How many are duped?

[LaffingBear]

Sometimes I wonder......

 

This ad appears in SF Bay today http://sfbay.backpage.com/MenSeekMen/new-in-town-kevin-3057769222/82984722

http://images6.backpage.com/imager/u/large/480085152/cbb729def07d3a4242470cf1c0fedb76.jpg

Within 45 seconds, Google Image search reveals it's a model from europe. Fake Instagram link in the ad..

 

I know there's no way to get accurate statistics. Certainly, the participants on these Forums aren't a representative sample of potential clients. Simply by being aware and reading these threads, the members have more information.... if all potential clients were armed with info, there'd be way less phony activity.

 

But fake ads proliferate. Depending on the ad location, I wouldnt be surprised to learn that some sites' ads are 75% - 80% fakes. (Backpage being worst, M4RN bad, RM more reliable, but still plenty of phonies.)

 

Not seeking advice on how to avoid deception, or even commiseration.

 

But I wonder... there must be some equivalent of crime does pay..

 

There must be a hell of alot of guys getting ripped off, incidents we never hear about, or there would not be so many fake advertisers. The word must be out there that horny guys are easy pickings. I wonder just how prevalent it is....

[Bertster]

It was getting stung by a phoney Rentmen profile that caused me to do some digging and then eventually stumble upon this forum site - that move alone has eliminated easily 90%+ chance of me getting stung again, with all the super-sleuths around here

[rogerG]

Craigslist is just as bad. A sea of fakes, liars, and desperate people. I spoke to one CL guy recently who confessed in email that he lopped 28 years off his age for his ad. Can you imagine that level of deceit? It didn't matter. He was also using a fake photo. Too many of these guys are just plain crazy.

 

I doubt it's a gold mine, but guys are definitely being duped. Free money is free money. There is no way to tell how many. Most won't admit it. Most won't join a board like this to complain or confess. A lot of guys who buy off the street don't even know this website exists.

[MisterMike]

I had a friend get robbed by a fake. He agreed to an in-call in his hotel. When the person arrived he didn't really look like the pics in the ad, but he let the guy in anyhow. About a minute later the "escort" opened the door for his buddy and the two of them overpowered my friend and stole the cash and a laptop. He was too embarrassed to report it to the cops or hotel security. Fortunately he had hidden his wallet and some other valuables- and not in the hotel safe, which they searched. Moral of the story... vet your date, meet in the lobby, and if it smells fishy throw it back.

[rogerG]

About a minute later the "escort" opened the door for his buddy and the two of them overpowered my friend and stole the cash and a laptop. He was too embarrassed to report it to the cops or hotel security.

Guys who scam gay men are a threat. The threat never really goes away. They know how vulnerable some of us can be.

 

It takes a lot of communication before I'll trust letting a stranger into my apartment. That's why I LOL every time I see an ad that says "no time for lengthy emails" or "let's do this in 1 txt."

 

My building has security cameras everywhere and I let that be known in my communication. You can tell a lot about the folks who don't answer back after hearing that news.

 

I have some money to be GEN, and I'm happy to pay for a mostly vanilla service. I'm not a demanding guy, and I'm not physically challenging. I'd be a good customer to have for someone who was serious about a sincere hookup. Finding that hookup on any of the "free sites" is no joy ride.