These client vetting web sites...

[Thorn]

I refer to sites like date-check, p411, RS2K and TER whitelist.

As this is in reference to privacy I include it in this section, which is geared to discussion of what makes this, and us, what it is and are and all things that get us, providers and clients alike, from point A to point B in as close to whole as possible.

I can see the value of such sites for providers, who can always use a new, simple, and most importantly effect, way to screen clients. However I don't see the value in them anywhere near as much for clients. I mean other than the presence of an account on same can ease making an appointment with a provider who relays heavily on same.

Other than that I can see true potential harm, in many ways, for having personal information stored on such vetting sites.

I can envision an angry spouse, bent on divorce, with a good forensic accountant utilizing state of the art web analysis [and any good FA worth his salt is going to be either good with these tools themselves or know someone who is] going over the hard drive of the other spouse with a fine tooth comb. Looking for, and finding, evidence of accessing web sites such as these, having the civil court subpoena the sites records, and then having not only proof that this person was a member of the site but what providers accessed his account info.

I know that in these days if I was a wife heading for divorce the first thing I'd do, even before filing the paperwork, would be to image the drives of my husbands main computing platform. [That is why, guys, you need to have access to your system via CD/DVD drive booting blocked and your system bios password protected as a first order stop gap to preventing this - not that it is sufficient in and of itself].

Clients and providers alike, chime in on this please.

Have you used these services? Do you find them useful? Efficient? Do you feel secure in using them?

Inquiring minds want to know.

wishing well...

[franca]

I see these vetting services as more useful to the client in areas where LE comes down really hard on working girls. Quality escorts with a reputation are often more skittish about booking with clients that don't undergo a thorough vetting process, and these sites can make things a lot easier. The client only has to go through the process once, and can use his membership to see multiple women. Also, the service is mostly neutral, and the client doesn't have to deal with petty jealousies that often occur when providing escort references on his own.

Yes, there are disadvantages, which have been discussed at length here at UG. I can certainly understand why a client would avoid a vetting service.

[Waterclone]

I hate to give up personal info, so I like a site that accepts provider references.

[h4c]

If you're looking for real potential trouble, by all means use a vetting system.

If you just want to get laid and have fun, there are so many women, so many incalls, so many amps.

[Waterclone]

I wouldn't say that. There are a lot of high quality women who require either references or one of those sites. Sure, there are some really excellent women who don't vet their clients, but they are few and far between. I find that the girls who are serious about their security are usually the better bet.

[justlooking]

Only if you stay in the internet mainstream.

And even there, very few agencies are as maniacal as many internet indies.

I think you can find astounding quality without getting into this kind of stuff. But you have to think outside the box you get into on boards like this.

[justme]

There's a dissertation topic: whoreboard hegemony.

[lunalondyn]

As a provider, I often wonder if our own judgment is a reliable source of verification? For me, it's a choice for the client to select these vetting sites; but, I'd much rather rely on the good ol' fashioned phone talk and word of mouth referral. So much of our exchange is made on the Internet but there's nothing truly safe or guarded on the world wide web. I wouldn't blame a client either if he preferred to avoid these sites altogether.

[Bandaid]

I always assumed, and still do, that all the "verification" sites are scams, pure and simple.

I think Luna is right. the hardest part is screening for psychos. I would guess screening for cops is easier.

[Waterclone]

LOL. Screening for cops is a joke. It's not like we are talking about Roscoe P. Coletrain. Real cops who are on the job can very easily pass almost any screening, other than having references from a known provider. And who knows, they can probably manage that too.

[RuffToy]

I simply cannot understand why any monger in this hobby would deliberately leave a trail.

[Waterclone]

I often don't know my availability in advance, so I have to be a last minute scheduler. If I see a girl online and some how reach her on the phone, there is very little chance that she'll be able to reach my references in quick enough time. A verification site solves that problem. She can instantly "check me out" and I am good to go.

That said, I am not sure what trail I am leaving. There is no connection between any of these sites and my real identity.

Hell, some guys use credit cards with girls that take them. Now that's a friggen trail.

[RuffToy]

...That said, I am not sure what trail I am leaving. There is no connection between any of these sites and my real identity...


Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't sites like RS2K require you to enter in personal verifiable info about yourself, PLUS pay a one time fee w/ credit card???? If so, that sounds like a trail to me.

[Waterclone]

Never used that one. I got an account on Preferred411 and Date-Check without ever giving up any personal info.

[Waterclone]

And as for credit cards, I have used those prepay credit cards you get at drug stores.

[trader1]

And as for credit cards, I have used those prepay credit cards you get at drug stores.

same here-- just be careful to pay for those cards in cash not a CC which could be traced to purchase of gift card

[Bandaid]

Never used that one. I got an account on Preferred411 and Date-Check without ever giving up any personal info.

How would it work for a site to vet you without any kind of personal information? You could be J. Van der Sloot, and if your card went through you're golden?

[Waterclone]

same here-- just be careful to pay for those cards in cash not a CC which could be traced to purchase of gift card

LOL. Of course. It would be pretty funny to buy prepay cash cards, and cell phones with a credit card.

Kinda like using a fake name when you call an escort service from your home phone.

[Waterclone]

How would it work for a site to vet you without any kind of personal information? You could be J. Van der Sloot, and if your card went through you're golden?

Some sites verify you based on provider references.

For example, when I see a girl who is listed on Preferred 411, I request a "provider ok" from her.

When I try to schedule with a girl who is on that site, she can see my provider ok's and it's like an instant reference without having to contact the girls in real time.

[Waterclone]

deleted dupicate post

[daengman]

I think you can find astounding quality without getting into this kind of stuff. But you have to think outside the box you get into on boards like this.


Problem is, most mongers are only thinking "inside the box"

[franca]

Only if you stay in the internet mainstream.

And even there, very few agencies are as maniacal as many internet indies.

I think you can find astounding quality without getting into this kind of stuff. But you have to think outside the box you get into on boards like this.

I'm curious to know how much whoring you've done outside New York City, jl. The experiences you describe don't reflect what I've learned about the sex business other cities. LE isn't nearly as bad here as in other places. In other cities, there are many on the supply side--indy and agency--who most certainly are "maniacal" about vetting new clients. They may have different methods than escort references/vetting services, but they do make a great effort to make sure you are not a cop. This is absolutely necessary (and not maniacal at all), because LE puts an equally great effort to making a bust. Instead of doing random sweeps of VV or Eros ads and picking up girls who take last minute appointments without any of caution (like in NYC, and which is pretty easy for a smart WG to avoid), they will target specific WGs and set up a bust with all sorts of elaborate ruses. They'll spend tons of hours and money for one measly misdemeanor bust. These communities are filled with a goody-two-shoes who love to cooperate with LE for one measly misdemeanor bust, whereas the average New Yorker couldn't give a shit about a WG, unless the WG is causing them some problem.

I still maintain that vetting services, while they clearly present risks, have value to clients in areas where LE is rabid in their pursuit of WGs. If not this way, then a new client is going to have to go through the ringer another way.

[justme]

There certainly are stark differences in law enforcement of commercial sex depending on where you are.

[justlooking]

Franca, the answer is, almost none. You certainly may be right for all I know.

[justme]

Of course, I'm not sure a positive difference in local law enforcement diligence makes any positive difference in the effectiveness of such sites. That seems like more of a desperation driven demand.

[franca]

Effectiveness for the client?

[justme]

Well, the client of the site, I suppose.

[Bandaid]

How do vetting sites determine if someone registering on the client side is a cop or not? How do they determine if a provider joining and providing references is not a police officer or cooperating witness? If other police departments are willing to go to so much effort, then getting around a vetting site can't be a big obstacle. These sites probably don't charge enough to do much work researching applicants. Like any.

I find it much easier to believe it's about the fee and the endless porn spam you will get after registering.

[franca]

None of them are going to explain the whole process on a public message board. If you want to know, register with one, and find out.

The 3 major, established ones (RoomService2000, Date-Check, and Preferred411) do not send porn spam or any other kind of spam.

[Thorn]

LOL. Screening for cops is a joke. It's not like we are talking about Roscoe P. Coletrain. Real cops who are on the job can very easily pass almost any screening, other than having references from a known provider. And who knows, they can probably manage that too.

Operation Flea Collar in Florida was almost entirely run on the basis of known provider names to corral potential clients and, eventually, the "Big Doggie" himself. Cooperating provider witnesses supplied the names, known telephone numbers, and methodology known to the clients so as to seem totally legitimate and none LE involved.

That is merely one example. I could cite others.

[Thorn]

Laptop. The right software. The knowledge how to use them. All that is required to be safer than the vast majority of sex workers are in their chosen field.

Barring that, the second best way to remain truly safe is effectively mining these boards. They are an excellent source of known cliental with far fewer than average issues/concerns.

Again, it takes knowing how. Its not at all difficult though.

[Monk]

I'm curious, those who belong to these services: which of the three most popular (date check, room service and p411) is the best? Is one more legit than the others? Are their membership fees roughly similar? (Sorry, I really don't know anything about these services, other than their basic purpose and the fact that they keep your info in a database.) Are some more reliable than others, and if so, why? Do you have to belong to more than one?

[franca]

RoomService 2K is a Chicago-based business, and not surprisingly, most popular in Chicago. If I were based in Chicago, I would pay to advertise there. There is a very good reason for the existence of this service, and that is that Chicago vice is rabid in their pursuit of working girls. It's been around for over 10 years, and I've never heard a bad word about the owner, although I have heard about cops managing to sneak in a few times over the years.

RoomService 2K might be the most useful for clients, in that once they have been vetted and become paid members, RS2K will vouch for them even if the escort is not a member.

Date-Check was started in the early aughts by a guy who was already somewhat known in the world of whoredom for his adult web services. He started with a good reputation that he slowly built upon by adding known, reputable escorts to his site who could vouch for new client members. I've never heard even the slightest rumbling of any impropriety. This site is more popular with East Coast guys.

Preferred411 is owned by a woman who apparently also owns an escort agency in Texas. It arrived on the scene a few years after Date-Check as a competitor. It operates much the same way as Date-Check, although IMHO the site design is a lot cleaner and easier to navigate than Date-Check. Some folks are naturally nervous about the agency connection, although after years of keeping my ear to the ground, I've never heard of any problems with the agency connection. Their servers are in Canada, and I believe that on paper (though I could be wrong), the whole operation is based in Canada. I heard one particular story of Preferred411 not thoroughly vetting a member who had given false work information. I do not know if this sort of thing is a common occurrence with Preferred411, or a glaring exception.

I know that Date-Check and Preferred411 requires somebody trustworthy to vouch for escorts that want to join the site. I'm not certain what RoomService 2K requires for an escort to join, but they asked me to confirm that I was a real escort with an established reputation before they would vouch for one of their client members.

All 3 of these sites present some risk to the members, just by their very nature. However, none of them are fly-by-night sleazy operators. In all my dealings with them over the years, and in all the years they have built their reputations, there have been zero incidents (that I know of) that would lead me to believe they are anything other than the legitimate businesses they claim to be. Membership fees are posted on their sites.

[Monk]

Thanks, Franca. That was a very thoughtful reply.