Just pick an agency with a good reputation and has been around a long time and you won't have any problems.
Or and Indy with the same criteria.

That is my take from reading your post...

As has been said many, many, many times here and in other boards, if you choose a well reviewed provider, your risk is minimal.

There comes a point when you have to dive in and only you can do that. Or else, keep watching from the sidelines. There is no shame in that either.

Back Page, and lure careless clients to cheap motels where there will be a decoy police gal who gets them to commit to have sex for money, then have the boys jump in from the next room and slap on the bracelets.

There are also cases where LE will station themselves outside the room where they believe a gal is working, then approach clients as they leave the room and try to pressure them into implicating the gal.  Often they'll promise the client he'll walk if he does, but then he gets bagged as well.  Sort of a two for one deal.

There are other LE schemes as well.

The thing to always be sure of is to see well reviewed providers.  Also, if LE should approach you, never give anything more than your name and address.  Specifically deny them the right to search your cell phone.  Have your lawyer's phone number memorized.

Keep asking questions, and you'll be ready to go in no time.

That's how you learn

from seasoned hobbyists. The definition of each is usually a minimum of 5 or 6 over time.

Be suspicious of a "super deal"...   hot pictures & below market rates.  Guts just can't wait to rush in there without proper research.    
Another suspicion trigger is when it's a new ad.

They don't screen at all; they won't ask you for any information. They won't ask you for a handle on a board, an email address. They certainly won't ask you for any other information because they can get all your specifics when they write you that citation for solicitation.  

If you're interested in a provider, check her online presence. Nary a vice squad is going to advertise on p411, RS2K have an active Twitter/Instagram account, a blog, and an always-updated website. Aside from that, a cop more than often won't have reviews either.  And yes, there are lots of lovely UTR women who have no social media, website, or reviews, but I'd wait to see those gals until you're not so green

LE generally wants to grab the most people the quickest, or devote the most resources to the biggest crime.  So they will either post an ad, without fabricated reviews or online history to net a crop of Hobbyists on solicitation misdemeanors with a 1 day sting decoy, or call some girls who don't screen for outcalls and bust them...OR.. they do extensive work to nab someone they think is a Trafficking pimp of underage girls and the like.  They have little incentive to do lots of work to bust 20 Johns on misdemeanors when they can do the same numbers without it.  

That means higher end adult girls who aren't trafficked, and the men who see them, and anyone doing research is generally off the radar.  This is no guarantee.  Local complaints from a hotel manager or neighbor or whatever can force their hand, or a new mayor or attorney general might have a bug up their butt, or an agency that is just too high profile and egregious in its behavior could get busted and have its files nabbed... but...

LE targets everyone at times. The answer is  YES  

LE and fake reviews.  YES  they do. Everyon

THIS IS A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
1.  YES, they target most everyone at times. 2. Never believe LE cannot get naked.  They can.  3. Never ask if someone is a cop. That is a dead give away the person has no idea how LE operates.  Of course they can and will always do. Ask John Gotti and Sammy the Bull. 4. Watch out for a provider going states evidence in exchange for a lesser penalty.  There is no honor among thieves.
YOU CAN BELIEVE THIS OR NOT.

If you walk into a sting you are screwed regardless of what you do, but take precautions anyways so that they will hopefully have no choice but to let you walk out of there without a summons.  Do this by never discussing money with the girl and never pulling out any money until the session is over.  In my experience it is rare that a girl will actually ask for money up front.  If there is no discussion about money they really have no evidence of illegal activity.  I once walked out on a provider b/c when I got there, she asked if I wanted GFE or non-GFE and quoted the prices.  That was just too weird for me and my big head said something was wrong so I said, I do not know what you are talking about and walked out the door.  

All that said, if you walk into a sting, at some point you will be swarmed by the cops b/c no female vice cop will engage in the activities that are in issue just to bust you for solicitation. So, if you are ever approached by a cop, DO NOT ANSWER ANY OF THEIR QUESTIONS BEYOND PROVIDING THEM WITH YOUR NAME AND OTHER BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION.  Give them your ID and say nothing.  If they ask why you are there, stand there with your mouth shut.  This will likely result in them either telling you to get out and never come back or them giving you a summons that will not be prosecuted.  Remember, these guys have done thousands of interrogations and have heard it all.  Whatever story you give them will be worse than no story b/c no story cannot be proven false.

From the girls perspective, there are several mistakes that you make that make you easy bait.  
1. do not list any of your services on your web site or even link to your reviews, as it can easily be argued that linking to your reviews constitutes adopting the reviews and is therefore an admission.  These warnings that girls have on their web pages that say payment is for time and anything that happens between consenting adults is not for the money is totally useless and may even constitute an admission.  I think the average juror would consider that an advertisement that there are further expectations other than just hanging out.
2.  Do not discuss money with your clients.  Your ad and website should state your rates and you need to have flat rates for time.  This makes it difficult to up-charge for certain services like Greek, but when you spell it out on your web page, and then ask what services the client wants, you just gave LE an easy case to prosecute.  
3.  Never ask to take care of business first with a client at the beginning of your session.  No money=no bust.  You gals do your screening and can pretty much eliminate the guy who will run without paying you that way.  The worst thing that will happen to you if you take this precaution is that you will be cheated out of a fee for one session, which may suck, but not as bad as getting busted.  Anyways, I know that if I stiff a girl, she is going to make sure that I find myself on some sort of a black list so that no reputable provider would ever see me, which is probably pretty much what every guy on this site thinks.
4.  LE checks are great for the guys, but not for the women.  They are great for the guy b/c it pretty much assures us that you are not a cop.  No woman cop is going to do that for a low bust.  That being said, I still don't want to pay you until the end of the session.  But a cop can and will certainly go through the LE check with you and that LE is pretty strong evidence that this service is what will happen for the money.  I have even heard of them going through a session with a girl, but I would expect that to be rare since they will likely have a surveillance team with them.  Understand that cops are allowed to lie to you.  Unless you are looking for help, a cop will never admit to being a cop until he slaps the cuffs on you.  
5.  If you walk into a sting, at some point you will be swarmed by cops.  But follow the advise I gave to the guys above.  Utter not a word!  If you don't have any details on your ads or web site that show you are going to engage in any sexual acts, don't take any money (the sting will be blown up before your session ends) and do not speak with the cops, there is now way that they do anything worse than give you a summons (If they arrest you, PM me b/c I would live to sue them for violating your civil rights).