No more Backpage scams?

[coriolis888]

See this -

 

www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-visa-backpage-20150701-story.html

 

Police say Backpage is little more than a website that "promotes prostitution and facilitates online sex trafficking."

 

The story says that Mastercharge and Visa severed ties with Backpage. Amex did this some time ago.

 

How will the Backpage escorts advertise?

 

One good thing about this event is the bogus and fake ads will stop as it is unlikely the Backpage escorts will buy money orders or pay cash for fake ads.

 

Next - Rentboy & Rentmen will have their agreement pulled with the credit card companies if complaints continue.

 

Glory be - - -

 

We might finally see more honesty on escort ads.

[thickornotatall]

See this -

 

www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-visa-backpage-20150701-story.html

 

Police say Backpage is little more than a website that "promotes prostitution and facilitates online sex trafficking."

 

The story says that Mastercharge and Visa severed ties with Backpage. Amex did this some time ago.

 

How will the Backpage escorts advertise?

 

One good thing about this event is the bogus and fake ads will stop as it is unlikely the Backpage escorts will buy money orders or pay cash for fake ads.

 

Next - Rentboy & Rentmen will have their agreement pulled with the credit card companies if complaints continue.

 

Glory be - - -

 

We might finally see more honesty on escort ads.

[Mocha]

If rentboy and rentmen have their agreements pulled, they will become like men4rent: highly censored, no rates, and eventually a decline.

 

If you want to use aggressive chemical methods to kill weeds or rid pests, you risk killing and ridding the beneficial bees and good fruit too.

[+ quoththeraven]

Perhaps I'm being dense, but are you suggesting that there's a correlation between placing scam/phony ads and defaults/chargebacks on payments for such ads, or just that it's more economically beneficial to pay for the ads after the fact rather than up front? You don't state whether the credit card companies pulled out because of pressure from law enforcement and public opinion or because they were losing money (or both).

 

I never thought I'd say this, but I agree with Mocha. Be careful what you wish for. If this affects Rentboy and Rentmen, it might also hurt the legitimate providers you presumably wish to encourage.

[thickornotatall]

If rentboy and rentmen have their agreements pulled, they will become like men4rent: highly censored, no rates, and eventually a decline.

 

If you want to use aggressive chemical methods to kill weeds or rid pests, you risk killing and ridding the beneficial bees and good fruit too.

 

The time has come for prostitution to be legal and regulated... but not likely in our prude driven society...

However until that time we/you/I need to find some way to regulate and keep both sides safe. This has become a serious problem....What we see and read here is more than likely the better part.. there is crime..disease...identity theft...humiliation..extortion..on and on...both sides...

Rentboy is just as guilty as Backpage....they just charge more for the placement of ads...By exposing the liars..cheats and thieves a great service is being done...I have written to Rentboy asking how they are able to post ads with stolen photos..old photos..and stolen identities....and received a standard "we try" reply..I think they could care less as long as the cash is flowing and few complain...

Personally I was cheated...lied to...and almost had some cash ripped from my hands...I ended up fighting with some guy that was very surprised I fought back and he ran....but did take $50...I did review him...wrote to RB ..blahblahblah was the response...I know I put myself in danger..but was so angry I just reacted...I've had guys show up looking nothing like the ad...not show up..show up late and on and on....

 

Integrity is the hallmark of a good escort...and I have met some really nice guys that have become friends..far more than the bad guys...I love this site and hope that everyone will stay safe...have fun...and help expose the ripoff artists...

[coriolis888]

Perhaps I'm being dense, but are you suggesting that there's a correlation between placing scam/phony ads and defaults/chargebacks on payments for such ads, or just that it's more economically beneficial to pay for the ads after the fact rather than up front? You don't state whether the credit card companies pulled out because of pressure from law enforcement and public opinion or because they were losing money (or both)

If you read the article at the link I provided, you will see that I did not suggest what you stated.

 

As to being careful what we wish, I agree with you. It is a tough world out there. Many ads on rentboy and rentmen are honest, however, a great number of those ads are bogus and are filled with stolen photos and contain false promises.

 

When the good escorts are in the same pot as the bogus escorts, how does a client know which are real and which are fake?

 

As I already said I have been ripped off many times from responding to rentboy and rentmen. My first hand experience leaves me with many doubts and skepticism.

 

thickornot had a great suggestion but given our society, I doubt there will be any changes, at least not in this century.

[adannyboy]

When the good escorts are in the same pot as the bogus escorts, how does a client know which are real and which are fake?

 

I know this one website. It's like yelp for escorts.

 

But seriously, to frame this matter in a "maybe it'll weed out the fakes" rather than focusing on all of the people this actually impacts is just....

 

If people can't pay for ads on the spot with a credit card, how will that affect business for them? It's going to be a readjustment and for some escorts it's going to be a tough one.

 

Keep in mind that the sheriff who caused the MC/Visa decisions was the same one who filed suit against Craigslist for the same reason.

 

If you want to use aggressive chemical methods to kill weeds or rid pests, you risk killing and ridding the beneficial bees and good fruit too.

 

I agree with Mocha. To the public, These CC companies cutting ties with backpage is meant to "stop trafficking." unfortunately, a majority of people on backpage are not trafficking victims and need the cash flow. Including the members of my swop chapter who've been passing info back and forth all day.

 

Apparently you can still pay with Bitcoin. So everyone's reading up on that.

[+ dutchmuch]

Actually, I am all for escorts 'presenting themselves' at Townhouse and Santa Monica Blvd, like the old days.

That will cut down on the scammers.

[chirob]

Mary Mitchell, columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times, also has a column about it here:

 

http://chicago.suntimes.com/mary-mitchell/7/71/737561/tom-dart-backpage-mastercard-visa

[+ dutchmuch]

Just a note, Rentboy stopped accepting cash payments two months ago and they now must made on a credit/debit card.

 

I know they also require a scan of an ID when opening up a new account. That doesn't help with existing accounts that could potentially be fake, but it certainly does help going forward.

 

Good.

[thickornotatall]

Just a note, Rentboy stopped accepting cash payments two months ago and they now must made on a credit/debit card.

 

I know they also require a scan of an ID when opening up a new account. That doesn't help with existing accounts that could potentially be fake, but it certainly does help going forward.

a good step forward..

[+ tristanbaldwin]

Love that Rentboy started requiring an ID to open accounts; but I wonder if they're name matching the ID to the CREDIT CARD / PAYMENT form attached to the account; for financial purposes...and if they couldn't give two shits to glance at it, and see if it even remotely resembles the escort ad in question. Methinks this is the case; it's all about billing.

 

Very frequent client of mine who was a researcher on Wall St back in his hayday...guy never misses a detail about ANYTHING...ran into the folks from Rentboy over in Fire Island a few years back. (I think I've posted this story before...). He gave them a bunch of grief about how more than 40% of the guys he hires weren't the guys in the ads, that there is no vetting process, etc. (BTW, this is also a guy who never once has bothered to sign on or create an account at Daddy's...LOL). He further griped about how two or three different appearing ads in NYC were actually in fact the same guy- and why doesn't Rentboy do anything about it. Their response? 'Caveat Emptor'(Spelling?)- buyer beware. Rentboy views it as their CUSTOMER that they have an interest in protecting...in this case the shady escort with three different appearing ads...as long as he pays the moneyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy. They don't seem to have any interest in the 'End User' of the service provided..or else they would have ended their own BS 'Rentboy Reviews' section, and hired Daddy as an outsource and bigger name to run their reviews, long ago.

[coriolis888]

Good.

Just a note, Rentboy stopped accepting cash payments two months ago and they now must made on a credit/debit card.

 

I know they also require a scan of an ID when opening up a new account. That doesn't help with existing accounts that could potentially be fake, but it certainly does help going forward.

 

Prepaid credit cards can be purchased at most markets and no I D is required to buy the card or to refill it. Therefore, this step is only "window dressing".

 

As to scanned ID, unless it is verified, what is to prevent someone from making a copy of genuine ID, substituting the photo and changing the name then copying the altered ID and presenting that to satisfy the ad agency?

 

Not all escort ads are bogus, but many are. The danger exits when a client has no assurance which is real and which are fake.

[thickornotatall]

Love that Rentboy started requiring an ID to open accounts; but I wonder if they're name matching the ID to the CREDIT CARD / PAYMENT form attached to the account; for financial purposes...and if they couldn't give two shits to glance at it, and see if it even remotely resembles the escort ad in question. Methinks this is the case; it's all about billing.

 

Very frequent client of mine who was a researcher on Wall St back in his hayday...guy never misses a detail about ANYTHING...ran into the folks from Rentboy over in Fire Island a few years back. (I think I've posted this story before...). He gave them a bunch of grief about how more than 40% of the guys he hires weren't the guys in the ads, that there is no vetting process, etc. (BTW, this is also a guy who never once has bothered to sign on or create an account at Daddy's...LOL). He further griped about how two or three different appearing ads in NYC were actually in fact the same guy- and why doesn't Rentboy do anything about it. Their response? 'Caveat Emptor'(Spelling?)- buyer beware. Rentboy views it as their CUSTOMER that they have an interest in protecting...in this case the shady escort with three different appearing ads...as long as he pays the moneyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy. They don't seem to have any interest in the 'End User' of the service provided..or else they would have ended their own BS 'Rentboy Reviews' section, and hired Daddy as an outsource and bigger name to run their reviews, long ago.

 

A blatant case of having no respect for the community at large....sort of like a slumlord...he may provide housing...but the rats have the run ....

shame on them....caveat bullshit....

[Tonyko]

"LIFE FINDS A WAY". It's the oldest profession in the world for a reason lol. The sites we know and use can ALL go away and the boys will find a way for us to find them :-) Be it the "veiled" CL M4M ads with words like "generous" or "starving student", or a return to the old AOL "Companions" chatrooms. But I agree, too much stringency may make it tougher for BOTH the scammers AND the legit and should it bring about the demise of RB it WILL be much harder to find what we want. (we'll basically be smokers who have to go downstairs outside and around 3 corners to satisfy our needs :-)

[Mocha]

One of the easiest ways to tell if an escort is real: DO THEY HAVE A WEBSITE? Do they have TWITTER? every guy on here including me has a twitter account. I came late, but I already get a new follower or 2 daily.

 

I spent so much paying for another person's website, but then I realized for $10.95 a month and $15 year for a domain name, I can create my own personal website. It's very easy, and there's certain Web hosting sites which allow escort ads (say no to go daddy, their interface is also very...cluttered).

 

Now, I have seen some guys on backpage throw up a suspect looking free website, but if it's not under a domain name, it's still questionable.

 

...at this point we've won marriage, but I think it'll take another couple generations or a female president to get this ball rolling. Unfortunately, I believe like everything else, it'll become so regulated it won't even be fun anymore. They'll probably ban anyone with hiv, ban working in apartments, ban working within 20 miles of kids/school, pay an annual fee for licensing, you'll have to work out of a designated expensive hotel way in the desert somewhere, tax us to death, harass us for not getting tested to their standards, clutter up our mail with letters, etc.

 

No, let's just keep escorting a free enterprise. There's no sweeping arrests going on, I'm actually ok with how things are for the most part. Sorry for being pessimistic, but the US is very stringent. Heard about the lemonade stand the cops in Texas shutdown because the kids were working out of a residential area?

[Irtwo]

Keep in mind that the sheriff who caused the MC/Visa decisions was the same one who filed suit against Craigslist for the same reason

 

Yes, the same odd obsession these anti-sex zealots had with Craigslist has carried over to Backpage. It's always Craigslist and Backpage that police use for sting operations, as well. Yet, they never touch Rentboy or similar sites that are much more blatant. It makes me wonder what the motivation is behind this.

[coriolis888]

Two reasons why -

 

1. Sheriff Tom Dart said he did not yet have time for the other sites, like

rentboy etc. as he was mainly concerned with sites that had women.

 

2. During his many news conferences, Dart said those

other sites will be handled soon.

 

Even if escort sites are denied access to credit card payments from escort ads, escorts can still pay with a money order or bit coin.

 

The sites will have to be reprogrammed to accept a new payment method, including payment by direct debit from an escorts' bank account.

 

This is not the end of escort sites. It just means that it will be more difficult to post an escort ad.

 

Personally, I do not think the loss of credit card payment possibility will stop most bogus ads.

 

Eventually, the scum bags who post bogus and fake ads will figure out a way to get the fake ads on the sites again, including ads that use out dated photos of real escorts.

[+ Gar1eth]

Mary Mitchell, columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times, also has a column about it here:

 

http://chicago.suntimes.com/mary-mitchell/7/71/737561/tom-dart-backpage-mastercard-visa

 

Y'all have to admit though that something needs to be done to prevent 15 year olds-I'm sure she was referring to a girl and not a boy but a boys shouldn't be traffic-ed either. Prostitution really should be legalized. But I really doubt I'll live to see that day. And even in countries where it's been legal, there seems to be retrenchments. Look at Canada. It's still legal to be an escort. But it's illegal for the client to be a client.

 

Gman

[+ quoththeraven]

Y'all have to admit though that something needs to be done to prevent 15 year olds-I'm sure she was referring to a girl and not a boy but a boys shouldn't be traffic-ed either. Prostitution really should be legalized. But I really doubt I'll live to see that day. And even in countries where it's been legal, there seems to be retrenchments. Look at Canada. It's still legal to be an escort. But it's illegal for the client to be a client.

 

Gman

 

As far as I'm concerned, the exchange of sex for money is illegal in Canada now. It's just that the overt legal consequences fall on the client. Since it's a conscious attempt to imitate the Scandinavian model - which no one characterizes as legalized prostitution -- I suspect that there are behind-the-scenes attempts to pressure providers into leaving the business, women especially.

[+ Gar1eth]

Y'all have to admit though that something needs to be done to prevent 15 year olds-I'm sure she was referring to a girl and not a boy but a boys shouldn't be traffic-ed either. Prostitution really should be legalized. But I really doubt I'll live to see that day. And even in countries where it's been legal, there seems to be retrenchments. Look at Canada. It's still legal to be an escort. But it's illegal for the client to be a client.

 

Gman

 

As far as I'm concerned, the exchange of sex for money is illegal in Canada now. It's just that the overt legal consequences fall on the client. Since it's a conscious attempt to imitate the Scandinavian model - which no one characterizes as legalized prostitution -- I suspect that there are behind-the-scenes attempts to pressure providers into leaving the business, women especially.

 

What comes next-outlawing sex after a nice dinner, flowers, and champagne?:D

 

Gman

[Steven_Draker]

It's always Craigslist and Backpage that police use for sting operations, as well. Yet, they never touch Rentboy or similar sites that are much more blatant. It makes me wonder what the motivation is behind this.

 

 

According to this article the police is combating human trafficking and child sex trafficking.

 

When prostitution is mentioned we think automatically high-end internet escorts and we forget about human trafficking and those who are coerced to engage into this activity.

 

"Officers used Backpage, a site heavily criticized in the past for its adult ad section by law enforcement and activists, to pose as people selling sex and also to pretend to want to buy sex, said Capt. Bob Rewitzer of the Fridley police.

 

“We certainly see crimes that are associated with prostitution, be they robberies or narcotics offenses, and those directly impact the quality of life here,” Rewitzer said about the importance of police combating prostitution.

 

Using escort sites to set up stings is just one way to address the problem of prostitution, he said. It’s not an unusual tactic for police to use. In July, Fridley police arrested 24 men for soliciting prostitution in a similar two-day sting. Police have used the same method in other cities, including St. Paul.

 

“Because of the changing face of how these enterprises work, law enforcement has changed the way they work,” said Howie Padilla, St. Paul police spokesman.

 

Prostitution has shifted from being something that is just solicited on street corners to something that can readily be found in online ads, according to local authorities.

 

Backpage’s adult ad section is considered one of the most popular of the online sites for prostitution ads. The site has been linked to several child sex trafficking cases in the Twin Cities."

[Steven_Draker]

Love that Rentboy started requiring an ID to open accounts; but I wonder if they're name matching the ID to the CREDIT CARD / PAYMENT form attached to the account; for financial purposes...and if they couldn't give two shits to glance at it, and see if it even remotely resembles the escort ad in question. Methinks this is the case; it's all about billing.

 

Very frequent client of mine who was a researcher on Wall St back in his hayday...guy never misses a detail about ANYTHING...ran into the folks from Rentboy over in Fire Island a few years back. (I think I've posted this story before...). He gave them a bunch of grief about how more than 40% of the guys he hires weren't the guys in the ads, that there is no vetting process, etc. (BTW, this is also a guy who never once has bothered to sign on or create an account at Daddy's...LOL). He further griped about how two or three different appearing ads in NYC were actually in fact the same guy- and why doesn't Rentboy do anything about it. Their response? 'Caveat Emptor'(Spelling?)- buyer beware. Rentboy views it as their CUSTOMER that they have an interest in protecting...in this case the shady escort with three different appearing ads...as long as he pays the moneyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy. They don't seem to have any interest in the 'End User' of the service provided ...

 

 

Is that why Rentboy profiles don't have a button "report ad" ?