I understand and agree with the concerns of the ladies. But I do not believe a "real name" offers any higher level of security from LE or a person that intends to do you harm. Just as a ter account can be fraudulent, so can a "real name". I work in the security/fraud industry. It takes very little effort to create an identity. One of the most common is to set up a phone number and service to verify a work identity, used for financial fraud big and small.
The downside for the men is that their names are now recorded in emails, texts, databases, etc, and if LE does turn a provider they are at risk. Not risk of prosecution, but maybe some form of social media or web site list. There are a few sites trying to shame "johns". Lets not get into the debate of "don't do it if you can't accept the risk" argument. This thread has already assumed both parties want privacy and safety. Can a provider keep the information safe? Well, major corporations with security staff can't, including visa, amex, Target and Walmart. So I would have to say "no". Much like gun control, it puts the honest people at a disadvantage, does not provide any higher level of security, and the criminals have easy access. If its a person who intends you harm wouldn't you say its almost a certainty that the name will not be real? The illusion here is that you can determine that is indeed the case. While I understand and agree with the providers need for safety, this isn't a solution. To say that your screening process is working because nothing bad has happened is not a real test of your security. The only real test would be to have a number of instances in which you can conclusively prove that it was fraud. I wish I had a good alternative to suggest to providers
A reputable provider recently asked me to provide her with my real legal name. Her rationale, rightly so, was that it was for her safety. I declined because I am whitelisted on TER by four providers, and further I can provide references from literally five different providers. The other reason I declined to give my full legal name is that our hobby is illegal and in future you may never know if someone might become malicious toward you. This mutual obfuscation of personal identifying information (PII) goes both ways and provides a framework for trust and safety for both parties.
So one thing I fail to understand is how does providing my full legal name afford safety to a provider? Will she run a background check on me using websites such as Intellius or Spokeo? Or does she have a Private Investigator who will pull background information on me? Or is that she will ask around in the provider network of the said person's reputation who may or may not have shared the same legal name with other providers?
Just move on.......Lots of ladies don't ask for it.
I do not rely on references, nor do I trust all providers.
If you refuse to share your legal name it is your loss not mine. I only trust references from reputable providers & ladies I have met personally.
I do not pay sites to, do my homework for me, so I use various website to research who my potential date is to see if we may have chemistry. LE has access to TER, so why should you be considered safe just because you have whitelists here? I would say it is never safe to assume. Being cautious is a quality. Not being greedy will keep ypu from getting busted as well. Smart provider who is this gal? I may want to meet the lovely lady...
If you refuse to share your legal name it is your loss not mine. I only trust references from reputable providers & ladies I have met personally.
I do not pay sites to, do my homework for me, so I use various website to research who my potential date is to see if we may have chemistry. LE has access to TER, so why should you be considered safe just because you have whitelists here? I would say it is never safe to assume. Being cautious is a quality. Not being greedy will keep ypu from getting busted as well. Smart provider who is this gal? I may want to meet the lovely lady...
If an LE is posing as a hobbyist and has a whitelist then why would talking to a provider and getting a 411 on him be any different?
The refusal to share a legal name the resulting loss is incurred by both parties. It ain't a one-way street.
I understand and agree with the concerns of the ladies. But I do not believe a "real name" offers any higher level of security from LE or a person that intends to do you harm. Just as a ter account can be fraudulent, so can a "real name". I work in the security/fraud industry. It takes very little effort to create an identity. One of the most common is to set up a phone number and service to verify a work identity, used for financial fraud big and small.
The downside for the men is that their names are now recorded in emails, texts, databases, etc, and if LE does turn a provider they are at risk. Not risk of prosecution, but maybe some form of social media or web site list. There are a few sites trying to shame "johns". Lets not get into the debate of "don't do it if you can't accept the risk" argument. This thread has already assumed both parties want privacy and safety. Can a provider keep the information safe? Well, major corporations with security staff can't, including visa, amex, Target and Walmart. So I would have to say "no".
Much like gun control, it puts the honest people at a disadvantage, does not provide any higher level of security, and the criminals have easy access. If its a person who intends you harm wouldn't you say its almost a certainty that the name will not be real? The illusion here is that you can determine that is indeed the case. While I understand and agree with the providers need for safety, this isn't a solution. To say that your screening process is working because nothing bad has happened is not a real test of your security. The only real test would be to have a number of instances in which you can conclusively prove that it was fraud. I wish I had a good alternative to suggest to providers
Wasn't the "Zumba prostitute" asking for real names, etc.? As a result, the 21 hobbyists who visited her found themselves doing "in trouble" because LE was able to hack her computer records.
I completely understand the safety argument, for both sides. As a newbie, I get rejected often and just move on. On the other hand, I reject providers because they are not recommended by other hobbyists or providers. If I really want to see a provider, I just find out what their requirements are and work my way through them until we are mutually satisfied by the bona fides provided.
