I was wondering providers who request references...is that a way to avoid being busted by LE ?  If so, how effective is that ?

It could mean SHE is LE.  At the very least, she is sloppy in her business practices which could mean she is sloppy in her approach to providing as well.

...the guy being screened isn't going to rip her off or harm her in some way. That he isn't going to insist on pushing beyond her boundaries. It's for her to be safe beyond just avoiding LE.

As for how effective it is they could best answer that. My experience is none of the independents I see have been busted and they have been around for awhile. I can't say whether they have ever been harmed or ripped off in the past but I'm inclined to think not.

... references.  

Get TER VIP if you don't have one. You can backchannel with the guys via PM.
Check their reviews and see if anything is amiss.
Check the local boards connected to your area.

Do your homework on the ladies.  

No references means a lot of red flags for me. Typically, LE don't ask you for references... they just want to bust your ass ASAP... meaning today.  

The Forest Waits
 

You are correct on both accounts. And the one thing I would add is that I don't think women who say they have ways to verify us "without us knowing" is good business either.

Imo, part of a the job of being a good provider is making her client feel comfortable and relaxed about the upcoming session. I don't think many women realize that they are making a number of their potential clients anxious with a lack of verifying, or should I say the lack of PERCEIVED verification.  

The posts here saying "a provider didn't verify me and I don't know if I should still go thru with my session" is all too common.  

Ladies, take our verification info in full. YOU may not need it, but obviously a good number of hobbyists do to make them feel more secure participating in an illegal activity.

no screening of some sort is a big red flag for me.  The ladies have many ways (which often they will not tell us what they do), to screen us.  They guard their screening methods very closely.  Asking for provider refs is just one way.  Screening tells them two things, one, that you are not LE, and two, you are not some kind of whacko.  In either case, you are safe to see if you have requested an appointment.

Swim

reference with TER or another review site, you are rolling the dice and may end up with a set of silver bracelets.