So I have joined 2 new dating sites in the last 6 months.Twice someone tried to blackmail me after exchanging numbers and text messages.They told me they were gonna submit my number to a sex predator website if i didn't pay them a couple hundred dollars.I scoffed at the threats and blocked the numbers and didn't really think much of it.I googled my # today out of boredom and sure enough my first name and pic are on some bogus website along with a tag that states that I pay for sex.They said it was submitted by an 'anonomous" person and that I had to contact one of the agencies listed below (which I am sure will come with a hefty price tag) to get it removed.I realized that besides the website and the persons who gave them my info that these "agencies" are all part of the hustle.I am just wondering how the fuck it can be legal.I was on dating websites trying to get a date there was no P4P mentioned at all.Has this happened to anyone else??I am obviously gonna change my number.I almost always communicate by email when I am hobbying.I also know that the ladies want our business there not gonna throw us under the bus.I have never had any gals in the business try and blackmail me.This is a whole different hustle going on.I am not to worried about anyone seeing it.The website looks completely bogus and it was a straight up blackmail attempt.All of them can suck it I am not worried at all about the exposure.I am not giving them a penny.I am just curious.And also even if your on a legit dating site I recommend going with email until you know the other person better.Any input is welcome...thanks

I also joined a legit dating site and started contact with a lady that seemed real and interesting but now things are not adding up. Said she lived near me but now says she is in another country on business. I am getting a weird feeling about this. Thanks for sharing your experience.

But regardless, the people who operate these sites are counting on their victims paying up and not wanting to involve LE for the obvious reason.  Such sites have been around for some years now.

We exchanged pics like notmal.Its pretty common when you meet a new person.

The site probably has operatives getting info to put up on the site so they can shake you down.

Also if the picture you used is not scandalous,  publish in on facebook or some social media site.  This gives you plausible deniability -- you can say they just randomly grabbed your picture if someone ever sees it.

On a happy note after nothing more then a threat to sue and to report them to the attorney generals office all my info is gone off Google.So I am thinking what there doing is totally illegal or they never would have relented so easy....phew

This is a perfect example why.

These were on legit dating websites I didn't think it was a risk

You didn't think it was plausible that you could encounter a dishonest crazy person on the internet and might want to insulate yourself by using an alias and burner phone? O.o

This only works if it was on FB or a social media website before the incident happened. Sadly. And if your profile is public.

I'm sorry that happened to you! Time to get a new phone & phone number.