Police looking for the big sting, will go after agencies.  The papers are often full of reports of major agencies being taken down (Remember Heidi Fleiss?)

Then again, posing as independents, especially on Craig's List, is another common LE activity.

Massage Parlors, especially Asian ones, seem to be the big thing this year.

All I can say is, stay away from Craig's List, Asian Massage Parlors (at least until after the election.) and use well reviewed escorts and your odds will be greatly enhanced.

For what it's worth, I've been in this hobby for over thirty years, seen well over a hundred women, and never had a brush with the law.

(Still not a lawyer)

I do not think one review or another can be inherently trusted.  It is the totality of all the reviews. If the girl has 5 reviews, all within the last week and NO others, then you are likely being scammed: Either by the girl herself, or "someone else" (wink wink).  But a girl who has a decent history of reviews (dating back some amount of time), is probably very safe to see.  The review community will soon start talking if a certain girl seems to be "suspect" and the cops know this.  I think that for the most part, the police are willing to leave the "discreet" girls alone, so long as no one complains about them.  Police are very reactive people.  No problem means little enforcement on things like this.

Police tend to go for the more "robust" bust.  They want mileage for their efforts. Either by arresting guys en-masse at a motel room, or by taking down the pimps and agencies...that and the girls with known criminal records.

Like the other gent said: Numero uno is the agencies and the massage parlors.  I think Asian parlors are more often targeted becaude of the "human trafficking" component (some girls work there only to pay-off their smugglers).

Craigslist (in many cities) is a virtual "pirhana farm" of vice stings.  They create a new character, complete with nude pics, and then try to get you to "come on down and see her" (usually after saying more than a few incriminating things on the recorded phone line).

There are girls on here I'd see with 0% fear factor.  There are girls on here that I'd never see.  A mix of the discussion boards and the review history would be enough for me to make a decision.