Hey,
I've read a few reviews on here where experienced hobbyists went somewhere to meet a provider, then consequently were robbed, roughed up, threatened by her assistants, and one guy apparantly had to give up his ID in order to be allowed to leave, after the provider had him drive over an hour away to her incall location (thankfully, this one was not in a city that I hobby in).

Obviously, common sense rules the day, so sticking with a well reviewed provider should help to eliminate most issues. But are any other good pieces of advice? Should there be anything in the ad that should start red flags or that I need to be weary about? Or how about the initial or subsequent phone calls? I just read a bunch of these the other day and I became slightly paranoid. It seems 50/50 between this happening at Incall and Outcall locations. Is there one that's a safer alternative than the next? And for anyone that this may have happened to, what would you have done different?

Thanks for calming my fears!

You can't read minds, all you can do is protect yourself by doing as much research as possible.  Start off by trying to stick with well-reviewed ladies.  If a gal doesn't have reviews I look for some sort of website or regular advertisement on the escort mall sites.  I avoid BP and CL.

There are scenarios where you can get ripped-off either with in call or out call though I suppose the chance of getting roughed-up is less with an out call.  FYI, I wouldn't go anywhere near a woman who has another person in her room be it another provider, an "assistant" or a body guard.  It's trouble waiting to happen.

Stick to well reviewed ladies or ladies that you can back-channel with someone you trust. Check for reviews on multiple sites TER is the best one I have found but others site are also useful. Look into the guys that post the reviews are they legit with multiple reviews? If not I would be careful.

Google the ladies phone number and email. Does it show up for more than one lady yet she claims to be independent that is a big red flag. Tineye her photos. Are they showing up as someone else, if so anther red flag. Always trust your gut if things seem off to you run.

Outcall is safer then incall as you control the location but always have your wits about you. Never have a outcall to your home at leased until you have seen her a few times and trust her. Never bring anything to an appointment that you can't afford to loose.

If you do the above it will help protect you but nothing is fool proof. Always think with your big head and play safe. Have fun.

I carry the donation ready in a front pocket, hobby phone, ID.  I don't carry excess cash or any credit cards in on a first date.  Before leaving the coffee shop, I pop the trunk & put valueables away...  Probably paranoid, but hey, I've never been sorry for it.
Oh, yes, a fresh sealed 3 pack of my favorite condoms.  Eliminates one type of scam.  

is not to p4p at all. Given that it's not what you want to do (and we providers don't want you to, either), I'll tell you right now that - as a newbie - stick with ladies that have good reviews. I don't say this lightly; anyone who has read my posts in the last year would be shocked to read this from me. (If a lady you want to see doesn't have a review on TER, you might have to dig a little deeper; I have good reviews, just none from TER gentlemen.)

But, as you so aptly pointed out, newbies like yourself need to stay away from potentially dicey situations like you described. The guys here will warn you up one side and down the other to stay away from CL and BP at any time whatsoever. If you were more experienced, I'd vehemently disagree with them for a variety of reasons, including that not all gals on CL or BP are rip-offs or B&S or anything like you described. (OTOH, if you were experienced, you wouldn't be asking this particular question.) Since you have no idea how to tell which providers on those sites are sweethearts and which have hearts of lead, I'll actually side with the guys on this one. Go to well-reviewed ladies.

Also, because of the various screening methods that may or may not count you out, look for "newbie-friendly" providers. Join P411 or Date-check or RoomService2000; find out which is the most used in your area. Research, research and research some more the ladies you want to see. Study the newbie manual for more information.

There will also be lots more information coming from others when they wake up.

One is, go with your gut. Everyone has a little voice that can keep them out of harms way. If that little voice tells you to make a u turn before the session, do it. Second, always think with your big head not the little one.  That needs no explanation

would certainly be contacting jolene for a date.  From reading her posts, she is a lady of character with a playful side that would be fun to experience.

This is actually the kind of prep work that I was thinking I would do. This sounds like a really smart plan. I guess if you bring the condoms in, the only thing the scammer can do is just take off down the hall. This is a good plan, and I don't think there is such a thing as too much prep.

There are too many scams to list...  but one scam is the "out of condoms" scam.  They are in the car (she drives off with your donation).  I need to buy some (You drive her there, she goes out another door).  
Most ladies want the donation placed early on  according to their instructions (check her web site).  (Some old school do not, or may not after a few meetings... which is more GFE & more to my liking.)
There is nothing to stop a lady from grabbing the donation & running.  If you try to stop her, you may be guilty of unlawful restraint or kidnapping.  Be very careful if you try.  
The hobby is really about trust.  SHE's got to trust that you'll be a gentleman.  YOU've got to trust that she'll deliver.  Your verification increases her trust in you.  Good reviews increase your trust in her.  
If you don't trust her, don't go in.  The times when I only took my donation, hobby phone & ID...  I was really on the fence.  They actually turned out ok each time.
jtp