This is all bullshit, and I never send money in advance.
Here's what I've learned works:
- If the pictures on the ad shows the woman hiding their face, it's a good sign she's legit. If the pictures show a very attractive woman with her face in full view, it's probably a scammer. Reverse image search often confirms this.
- If I google the number in the ad and find listings on multiple escort sites, that's a good sign.
- If the ad has a link to snapchat/instagram, and I find recent posts, that's a good sign.
- If the ad seems to create a false sense of urgency ("book now!", "only contact me when you're ready", "I'll only be here for a short period of time", etc.), that's a bad sign.
- After understanding all of this, I've modified my outreach text. Here's what I now use to initiate contact: "Hi, do you have time for a 30 minute incall today at <time>? I'm in <city>, and there's no need to reply if you're not in <city> or if you require advance payment. I don't send money in advance, and I will bring the full donation with me."
I hope this helps others avoid wasting time. If anyone has any other tips, I'd love to hear them.