I'm kind of new to this so bear with me (please!).  I found a provider that I'm interested in on Backpages.com in my city.  When I contacted the provider (via IM, as instructed), she told me that in order to be verified, I need to join a monthly fee site (in this case, a webcam site), which would then give me her phone number (she says this method verifies that I'm not "LE" - which I assume means law enforcement).  I've looked through the Terms and Conditions, etc. on the site and don't see anything that speaks to "no LE" (and besides, even if it was there, what would prevent LE from simply lying about it?).  I'm a little suspicious.  I recently saw a TER reviewed provider so I could give a "provider reference."  Is this kind of verification legitimate?  Help!

While ladies each have their own preferences with regard to how you should contact them, I have never heard of anyone who uses IM as an initial contact. Also, I am not aware of any legitimate reference sites that are monthly paid webcam sites.

If you need to join a verification web site, date-check, preferred 411 and Room Service 2000 are the usual accepted reference sites.

I'd view this as a big red flag and try another lady. Does the provider you contacted on Backpage have TER references? If not, I'm definitely very skeptical.

This has been discussed before.  There are lots of girls out there that use this little trick to get your CC info.  There are plenty of girls out there that don't resort to this crap.  Find one of them and do legitimate screening.

Swim

It is definitely, 1000% a scam. Do not under any circumstances fall for this scam. No legitimate provider will ever ask anything like this from you.

Backpage is full of scams like this, Caveat Emptor, and whenever you have doubts this is the place to ask your questions. It is better to feel foolish for a moment than to actually fall for a scam.

-- Modified on 8/4/2009 10:10:21 AM

just a stolen picture & about to steal your Credit Card information.  NO real provider would do this.
skb

Thanks to all of you that responded to this.  I'm glad that I was cynical and sought out some insight from "the experts."  I will take the advice, cross this provider off the list, and move on to ones that are TER reviewed.

I don't know about stolen credit card info..

But I more than anything, you have to pay $29.95 (with a recurring fee if you don't cancel).

Then, after you join, you can get the webshow.

After you join, you'll never hear from them again.

They don't want to give you a show.  They just want the referrel fee they get from webcams.com.

If you tell them you already have an account on that website, the same thing... they say they need you to make a new one.  It's definitely a scam.  I don't know if your cc info is at risk or not, but you lose that money, and get nothing but frustration.