I just became the unfortunate victim of a make-believe provider. I'm posting this message to help fellow hobbyists beware of it, and also to seek some pointers on how to keep it from happening again. I work all over the country for two to four weeks at a time and on my time off at home or on occasion in another city I like to find a quality provider to spend some time with (along with some hard earned) A few days ago with my two favorite local girls un-available I sought out a new one on the local web-sites. I spotted one with enticing pictures and an attractive but reasonable rate Two hours for $500 multiple rides allowed. After making the appointment the girl gave me directions to her area and asked me to call her when I reached the local name-brand drug and variety store. I thought nothing of it as I assumed it to be the usual two-call system. I phoned the girl back when I arrived and unknown to me the hook really got started. She said that for first time clients she did not accept cash put rather gift cards made out in the donation amount. Completely blind to what she was asking, I agreed and purchased a card of the type she requested and made it out for the amount. I called her back after to get her exact address. She then asked me to scratch off the cover of the pin number and read it to her over the phone. I was a bit suspicious and asked her why she needed the pin now, why not when I handed it to her. She was ready with the reply that it was simply to insure that the card I would give her was the same one I had just bought and not to worry because like a debit or credit card she also needed the number on the face of the card in order to use it. Again , unaware as I was at the time (but sure am aware now!) all she needed was the pin then a quick call or key to the card company and she had the cash in her possession. Well, I did as she asked and you can guess the rest. She gave me the address of a luxury apartment complex a few blocks away and told me to text her when I got to the garage gate so she could come down and open it. I did that and got no answer back from her either by text or call. After a few minutes the thought finally hit me like a brick that I'd been taken. Naturally, when I logged on to the cards website, the money had already long since been redeemed.  
   
 Yes, I can see how my poor judgment led me into this. a little research before I called would have saved my a lot of headache and money. Like most of us who take part in the Hobby, I consider it a form of gambling where nothing is a sure thing. But I usually only gamble when the odds are on my side. Also like a lot of us, I've been hit by the bait-and-switch a few times, subjected to upselling and a few just plain lousy service. But this was the first time I was outright robbed. I didn't bother to notice until later that the girl had only posted her ad the day before I called. Also the glowing review she had(not on TER) had been put up the same day. Obviously by herself of co-horts. If I would have asked her about that she probably would have said she just got into town from San Francisco or Atlanta or another city. My biggest downfall was my stupidity in giving her the pin of the card over the phone. But being too eager (ie horny) and ignorant at the time about those cards I was an easy mark.  
   
 The favor I'd like to ask for is advice from you guys on other red-flags to watch out for, and how if possible to spot a number from a throw-away cell phone since most likely the hook was using one. And yeah, I'm prepared for the sure string of "you dumb-ass" messages I expect as a result of this posting. But I hope that some one will be helped by it and a few well meaning hobbysts will send me some tips on spotting this and other such scams.