I'm not a new provider but I haven't spent a lot of time on the legal corner.  I would like to know if anyone has heard of LE creating false TER memberships with false reviews written or fake whitelistings.  
I heard recently from a provider that a verification site (P411-can I mention the name?) was compromised in a certain state when someone was busted and allowed their profile to be used by LE to bust people.  The provider seemed to think that LE might have obtained the profile of a provider, too.  She thought that the verification site was closed down in the certain state because of this compromise.
It seems like it would be naive of us to assume that these things don't happen.  
Also, I have a friend who does a meet and greet with a client off the clock if they are a newbie with zero references because she believes that LE won't waste their time doing this.  However, my attorney told me a story about a cop who sat with two providers in a bar for two hours before they decided to head up to the room and he asked if he needed to get condoms.  They said they had them and they were busted.  He might have said 1.5 hours, but I know it was a long time that they sat there drinking and talking before the providers messed up and got busted.  LE might have been set up in that hotel, though.  Has anyone heard of LE taking the time to meet a provider at a location of the provider's choice for a M&G?  Or is that just way too much trouble for one provider?
To summarize my question, in what ways can providers walk into a trap when they check references, utilize verification sites, or meet newbies for a M&G as a way of screening them?
My friends and I are in California.

Thank you,
Freya Fantasia

 It's certainly possible for LE to crack P411 or Datecheck.   In Houston, the Turbiville prostitution ring used P411 to screen clients.  LE was able to penetrate that ring.  For obvious reasons, LE won't always reveal their methods used to bust people.  I'm a P411 member, but I don't believe that P411 or any screening service has magical properties that will keep LE away.  A screening service is just a way to lower your risk.  Here's the only way to completely eliminate risk: you retire from providing today.   Your friend's 'meet & greet' method to screen clients with no references is a smart way to work. It lowers her risk--not only for LE involvement, but also for potentially troubled clients.  But again, you'll have to accept the premise that you cannot eliminate risk.  Screening and meet/greets are a smart way to tilt the odds in your favor.  --z

We often lose sight of the fact that TER hobbyists and providers are but a very small fraction of the entire play for pay community.

The typical client is a guy who checks out backpage for a sexy pic, calls the number, heads over to the Econo-Lodge, gets his rocks off in fifteen minutes for about $100-150, and heads home happy as a clam.

LE can pick these guys (or gals) off like shooting fish in a barrel.  It takes so very little leg work to set that up and with limited resources they get the most bang for their buck.

Now, compare that to assigning some vice squad guys with the task of joining TER, finding out how to become trusted by getting fake reviews up, getting white listed, etc.  That's a lot of time for guys with limited resources.  Why do so if it's all the same to them?  That's why using TER and being a discreet and careful hobbyist/provider is so important.

Now, I'm not saying that somewhere along the line, some DA with a bug up his ass about TER hasn't gone through the trouble to bust guys/gals on here, but overall, it's going to be a rare occurance.

When DAs decide to invest a lot of time and manpower, they go after big targets, and these days they want to go after operations that use illegal aliens, or underage gals - both of which markets are foreign to this site.  (At least I hope so.)

Remember the old story;  If you are out camping with a friend, always sleep with your boots on in case a bear comes by.  You don't have to outrun the bear, you only have to outrun your friend.  And so it is with the hobby.

takes down anyone that has been compromised. Unfortunately, most people who have been compromised through that service will never be able to apply through p411 again. they do this to protect their reputation.
Also, even if LE KNOW your P411 info, What can they do with it? The birth-date and last name they have on many people I know are fake, lol. If you ACTUALLY gave away your info, I feel sorry for you, since all you need to do is get  3 good references from P411 verified escorts to get the membership.

some dudes that got felony for writing good reviews for discounts for Desert Diva were discovered through  meet-and-greet events. If they never attended them, LE would have had much less chance of discovering their true identity. They would  secretly tape your inside the meeting place with other hookers   to make sure that they have an evidence.

This is wrong, and it sounds like you're getting your information secondhand.   I've been a P411 member for over 3 years & have 20+ provider oks.  Annual P411 membership is $89 a year.  It doesn't matter how many 'references' you have.  A 'Basic' membership means you've been successfully screened by P411; a 'Basic Plus' membership means you've been screened & have at least one 'Provider OK'.

In the last year, Gina has been offering a lifetime membership for around $300, which is probably your best deal.   --z

Who was convicted of a felony for writing "good reviews for discounts"?  Name him here and link to the news article.  Who was busted for attending a 'meet & greet?  Name him here & link to the article.  The Phoenix PD did release Desert Diva's client list, but Phoenix police chief Andy Hill stated that "it would be difficult to make a case against the supposed clients, and that the organization was the target of the investigation."  (see link below).  

My link is to a news article from 2009.  If anyone has more current info on this case in regard to client prosecutions,  I'd like to see it.  Thanks.  --z

...about a provider meeting a client one-on-one before the session to get to know them, not the M&Gs where many men and women get together for a cocktail-type party.

Why are you surprised that anything is possible.

Takes a little work, but I wouldn't put it past them. Plant some seeds now for a bust a year from now.Lady gets busted, in exchange for "leniency" she gives over her phone, website, email, TER/P411/whatever account to LE. LE then uses it to accept dates from guys, and busts the guys who arrive.

Guy gets busted, in exchange for not interviewing his wife or boss, guy turns over his phone, email, TER/P411/Whatever account to LE. LE then uses it to book dates with ladies, and busts the ladies.

No way for any verification site to stop the initial takeover. Once the verification site figures it out, the damage has been done.If LE wants to bust you, that won't protect you. All they need is to find you (you show up for the drinks), and they can bust you on the spot. They can use your ads as evidence. Even if they don't get a conviction, do it enough times, and you will move on to greener pastures.

Besides, what guy doesn't enjoy sharing drinks with a beautiful lady? Especially if he is getting paid to do it. Maybe he does it off the clock too, for the on-the-clock bust the next time the two of you meet.#1 check references from ladies you trust. But, that is not fool proof. If LE has taken over the guys cell/email, they can fake being him. There is no way to protect from that. But, it is also a low probability event.

Use verification site. But, that only tells part of the story (sure he is not LE, but is he your cup of tea?), and has the same problem as #1.

Trust your gut. Better to skip a date than spend an evening in the pokey. One lady cancelled on me because I used a phone card to call her from the hotel lobby because I didn't want the phone charge to show up on the hotel bill.

-- Modified on 8/19/2012 12:29:51 AM

-- Modified on 8/19/2012 12:31:15 AM

but you can not fake a substantial review history.   Must such fakes don't have the depth of reviews & if asked make excuses.  (There was some great reading, a site where actual arrestees described the circumstances of their arrest.)   Sloppy screening or no screening at all is a common theme.  

Most providers refuse offers to get aquainted at a resturant say because it's a lot of work to get dressed up travel there and chat over drinks & the guy can just balk & she's out substantial working time...  and time is money.  An hour wasted is an hour she could have gotten paid for.   If one wishes an extended date, meet for a quickie, go out for a meal & return for more play...  all on the clock...  that's typically fine with her.  
Now an undercover cop might just get sent to a bar where there are complaints (from customers or management) of girls working the bar.  By the same token, a FM undercover LE could work that same bar trolling & bust as soon as they walk through the doors.  LE will seek to control the environment & the bust will happen before reaching a random room.

because it seems to me LE looks for patterns. If you're planning to scoff at one particular law, it's best not to fit the profile of a scofflaw. Don't stand out in any other way. Research a location to get some idea if it's used regularly for hobbyist and provider to get to know each other -- then avoid it, because it's ripe for a sting.

Yes some customers that were part of a group (forget name) were convicted of felony as were most of the almost 100 gals because associated with a criminal enterprise which is anytime more than one person involved.   The reviews for a discount was detailed in the extensive police report which I have.

At the meet and greets female and male cops were solicited by many for prostitution.  LE is well trained to ask leading questions and get a solicitation bust (cop asks how much and does it include GFE for example is a prostitution bust).    

Police also had a huge evidence book of reviews from you know where.  But hard to use in court but got almost everyone to plea for felonies.   A few, including the loved by all photo guy (Glen) and even the accountant went to prison.

No one went to trial, they all pled to avoid layering on of many individual charges.  Every time money passed it was another money laundering charge.  If had not pled could have had 10-20 years in prison vs most had about 1 yr (and now out on probation for most I believe).  The lower level gals got felonies but 1-2 years probation.

After DD we still have ongoing 4 massage parlor cases not all pled yet (Friction, Busy Bodies and 2 others) that had about 50 indicted.  And now the most recent Phoenix Goddess Temple case with 39 indicted on criminal enterprise felonies even those that only worked there briefly and left long ago.  The only case dismissed was the cleaning lady who had a lawful purpose for being at the Temple.