NYC (and beyond): Many 'new' escorts using stolen or fake photos...

[maninsoma]

That's what I'm wondering. I have no idea how the people behind Rentboy spend their day. I would think that accepting payments from advertisers wouldn't be a full time job, and it isn't like the amount of new ads added every day is huge. Sure, if they were to do a Google image search of all existing ads that would be a BIG project. But checking photos as they are submitted? I find it difficult to believe that that would take more than a few minutes per advertiser.

 

I agree that, in the end, it's the prospective customer that needs to do his homework as well to try to make a wise hiring decision. That doesn't mean that a listing site such as Rentboy should so easily enable fraudulent ads, though. And note that I've said nothing about needing to verify stats or anything like that; I'm only talking about verifying that the photos submitted don't lead to some other internet presence that would suggest the photos were stolen and are not of the person wanting to place the ad.

 

You seem very informed about the inner workings of Rentboy. Are you affiliated with them?

[+ bigjoey]

Another aspect to using google Image is that it may reveal an escort's real name.

[McLeanspider]

That's what I'm wondering. I have no idea how the people behind Rentboy spend their day. I would think that accepting payments from advertisers wouldn't be a full time job, and it isn't like the amount of new ads added every day is huge. Sure, if they were to do a Google image search of all existing ads that would be a BIG project. But checking photos as they are submitted? I find it difficult to believe that that would take more than a few minutes per advertiser.

 

I agree that, in the end, it's the prospective customer that needs to do his homework as well to try to make a wise hiring decision. That doesn't mean that a listing site such as Rentboy should so easily enable fraudulent ads, though. And note that I've said nothing about needing to verify stats or anything like that; I'm only talking about verifying that the photos submitted don't lead to some other internet presence that would suggest the photos were stolen and are not of the person wanting to place the ad.

 

Obama is already doing that for us, at least Snowden says so.

 

http://www.nowtheendbegins.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/obama-signs-bill-authorizing-30000-drones-over-america.jpg

http://southweb.org/lifewise/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/spying-on-americans.jpg

[seeker630]

You are right Maninsoma started asking for RB to check pictures (you only said it was suggested) and now you are joining him asking for SOME effort from RB.

You should write RB about it, I'm sure they are already overwhelmed with Credit Card fraud from some escorts.

I wonder how they could measure a picture with a hard on? Besides pictures could be photoshopped, anybody could do it, specially if he's in the business of fooling clients.

 

Also some escorts like discretion for their future lives, I wonder how many of them will just leave RB. I'm sure RB wouldn't like to lose customers (advertisers) and possibly will start charging would-be-clients $5 per month to see the escorts' pictures. Here in DC Top Referrals used to do that.

 

You never answered my question as to whether you're affiliated with Rentboy?

 

You said earlier "(Rentboy thanks to Alberto Gonzalez keeps a copy of an ID per account). What sort of ID? Doesn't that mean they already know an escort's real identity?

(And by the way - who is Alberto Gonzalez?)

[marylander1940]

You never answered my question as to whether you're affiliated with Rentboy?

 

You said earlier "(Rentboy thanks to Alberto Gonzalez keeps a copy of an ID per account). What sort of ID? Doesn't that mean they already know an escort's real identity?

(And by the way - who is Alberto Gonzalez?)

 

I know a local escort and he said that Alberto Gonzalez (United States Attorney General 2005-08?) made a few changes to the anti child pornography laws, requiring escort's advertisement to prove they didn't belong to under age and asking some sites to collect and keep a copy of a legal ID connected to an escorting account.

 

Somehow Hooboy's site wasn't ever required to do it, but I know a local escort in DC who had to put 2 friends of him in his account in RB because they were discreet and they couldn't open an account without a legal ID required by RB at least in 2006. Maybe things have changed now, but at that time RB asked new guys for an copy of their ID.

 

RB also knows the escorts Credit Cards, unless he pays with a money order, and the spend a lot of time dealing with CC fraud...

 

http://www.lossofprivacy.com/index.php/2006/09/attorney-general-alberto-gonzales-gets-it-wrong-on-proposed-child-porn-law/

 

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i91/nonnie9999/rethugs/albertogonzalesjusticedeptseal.jpg

[diggme23]

Personally, I don't think rentboy will do a damn thing. Their paying clients are the escorts, and the add agencies, not us. And the regulars probably are a smaller percentage of that, I imagine they get a lot of first timers and curious guys going through their sight who are too timid to actually go through with it, and and these pretty boy fake pictures help draw them in, where they will then click on a porn link to do their business, and rentboy has made it's money. I think it's up to the discerning client to figure out for himself whether or not he's being taken. Daddies reviews is the best resource I've found so far, but then there's always that pretty face that hasn't been reviewed on here that you just have to try.

 

I've had many experiences now where I show up, and the guy is not who the pictures suggested he was. Once I got the same guy twice, from a different add, and a different set of pics, even a different phone number. Both times I told him I wasn't going to stay because I felt like I had been deceived. I had one who claimed he now had my phone number, could look up my name, and bring me all sorts of trouble. I just ignored the threat, hoping it was just an empty threat from the guy. This has got to have negative repercussions on legitimate escorts and massage therapists. I know I've started taking actions to protect myself and my time. I don't contact by phone anymore, but have a burner e mail I use till I feel I can trust the guy. I've also started asking them to send a pic, non professional, and not from the same photo set on their add. Preferably on the spot from their cell phone. One laughed it off, asked how many fingers he should hold up. I said 4, and he sent the pic. We had a great meeting. Some accuse me of unreasonable requests or simply don't respond, and I move on. I also won't meet someone unless I get a face pic, and will not have any escorts or nude massage guy over to my place ever again. If they don't do in calls, they've lost me as a client.

 

Am I being unreasonable? Are other clients taking these precautions? I usually see a massage guy every two weeks, and I like to try new ones. Sometimes it's every week. I usually meet with an escort about once a month. I usually find a regular a few months into being in a new place. (I move about every 6-10 months with my job). It seems that a few little gestures on the escorts part would go a long way in securing a regular client. I realize that they get a lot of window shoppers who never take the plunge, and that's annoying, but they are in a customer service industry, and a little something extra can go a long way.

[down_to_business]

Personally, I don't think rentboy will do a damn thing. Their paying clients are the escorts, and the add agencies, not us. And the regulars probably are a smaller percentage of that, I imagine they get a lot of first timers and curious guys going through their sight who are too timid to actually go through with it, and and these pretty boy fake pictures help draw them in, where they will then click on a porn link to do their business, and rentboy has made it's money. I think it's up to the discerning client to figure out for himself whether or not he's being taken. Daddies reviews is the best resource I've found so far, but then there's always that pretty face that hasn't been reviewed on here that you just have to try.

 

I've had many experiences now where I show up, and the guy is not who the pictures suggested he was. Once I got the same guy twice, from a different add, and a different set of pics, even a different phone number. Both times I told him I wasn't going to stay because I felt like I had been deceived. I had one who claimed he now had my phone number, could look up my name, and bring me all sorts of trouble. I just ignored the threat, hoping it was just an empty threat from the guy. This has got to have negative repercussions on legitimate escorts and massage therapists. I know I've started taking actions to protect myself and my time. I don't contact by phone anymore, but have a burner e mail I use till I feel I can trust the guy. I've also started asking them to send a pic, non professional, and not from the same photo set on their add. Preferably on the spot from their cell phone. One laughed it off, asked how many fingers he should hold up. I said 4, and he sent the pic. We had a great meeting. Some accuse me of unreasonable requests or simply don't respond, and I move on. I also won't meet someone unless I get a face pic, and will not have any escorts or nude massage guy over to my place ever again. If they don't do in calls, they've lost me as a client.

 

Am I being unreasonable? Are other clients taking these precautions? I usually see a massage guy every two weeks, and I like to try new ones. Sometimes it's every week. I usually meet with an escort about once a month. I usually find a regular a few months into being in a new place. (I move about every 6-10 months with my job). It seems that a few little gestures on the escorts part would go a long way in securing a regular client. I realize that they get a lot of window shoppers who never take the plunge, and that's annoying, but they are in a customer service industry, and a little something extra can go a long way.

 

No, you are not being unreasonable. Yes, you may drive some legitimate service providers away with your requirements. They have to deal with a lot of flakes themselves, but there is no way they understand how many fake escorts are out there. FFS, some people are advertising with pictures of current Hollywood actors and models (i.e. Ryan Phillippe, Justin Deeley, Leighton Stultz to name a few).

 

What this is going to do is irreparably harm the escort business and kill the websites that allow these frauds (i.e. rentboy, rentmen, men4rentnow). I used to notify these websites about the fraudsters, but I got back such venomous replies (i.e. prove the pictures belong to you) that I stopped. There is definitely an opportunity for one of the big websites to step up- and the first to be able to verify their advertisers is going to leave their competitors in the dust.

 

I personally find myself hiring a whole lot less because I am so fed up with the liars and fraudsters out there. I might consider adopting some of your protocols, stop hiring anyone that I haven't already met or that isn't verified by someone I know and trust, or stop hiring all together.

[maninsoma]

Funny how some people claim it would be too difficult for a website owner to verify information. I noticed a few new visitors in San Francisco listed as escorts. Within two minutes I discovered that one ad had stolen photos for not one but two different professional models. And within less than one minute I discovered that the phone number listed in one is listed in an ad in another city within the past month with completely different photos.

[marylander1940]

Funny how some people claim it would be too difficult for a website owner to verify information. I noticed a few new visitors in San Francisco listed as escorts. Within two minutes I discovered that one ad had stolen photos for not one but two different professional models. And within less than one minute I discovered that the phone number listed in one is listed in an ad in another city within the past month with completely different photos.

 

Is not difficult but they don't care, they have enough dealing with Credit Card fraud and is not in their own interest to do that... The want as many advertisers (escorts) as possible.

 

I think the world would be a better place if we mind our own business, why this insistence you have in forcing Rentboy to check pictures if you can do it yourself?

 

I'm done with this subject, we all agree about fake pics as a problem, but as a former business owner I'm not into forcing others to do something I could do myself.

 

M.

[maninsoma]

Obviously I'm not "forcing" them to do anything since it isn't within my ability to do so. I'm just pointing out that they are just one notch above the fraudsters since they knowingly accept fake ads, knowing it will result in people getting ripped off since not everyone who uses their website will be savvy enough to do their own checking. Their business wouldn't exist were it not for customers of escorts looking for someone to hire, so I think it's in their best interest to care a little more about vetting ads than they currently do. I agree with the previous poster who suggested that this market could be taken over by someone who knows how to run a better website, not only in terms of weeding out fake ads but also one that functions properly on a consistent basis.

 

Maybe they'll care when they get hit with defamation lawsuits. I'm sure that at least some of the people whose photos have been stolen wouldn't appreciate having their images associated with ads offering sex for money. Those of us who post here have a different view of escorting than the general populace, and somehow I think that those who actually model for a living wouldn't appreciate having their images linked to Rentboy ads since it might have a negative impact on their careers.

 

Is not difficult but they don't care, they have enough dealing with Credit Card fraud and is not in their own interest to do that... The want as many advertisers (escorts) as possible.

 

I think the world would be a better place if we mind our own business, why this insistence you have in forcing Rentboy to check pictures if you can do it yourself?

 

I'm done with this subject, we all agree about fake pics as a problem, but as a former business owner I'm not into forcing others to do something I could do myself.

 

M.

[bcohen7719]

As of late, at least for NYC listings (and I'm sure all over as well), I have come across ads with photos that are, to say the least, suspicious as regards authenticity. As many Forum members and clients have pointed out in the past, Google Image Search allows you to upload photos, which in turn, can trace the photo to its origin. And more often than not, the photos are indeed those of another model or escort and not of the advertiser. I could post of list of about 10-escorts currently advertising in NYC on either Rentboy or Rentmen, all using stolen photos. And I won't bother detailing the red flags that tip me off (in short, we all have our hunches). But I think it more effective, in the long run, to do as other members have done, which is to remind the client community that:

 

If an ad's photos appear to be too good to be true, they just may be, and it's best to do some research via Image Search/Upload, to make certain the escort advertising is the man in the photos.

 

Of course, some search results point to authentic photos, but in my experience, the opposite is usually true.

 

The founder of Rentmen informed me via e-mail not too long ago that he and the folks behind Rentboy (yes, they all know one another) are well aware of the rash of fraud photos and fraudulent ads. Limited time, free ads are often offered to 'new' or fledgling escorts, or recruits if you will, by both sites, and I was informed that the practice will be minimized greatly going forward due to the notion that free ads more often than not attract hustlers, not escorts.

 

Glenn1441,

 

Did you get any sense that Rentboy/Rentmen will stop their practice of "free initial ads" because this wasn't producing additional income for them? I can't imagine they would stop this practice from an "ethics" point of view, although not to

say they aren't trying to do the best they can for the client as well...

 

BC

[JT Brooklyn]

For those who seem to have forgotten over the Year's... "Working It" is still in most states an ILLEGAL Profession!

 

"Bait and Switch" is Definitely the Buyer's Problem nobody elses!

[Glenn1441]

Well put.

 

The catch is KNOWING when their pictures are being used. Every picture ever used by a model would have to be searched individually on a regular basis.

[Glenn1441]

Your point is well taken. I can't speak for Rentboy, but Mike, of Rentmen, does care about the client experience (the site offers a client-ad / 'looking to hire' feature that as a client I found most useful). That said, I would not be surprised if Rentmen has come to the realization that free ads don't necessarily ensure conversion to paid advertisements. Still in all, at least Mike responds to my e-mails -- may take a day or two, but he always responds, and as mentioned previously, when redesigning the site a year or so ago, he sought my feedback and incorporated a good bit of it, from the client perspective.

 

Glenn1441,

 

Did you get any sense that Rentboy/Rentmen will stop their practice of "free initial ads" because this wasn't producing additional income for them? I can't imagine they would stop this practice from an "ethics" point of view, although not to

say they aren't trying to do the best they can for the client as well...

 

BC

[Michael Wayne]

If a guy shows up who does not match the pics send him away without a dime!!!! secondly: escorting is NOT illegal. I can charge for my time and what two adults do in private and consenting is above board. This is not street walking prostitution here and there are no dollar amounts discussed for certain sex acts. Many of my clients hire me for movies, dinners, shows, travel, companionship, advice and counsel. Lets get our minds out of the street and out of the gutter . http://www.rentmen.com/mikeyusatop. one more thought: If it were illegal then why can escort services adverise in the yellow pages?