Protect Yourself

[TotallyOz]

Getting ready for the new site, we are doing many new articles. Suggestions on articles are always welcome. Also, comments on them help us to edit them to make them better for all users. Here is one I wrote while in Sao Paulo this week as I was walking around thinking of picking up a guy from a park. My smarter sense kicked in and this article came out. Comments are much appreciated.

Hi. Welcome back to Male Escort Review's guide to becoming a part of the male escort community. We are here to help people become comfortable hiring male escorts, so they can become cunning cockaholics!

Hiring a male escort can be a great experience. You can end up having a sinsational sexperience with exactly the type of man you want. You won't have to go cruising through the bar scene, worry about getting rejected or finding out at the last minute that your date just date lacks the type of gear shift that puts your engine into overdrive.

But it's not a risk free adventure. Even if you insist that both of you wear industrial strength condoms, there are other ways you can be unsafe in the hands of an escort.

American morality has made escorts – whether straight of gay – illegal. And because it could be technically a crime, this brings out a certain number of criminals.

What makes it worse is that most guys can't or won't go to the police if they are ripped off by a male escort. After all, many of us are married or still in the closet. Plus, you don't want to complain to the police if it means you'll have to admit that you were hiring a hooker as well!

This makes scam artists feel secure that they can get away with it – and helps turn many more of us into victims.

Of course, lots of the scams would disappear almost overnight if prostitution was legalized, but I wouldn't count on that happening any time soon. After all, it was only recently that anal sex was legalized in some states!

But you can protect yourself. For the most part, guys only get scammed when their horniness overrides their common sense. Afterward, all the warning signs become clear – it's just when we are tempted by fab abs or cute cock that the blood rushes out of our brains and into our magic mushroom.

That's why the Male Escort Review feels it is our obligation to help you learn how to avoid the most common escort scams – so you can quench your craving for cock, jocks or versatile tops without ever thinking about calling a cop!

Scam #1: Western Union

This is a very common scam that most experienced rent boy rutters have learned to avoid. But, it still cons a bunch of the newbies. After you respond to the escort ad, the dude will agree to cum calling but will really dick you over.

What he'll do is ask you to send him money via Western Union before you meet up. You'll send the money and never hear from him again. Seriously, no real escort requests money before you meet him.

Do you really think a real escort wants a Western Union paper trail, or would he rather you simply give him cash? The second a guy asks you to Western Union money stay far away from him.

If you are an active reviewer here and you are hiring someone for a week, have them check you out to find out you are legit. It works both ways. If I were an escort and was blocking a week of my time away, I would want some kind of deposit if I had never met the guys before. However, you can solve this by meeting for one hour and getting to know each other or just having him check you out. If both the client and the review has positive feedback on this site, that makes it easier to trust the other party.

Scam #2: Escrow Escorts

This is an insidious variation on the Western Union scam – and works much more often because it makes you feel like you can trust the dude even though he's really a cunning con man and not a ravenous rent boy.

What he will do is say that to “protect both of us,” he wants you to use a website to put money into escrow before your date. More often than not the website will have the name “escrow” somewhere in the URL and seem to be legitimate.

He'll tell you that this way, you can release the money to him if you've had a pleasant escort experience and that he's protected because he knows you can afford the date.

What's he's not telling you is that the site isn't really set up for escrow. It's actually a phishing site with no purpose other than to get your credit card information. Within minutes of entering your details into the site, he and his accomplices will use the information to max out your card and/or drain your bank account (if you used a debit card).

Never, ever put money into an escrow website for an escort. It's just another way to rip you off.

Scam #3: Cash And Carry

This is one of the newest forms of male escort scams – and one that was started by girl escorts before the rent boys picked up on it. A few years back a woman published a book about how to be an escort without ever having sex. Then other people came out with variations of her book.

Eventually it got into the hands of rent boys, and they started using these terrible tactics. What the books advise the escorts to do is show up and demand to be paid up front.

They, they'll offer to give you a back rub or perform a striptease for you. What they are waiting for is for you to ask for some sort of sex. As soon as you do they'll act all offended, explain that sex for money is illegal and try to storm off in a huff – with your money.

When you complain, they'll threaten to call the cops on you. Sometimes they'll even have a friend waiting outside your door to beat you up in case you get mad and try to attack them.

This is why you should always leave the money in an envelope near your bedside table and only hand it over once you've done the dirty deed.

Scam #4: Two Places At Once

This scam is not perpetrated by escorts, but by escort agencies. While most of us know not to use Western Union, we do understand that some agencies require us to enter our credit card information before they will set up the date.

With most agencies, this is not a problem – but some of them will simply take your money. What they do is get pictures of really hot looking guys and then advertise them all over the country.

Since the guys don't really work for them, they don't have to worry about anything. They are not planning on sending him to your hotel room in the first place. He's just bait to get your credit card.

To avoid this, Google as much information from the ad as possible and make sure the ad isn't posted in multiple cities. After all, it's not likely that a dude can suck cock in New York and Los Angeles in the same afternoon!

There are reliable services out there like Campus Escorts in New York City, Premiere in Philly along with many more. Do a search here on the agency you are dealing with to find out if they have been in business for a while and are legit.

Scam #5: Fake Escort Reviews

Many of us rely on escort reviews to make sure we will get banged for our buck. And the staff here at Male Escort Review does everything we can to make sure all of the reviews on our site our legitimate.

Still, we can't catch each and every one. We are not awake 24 hours a day (well Tampa is, I am not). Sometimes it's a judgment call; we have to leave reviews up because while they are questionable, they are not obvious bullshit. If we ever question the legitimacy of a review, we flag it and ask for more information. We turn MANY reviews away that we don’t view as legit but we cannot catch them all.

What sometimes happens is that an escort (or his friends) will post reviews of himself in order to generate business, even if they suck (and not in a good way).

Fortunately, these guys aren't very creative and are fairly easy to catch if you pay attention. When dudes post fake reviews, you'll notice that they are all very similar to each other. Do all the stories in the reviews seem to be exactly the same, with just a few words switched around?

If so, be careful. You can always ask on the message boards if anyone has seen the escort in person, or ask our moderators to check out the reviews for you. In general, if you ever find any of the reviews questionable it's better to move on and find a different dude.

Scam #6: Bar Hustlers

Hustlers are called hustlers for a reason. That's why at Male Escort Review; we recommend that you only rent boys you can find on our site. Picking up bar hustlers is dangerous. Yes, it might be slightly cheaper than buying an escort; but you get what you pay for.

There are many, many ways you can get burned by a bar hustler. He may simply mug you on the way to your place. He may pick your pocket. He might be a closet gay basher who will kick the shit out of you at your place.

The point is that when it comes to bar hustlers, you have no idea at all what you are getting yourself into. Plus, they are much, much less likely to use protection and be careful about their health.

To put it simply – Male Escort Review exists for a reason. Spend the extra time and money and find a guy who isn't out to hustle you.

You can’t always stay with a reviewed guy. For example, in Brazil when I am in the saunas, I don’t see reviews of the guys here or in Thailand from a gogo bar. However, I will then ask others I know if they know the guy and if he was good and delivered what he promised. It is hard to know for sure and sometimes it is just the luck of the dice. In all my experience, I have rarely been gotten a dud. But, I always check around and ask those I trust.

Scam #7: The Overnight Date

For a lot of us, the idea of an overnight escort date seems like a dream come true. After all, who wouldn't want to fall asleep next to a hot guy after some serious dicking and then wake up to a morning mounting?

But, this can turn into a nightmare. With the right escort, an overnight date can be a wonderful thing; but if you choose the wrong guy, you can end up getting the short end of the dick.

What scam artist escorts will sometimes do is quote you what seems like a really good price for a sleepover. What they won't tell you is that they will be simply waiting for you to fall asleep.

Once you do so, they'll go for your wallet, search through your things and try to find as many valuables as they can reasonably carry. You'll wake up the next morning to find they and your shit are missing.

There are two main ways to protect yourself against this:

1. Use the hotel safe to lock up all your valuables before the escort comes over. Make sure you only have enough cash on you to pay for the date. Don't leave anything lying around that you can't afford to lose.

2. Only schedule overnight dates with guys you have seen before and who have a long series of good reviews – including overnight date reviews – on Male Escort Review.

3. When this is not possible, ALWAYS have the guy checked into the hotel and an ID on file with the hotel. When I am away from home, I always walk the guy straight to the front desk with their ID. If they don’t have one, I give them taxi money and say good-night.

4. I always make sure my valuables are in a safe place. I recently was with a guy who picks up street guys in Sao Paulo. He hides his valuables before he brings someone back. He even found a most creative place for his computer. I am not one that often takes someone home overnight but if you are, prepare for this in advance unless you know him really well.

Keep Us Informed!

Now you know about the most common escort scams we've heard about and encountered through Male Escort Review. But, we do know that cocky con men can be very creative and there are always new scams being invented – and fabulous fags who unfortunately fall prey to them!

That's why we'd like to ask you to help us keep on top and get to the bottom (so to speak) of the players, hustlers, cheats and freaks. If you've ever been scammed by an escort let us know about it! If you've simply heard about an escort scam, drop us a line!

We always want to keep up to date so that we can help protect you! Remember, safe sex isn't just about condoms anymore!

cc MaleEscortReview.com 2009

[caeron]

I'd add the golden rule here somewhere in big bright letters. Some variation of:

Virtually all requests for money in advance is a sign of scamming.

This underlies all the scenarios that you've put up here, and any new ones they come up with.

[Guest BewareofNick]

Very nicely done Oz. If you'd like, I can put something together detailing some of the various scams and scam artists we've seen over the years.

[TotallyOz]

I'd add the golden rule here somewhere in big bright letters. Some variation of:

Virtually all requests for money in advance is a sign of scamming.

This underlies all the scenarios that you've put up here, and any new ones they come up with.

Agree.

Very nicely done Oz. If you'd like, I can put something together detailing some of the various scams and scam artists we've seen over the years.

Thanks. Appreciate the comments.

Would love some of that information. Great idea.

[BiBottomBoy]

I've known dudes who've gotten burned by the escrow scam. It's really sneaky because the sites look very, very legit.

[Guest StuCotts]

Oz, many thanks. Over time I've seen any number of scattered references to scams visited on unsuspecting clients, but never anything this complete, this informative and this organized.

[BiBottomBoy]

Yeah, I just googled "male escort scams" and there is nothing like t his anywhere.

[marcanthony]

Great summary!

I have luckily escaped those particular scenarios, but I have had (twice) a plane ticket that I sent to an escort for a travel date go unused because the escort never boarded the flight. In both those instances I had booked a travel date with an escort that I had not yet met previously (thinking with the wrong head). So that got me to thinking that another great topic to write about is "how to make a travel date go smoothly"... the do's and don'ts, recommendations of how to get a ticket to the escort, who to invite, where to go, how to plan activities, how often to expect sex during the course of a given day, etc etc

Another thought.

[TotallyOz]

Thanks MarcAnthony. A great idea.

But, for the expectations of sex, I think we will have to go somewhere between your 6 and my 1 time a day. I am getting old and can't do what I use to be able to do.

Although, yesterday I did 3 with no Viagra. But, that was with my lover (as his wife was on the phone) and 2 new boys. The new ones were just yummy and I had to try even if I had to be the bottom.

[marcanthony]

Although, yesterday I did 3 with no Viagra. But, that was with my lover (as his wife was on the phone) and 2 new boys. The new ones were just yummy and I had to try even if I had to be the bottom.

LOL.... only in Brazil. Wait, no I take that back... only wherever in the world Oz happens to be.

[TotallyOz]

LOL.... only in Brazil. Wait, no I take that back... only wherever in the world Oz happens to be.

Well, the last 2 days I have been sick. I got seafood poisoning at a very nice Italian restaurant and ended up in the hospital here. So, no sex at all. But, the Brazilian BF (for a few hours every day before he goes home to his wife) came over and took good care of me, got me some food to eat, water to drink and played games with me. No, not sex games. Reindeer games.

I have also incorporated the other suggestions into the articles for the programmers to put on new site. Much appreciated input guys!

[BiBottomBoy]

Does his wife know he's a bad boy with you?

Well, the last 2 days I have been sick. I got seafood poisoning at a very nice Italian restaurant and ended up in the hospital here. So, no sex at all. But, the Brazilian BF (for a few hours every day before he goes home to his wife) came over and took good care of me, got me some food to eat, water to drink and played games with me. No, not sex games. Reindeer games.

I have also incorporated the other suggestions into the articles for the programmers to put on new site. Much appreciated input guys!

[Guest StuCotts]

Does his wife know he's a bad boy with you?

Unless the culture has changed since my contact with it, his wife would assume that he's dicking around, though might or might not guess with what gender. On his side, the assumption would be that it's none of her business. But if she gives him a hard time, his machista honor would require that he beat her up and/or throw her out. That could vary depending on social class. Would anybody like to update me on the subject?

[BiBottomBoy]

I don't know if I could switch from dick to pussy in the same day.