I recently spoke with two providers:

1.  One provider received a call from an S/O because a client had printed off e-mails from the provider and had them in his vehicle after his appointment.  The S/O warned her to stay away from her husband and also said "I know where you live."  Obviously she found directions to her incall in the client's e-mail.

2.  The other provider had her vehicle spray painted with her initials (all over her car), as they appear on her "biz" e-mail, during the Halloween Weekend.    Chances are this was a significant other, who found the provider's home address from his e-mail account or a something the hobbiest had with him with directions to her incall.

Obviously, both situations had implications for the hobbiest as well.  Both of these incidents could have been avoided.

First, have a separate hobby e-mail account.  Do not use a familiar password that is known to your S/O.  If you don't have one, then do not leave anything incriminating in your e-mail account.  As tempted as you may be to save e-mail from your favorite provider(s), delete, delete, delete. Keeping them puts "YOU" and her at risk.

Clean your internet tracks.  If you look at the top of this board, there is a { Acronyms,and newbies' Manual }. One of the messages I posted in the Provider Relations 101 series, has to do with this subject.  Plus if you do a search, other gentlemen have discussed this subject and provided helpful information in the past.

If you bring directions to your appointment, bring them with you to the appointment and ask if you can throw them away at the provider's location.  These prevents your accidentally forgetting to throw out directions and having someone else find them.

Be careful with your cell phone.  If you do not have a separate "hobby phone," make sure that you are the one who gets the phone bill.  If you S/O is suspicious, she can google a provider's telephone number and it will most like also provide a link to TER and her website.

For new providers, if you send e-mail directions, I highly recommend giving directions only to the general area.  The client then calls you for the remainder of the directions.  By doing this, your full address is not in print where it can possibly be found.

Just a quick reminder.  If anyone wants to add anything, please do.  Otherwise, lets all just help each other to stay safe and undetected.

-- Modified on 11/3/2008 1:21:44 PM

Especially with laptops being so cheap these days, it's probably not wise to use a shared computer for hobbying at all. It's just too easy to forget to delete things, accidentally leave a window up, have a suspicious spouse install spy software, and it's just more convenient to be able to save bookmarks to your favorite ladies' sites

And for the truly paranoid -- install Linux on your "hobbying machine." Linux user accounts don't all show up on the startup screen -- you have to know that the username exists in the first place to be able to log on to that account. You have a work account and a hobbying account, and no one need be the wiser

Also, bring directions on your laptop. It has a battery and sits nicely in the passenger seat. Why print? Better yet -- get a GPS already!

I was new and stupid and didn't check her out..Yes she used a local provider name and had the gentlemans phone number and some info..She not only contacted me but many others

Please check out the provider and only send an e-mail reference to the e-mail listed if the e-mail comes or goes to any other don't do it.

I now have all gentlemen call and ask for that reference.. A lot more peace of mind for me and the gentlemen I see

Kisses Haley

I coded the names of all providers to sound like businesses when I put them on my cell phone.

Thus:  Katie became KT Industries.

Debbie became DB Productions.

Shirley was SRL Enterprises, etc.

It was easy for me to remember these and they were all innocent enough and fit well with the business I was in.

-- Modified on 11/3/2008 8:22:51 PM

Remember GPS saves "previous destinations" unless you delete it after.  Unless the lady provides a street & number a GPS is useless.  If you are on the road, it can be hard to look up that information.  Keeping records secure is a real issue.
skb

I'm a newbie, but I recommend the following:

Use an ironkey. It is a secure flash drive that is rated for military use. You can also surf the web from the drive. If the password is entered incorrectly 10 times, it erases all the data on the drive and is worthless.

Get a prepaid phone (no phone bills). When you do this, buy 3 or 4 $20 credits. Don't charge it up too much, because the credits time out in 60-90 days on some accounts. ALSO, IMPORTANT, password protect your phone. (coworkers are pain in the ass)

Use a prepaid Visa for everything above, your VIP membership, everything. I'm not willing to take any risks, so I even paid cash for the prepaid Visa.

Most importantly: Don't get lackadaisical and don't take chances.

A few years ago I had an appointment at a lady's incall.  When I entered and put the folded up directions on the table with the envelope and my cell phone, she offered to shred the direction sheet.  One less thing for me to be concerned with.  BTW, had a great session with my first squirter.

Good advice Sinful!

This is why I operate my business the way I do...

First my e-mail appears in everyone's inbox as Alex Lombardi.

Second I use a pre-paid phone for business and I had the opportunity to google my number - nothing showed up except for the TOWN its registered in.

Last but not least, THIS IS WHY I TRAVEL! I understand every provider doesn't have the freedom to drop everything and hit the road but my advice to you is avoid using you "home" to conduct business. I know times are rough but I rather pay for a hotel room then have a S/O vandalize my property, try to get me into trouble or make threats.

I understand paying for a room at $125-150 a day would put you in a pinch if you are only seeing a limited amount of friends but it will cost you a lot more then that if the S/O succeeds in destroying your personal life.

I heard the stories and my heart goes out to anyone that has experienced on either end.

- A.L.