Common Scams on Adult Search and How to Spot Them

I've seen every scam in the book, and I'm gonna teach you how to spot them before you lose your money or worse. Scammers target both escorts and clients, so everyone needs to know what to watch for.

The Fake Escort Profile Scam

This is the most common scam targeting clients. Scammers create fake profiles using stolen photos from Instagram models or porn stars. The photos look too good to be true because they are. The "escort" will ask for payment upfront and then disappear.

How to spot it: Photos that look professionally shot or overly glamorous. No reviews or only generic positive reviews. Reluctance to video chat or meet in public first. Pressure to pay upfront before meeting. Adult Search verification helps reduce these, but they still slip through sometimes.

Protection strategy: Always verify the person matches their photos before any payment. Insist on meeting in public first or at minimum a video call. Check if their photos appear elsewhere online using reverse image search. Trust your gut if something feels off.

The Bait and Switch

This scam involves advertising one person but sending someone completely different to the appointment. Sometimes it's a different escort entirely, sometimes it's someone who looks vaguely similar but is much older or different than advertised.

How to spot it: Vague communication about appearance details. Reluctance to provide recent photos or video verification. Last-minute changes to meeting location or time. Photos that seem inconsistent or from different time periods.

Protection strategy: Verify identity before any payment. If the person who shows up doesn't match the photos, politely leave. Don't feel obligated to proceed with an appointment if you've been misled about who you're meeting.

The Deposit Scam

Scammers posing as escorts will demand deposits or "verification fees" before meeting. They'll claim this is for their safety or to ensure you're serious. Once you send the money, they disappear and you never hear from them again.

How to spot it: Immediate requests for deposits before any real conversation. Demands for payment through untraceable methods like gift cards or cryptocurrency. Refusal to meet without upfront payment. Generic responses that could be sent to anyone.

Protection strategy: Legitimate escorts rarely require deposits from new clients. If someone insists on a deposit, offer to meet in public first or provide references from other providers. Never send money to someone you haven't met or verified.

Scams Targeting Escorts

The fake client scam involves someone posing as a wealthy client offering large sums for extended bookings. They'll ask for personal information, photos, or even request that you travel to meet them. Once they have what they want, they disappear.

How to spot it: Offers that seem too good to be true. Requests for extensive personal information before meeting. Pressure to travel long distances for first meetings. Reluctance to provide verifiable contact information or references.

Protection strategy: Verify client identity and legitimacy before sharing personal information. Start with local meetings before considering travel arrangements. Ask for references from other providers if the client claims to be experienced.

The Blackmail Scam

This sophisticated scam involves criminals who book appointments to gather compromising information or photos, then threaten to expose clients unless they pay money. They might secretly record encounters or steal personal information during meetings.

How to spot it: Unusual interest in your personal life or profession. Attempts to photograph or record without permission. Questions about your family, workplace, or social media. Behavior that seems focused on gathering information rather than enjoying companionship.

Protection strategy: Be cautious about sharing personal details with new clients. Don't allow photography or recording during appointments. Meet in locations where you control the environment. Trust your instincts if someone seems more interested in your personal life than your services.

Payment Scams

Fake payment confirmations are becoming more common. Scammers will send screenshots of payment apps showing completed transactions, but the money never actually transfers. By the time you realize the payment was fake, they're long gone.

How to spot it: Payment confirmations that look suspicious or use unusual apps. Pressure to provide services before payment clears. Reluctance to use standard payment methods. Screenshots instead of actual payment notifications from your apps.

Protection strategy: Verify payment completion in your actual payment app, not just screenshots. For large amounts, wait for payment to clear before providing services. Cash is still the safest payment method for escort services.

Red Flags in Communication

Scammers often reveal themselves through their communication patterns. Poor grammar and spelling might indicate overseas scammers. Generic messages that could be sent to anyone suggest mass communication rather than genuine interest.

Overly eager or pushy communication is suspicious. Legitimate clients and escorts take time to establish rapport and discuss expectations. Anyone pushing for immediate meetings or payments is likely running a scam.

Inconsistent information is a major red flag. If someone's story changes between messages or they can't remember details they previously shared, you're probably dealing with a scammer who's running multiple cons simultaneously.

What to Do If You're Scammed

If you fall victim to a scam, report it to Adult Search immediately. The platform can ban the scammer's account and warn other users. They also track patterns that help identify and prevent similar scams.

Document everything - save messages, screenshots, and any other evidence. This information helps law enforcement if the scam involves significant money or crosses state lines.

Don't be embarrassed about reporting scams. The adult entertainment industry relies on community self-policing to maintain safety standards. Your report might prevent someone else from becoming a victim.