an entire month before I arrived to Boston. I showed my face. I posted my travel dates. I stayed in hotels the whole time, even returning to the same one twice (by random though LOL). I listed the area of town I was in. I even popped on craigslist for a couple of days just to see how it works there. They had about 37 days to plan something. Unless the cops were too busy patrolling the harbour during the whole week of fireworks day, I had no issues. If people keep getting scared and bringing up things like this, Boston is really going to lose its potential for staying a good place to work for escorts. I bet I would have done so much better had that whole event never happened, but its still good.

 

I noticed this was a client you met in person, rather than just a random caller. Either way, I would have digged deeper to find out more. Unless they just started doing this, I find it hard to believe. And like you said, if they try to get you to cough up certain words put together over the phone or in person, then its a redflag.

 

I cant say they definently ARENT doing those things, but I wouldnt let it scare me from working up there again.

[Guest EuropTravl]

No "Incalls"

 

This all seemed silly when I first read it. But what is believable is that most hotels, from Brazil to Europe to some in the US, are for security of guests/terrorist reasons (Mumbai, India) absolutely forbidding any un-registered "guest" beyond the first floor. There are hotels that can film a person from the moment they set foot on the property and track them every step of the way until they close the door of their room - I've seen it demonstrated in a documentary of Las Vegas security. Having an escort "set up shop" in some hotel with unregistered guests in and out at all hours and cracking down on this isn't unbelievable, I'm sure it's happening and even with some people just checking in and wanting to let someone crash in their room - can't do that anymore. Hotel security may become like airport security - no ticket, you don't get beyond the common areas.

[Guest RianB]

Having an escort "set up shop" in some hotel with unregistered guests in and out at all hours and cracking down on this isn't unbelievable,.

 

well thats also why I dont have alot of people coming and going. 2 per day is the max for coming to my room. And I may take the next day off. And if its an airport hotel, no longer than 2 days.

[Guest EuropTravl]

well thats also why I dont have alot of people coming and going. 2 per day is the max for coming to my room. And I may take the next day off. And if its an airport hotel, no longer than 2 days.

 

Well, point is, "name" hotels are not allowing even one un-registered guest in the elevator to the guest room areas without pre-registration at the front desk. I don't think it's a bad idea - in fact it's going to take one publicized rape or murder of a hospital patient before they crack down, too. Security at most hospitals at night is a joke with some woman coming into the obstetrical unit with a "posse" of 15 people and those 15 then have free reign of the facility at 3 am in the morning.

[Guest RianB]

Well, point is, "name" hotels are not allowing even one un-registered guest in the elevator to the guest room areas without pre-registration at the front desk.

 

well, over here we have key cards to get into the elevators being more and more popular at brand hotels. Then some places need a card just to get into the lobby! If thats the case, I'd just meet them downstairs in business/casual attire with my laptop as if its a business meeting.

[seeker630]

NYC in July - no problems with guests!

 

Well, point is, "name" hotels are not allowing even one un-registered guest in the elevator to the guest room areas without pre-registration at the front desk. I don't think it's a bad idea - in fact it's going to take one publicized rape or murder of a hospital patient before they crack down, too. Security at most hospitals at night is a joke with some woman coming into the obstetrical unit with a "posse" of 15 people and those 15 then have free reign of the facility at 3 am in the morning.

 

I was at a "name" hotel in Manhattan in early July & none of the several escorts who visited me had any problems or challenges getting to my floor.

[Guest EuropTravl]

I was at a "name" hotel in Manhattan in early July & none of the several escorts who visited me had any problems or challenges getting to my floor.

 

Well, who said it was universal - yet. I said it's probably coming and the only reason I brought it up was because it's more believable than detectives jumping out from behind the lobby pillars in Boston when "Johnny Rentboy" enters the lobby.

[seeker630]

Sorry - your statement sounded pretty absolute: "Well, point is, "name" hotels are not allowing even one un-registered guest in the elevator to the guest room areas without pre-registration at the front desk." Didn't realize you meant "some" hotels.

[Mark Gordon]

Denial

 

It does not require much stretch of the imagination to suppose that having worked Craigslist, the Boston police should next turn to escort specialty sites. After street activity, I suppose escorts operating out of hotels are the most visible & easily entrapped. Perhaps these operations did not commence until after RianB's visit. Both Romann & his client seem to have spoken out of concern for the welfare of others. There are escort/client stings happening all over the US & it's best to be aware of the potential risks. Denial is not a river in Egypt...

When travelling on business, I most often rent a self-catering apt. This allows me to create a more comfortable & private environment to host in. The extra cost is offset by the money saved by being able to eat in.

It may be an issue in some places, but I've never had a problem getting into a hotel, even the 5 star ones in security conscious London. I always ask the client where the elevators are located so that I look like I know where I'm going as I enter. Then you just arrive dressed appropriately, smile & nod at the staff as if they should remember you, & walk straight in. If the elevator requires a key card, then I arrange to meet the client in the lobby or he leaves instructions with the front desk to let me in.

[+ Travis69]

Don't make the reservation at the hotel using your "business" phone. They could easily google the number and your ads may appear.

[Guest RianB]

Don't make the reservation at the hotel using your "business" phone. They could easily google the number and your ads may appear.

 

Since when did hotels do background checks on guests? I just cannot imagine a hotel having that much time on their hands.

[Kevin Slater]

Since when did hotels do background checks on guests? I just cannot imagine a hotel having that much time on their hands.

 

This whole thread suffers from the delusion that anyone cares so much about anybody else's business. Truly, I doubt anyone care that much about what other folks are up to. They don't patrol hotel lobbies twittering with excitement that a working boy may show up, google searching phone numbers and swabbing dna from bathroom glasses for genome matching. I hate to burst anyone's bubble, but you're just not that important.

 

Kevin Slater

[Guest]

I can't imagine any concierge helping to bust escorts and their hotel guests. Unless their customers were being a nuisance, why would they help ensure that this customer would avoid their brand forever? Now, if the encounter became disruptive, I could conceive of hotel security being involved, but never the concierge.

[Romann]

All I was trying to do was be helpful and pass information that I felt was important for the safety of everyone on the forum. Nothing more, nothing less... I still stand by my post and hope that it reminds all of us the risks involved.

[+ Lucky]

I thought the Boston cops were paragons of ethics, second in the area only to the FBI. Is this not true?