Escort Scams: How to Spot Fake Profiles and Fake Sites

How to spot an escort scam

You can spot most escort scams by watching for stolen or too-perfect photos, pressure to pay upfront by unusual methods, and sites or numbers that will not answer simple questions. Scammers rely on two things: that you are in a hurry, and that you may feel too embarrassed to report them. Neither has to work on you.

This is worth taking seriously, because the people behind these scams are often skilled. They copy text and pictures from real websites, build convincing pages and answer messages quickly. They may also impersonate real agencies, including ones with good reputations. A little patience before you hand over any money or personal details will protect you from nearly all of them.

Warning signs on a profile

Look closely at the photos. Fake profiles often use professional images taken from other websites or social media, so the same woman may appear under different names in different cities. A reverse image search through a search engine can reveal this in seconds. Be wary of a lady who seems to be available in many places at once, or whose photos look like they come from a fashion shoot rather than the profile of a real person.

Read the wording. A profile with no real personal detail, stiff or strangely worded text, or a list of promises that sound too good to be true should make you cautious. So should any promise that sex or anything specific is guaranteed. A genuine lady chooses for herself what she is comfortable with, and nobody can honestly make promises on her behalf. Rates far below what others charge in the same area are another warning sign, because they are there to get you hooked before the real demands begin.

Check that details agree with each other. If the name, the area, the rates and the photos change between the website, the messages and the phone call, stop and ask yourself why.

Warning signs on a website

A good site gives you straightforward information and a real way of getting in touch. Look for a clear privacy page and terms, and see whether the contact details match across the whole site. Check the web address carefully, because scammers often register names that look almost identical to real businesses, with one letter changed or an extra word added. If you came from a search result or an advert, type the address in yourself rather than trusting a link in a message.

Be cautious of a site with no phone number, one that insists on chat apps only, or one that sends you to a separate payment page. A site with pop-ups that ask you to enter card details to confirm your age or to see more pictures should be closed at once.

The common scams

The advance fee scam is the best known. You are told that you must pay a deposit, security fee, taxi fare or booking fee before the lady will set off. Once you have paid, there is another charge, then another, until you give up. You will often be asked to pay by gift card, cryptocurrency or a bank transfer to a personal account, as these are hard to trace or reverse. Treat any such request as a serious warning.

The threat scam is more unpleasant. Someone contacts you claiming to be a security company, an enforcer or a hotel manager, and they say you have wasted a lady's time or broken a rule, and that you must pay or your family and employer will be told. These messages are almost always bluffing. Do not pay, do not argue, and keep a record of what was sent.

The third sort is the switch: the lady who turns up is not the one in the photos, or the price is suddenly quite different from what was agreed. If that happens, you are entitled to politely end things there and then.

Please also beware of blackmail after a chat or video call. If you are threatened with sharing images or messages, stop replying, keep the evidence, and report it.

How to protect yourself

Use a little common sense before you book. Call and speak to a real person, ask clear questions, and notice whether you get clear answers. On our site, booking is simple: you call us with a lady's name and a time, we check she is free, confirm the price and arrange the rest. Our guide on how to book an escort gives more detail, and our page on how we check ladies says what we do and do not claim.

Share only what is needed. There is no good reason for a stranger to have a photo of your passport or your bank login. Never send money just because someone is pushing you to act fast. Pressure is the clearest warning sign of all, and a genuine business will let you take a moment to think.

If you have been caught out

First, stop paying. Scammers will often come back for more, and sending further money rarely gets the first payment back. Contact your bank straight away if you paid by card or transfer, as quick action sometimes helps, and call 159, the stop scams number used by many UK banks.

Then report it. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, you can report fraud to the national reporting service, Report Fraud, which replaced Action Fraud. In Scotland, contact Police Scotland on 101. If you are being threatened or feel in danger, call 999. Keep copies of messages, phone numbers, payment details and web addresses.

Above all, try not to feel ashamed. These scams are designed to fool sensible people, and the people behind them count on your silence. Being cheated is not a crime, and if you have been trying to book a legal service as an adult, you have every right to ask for help.