Are you looking to book a sex worker on Tryst.link but feeling unsure about fake profiles or scams? You might have heard that scams are common in the sex industry but the truth is, scams can happen anywhere online, whether while banking, shopping or organising a parcel delivery.
Scammers often target the sex industry because they rely on the stigma surrounding our community to keep people from reporting them, but this does not mean the sex industry is higher risk than any other online transaction. When you treat sex workers like legitimate business professionals and use the same critical thinking you apply to the internet in general, your Tryst.link booking will go smoothly.
Providers on Tryst.link want you to feel safe, respected, and confident when you book with them. We created this guide to help you find the right provider, understand normal booking processes and be able to spot scams.
Scammer warning signs: take a closer look
When you first look at a provider's profile there are a few details worth taking the time to inspect closely. The more warning signs you notice, the more cautious you should be about booking. Here are some tips on how you can tell the difference between a legitimate provider and a scammer.
Rates that seem too good to be true
Providers run their own businesses and set their own rates. (Read more about rates in our article about whorearchy). However, you should be suspicious if a provider charges significantly less than others offering similar services in your area. Take a look at other profiles in your city to find the average rate. For example, if most providers in your area charge $400 an hour but someone is asking $100 for the exact same service, be careful. Just like any other online purchase, if it looks too good to be true, it probably is.
“Impossible” tours
Many providers travel, or tour, to different cities for work. Many tour extensively–you can even book providers that accept FMTY! But if you look closely at a provider’s schedule and see overlapping dates or trips that are physically impossible, this could be a sign of a scam. Scammers often list multiple locations at once casting an impossibly-wide net to trap more people.
Unusual contact methods
Legitimate providers will generally use contact methods like email, WhatsApp, Signal, or SMS. If a provider responds to your enquiry insisting you message them on a fansite (for example, OnlyFans) to book an in-person date, that can be a major red flag (see our section on “‘Fansite Funnelling” below).
While using secure apps like WhatsApp or Signal is pretty standard, just be mindful of the “disappearing messages” feature. While this setting offers greater privacy, it also prevents you from keeping a record of your conversation, which you could need as evidence if a scammer were to steal your money.
Changing communication styles
When you email or text a provider, pay attention to how they reply. Does their tone match the way they wrote their profile? Keep in mind that some legitimate providers hire copywriters to write their profiles, however, if someone sounds completely different in their private messages, a scammer could have stolen their account.
Similarly if you have booked with a provider before, and they suddenly communicate very differently or change their contact details, it could be a sign their account has been compromised.
Red flags: signs of common scams
Warning signs are an indication that a scam might be occurring. A red flag is a sign a scam is most likely occurring or about to occur. In other words, if you encounter these red flags there is a high likelihood you may be scammed. Here are some tactics used in common scams.
Big deposits and high pressure
Every provider has requirements of you, such as ID screening or paying a deposit, before they will confirm a booking. Having strict requirements is not the same as pressuring you. Legitimate providers will clearly state their boundaries and leave you to decide if you want to proceed.
Scammers, on the other hand, use high-pressure tactics to force you into paying. While asking for a deposit is normal, a provider demanding an unusually large deposit or pushing you insistently to send money immediately is a red flag. If someone threatens or intimidates you, cease communication and find another provider to book with.
Compromised accounts
Sometimes scammers use malicious methods to steal the account of a legitimate provider using an ad platform. They use the trusted profile to demand a quick deposit from you, and then they disappear. This is why checking for sudden changes in communication style, contact details, or new photos with unusual watermarks is so important.
Fansite funnelling
Some scammers advertise as in-person escorts without intending to offer in-person services. Instead, they use an escort profile to direct you to a profile on a fansite where they sell subscriptions to their online content. We call this fansite funnelling.
These accounts misrepresent themselves to sell subscriptions. They'll ask you to contact them through a fansite, or insist that you have to "earn" an in-person booking by purchasing content first.
If an in-person provider requires you to book with them via their fansite, do not proceed. Fansite platforms prohibit discussion of in-person services of any kind, so to use one to facilitate an in-person service makes no sense and is a strong red flag. If you encounter this, we ask that you help us keep our community safe by reporting the profile (see “Reporting scammers” below).
Avoiding scammers: staying safe while booking providers
Before you reach out to a provider and get into booking, do a little homework to learn more about them. This way you will not only find a provider that works for you, you will be able to spot anything unusual or that seems too good to be true.
A little homework goes a long way
When booking a provider, take a moment to do a quick check of their social media accounts or personal website. Do they interact with other local sex workers? Do details like their location or services match between their website and the advertisement you saw? Keep in mind that social media platforms frequently delete sex workers' accounts without warning so a provider without a Twitter or Instagram profile is not an immediate red flag.
You can also search the provider's name, phone number, and location online. If you find their details attached to completely different photos than those on their Tryst.link profile, be cautious. Look closely at their photos. If you see watermarks from websites you do not recognise, someone likely stole those images to create a scam profile.
You can read more about avoiding scams by doing your homework in this article by Georgie Wolf.
Screening and deposits are standard
Most legitimate providers will ask you for a deposit and a photo of your ID before they confirm an appointment. This is normal and it is not a scam. Providers ask for deposits to protect their time and avoid no-shows. Nobody likes a time waster. They may also ask for your ID to protect their physical safety. A provider asking for this information is acting like a responsible business owner.
Reporting scammers on Tryst.link
If you have a suspicious interaction on Tryst.link or if a scammer targets you, please let us know. We work hard to remove bad actors on Tryst.link and your reports are essential to help us keep the platform safe for everyone.
If you suspect you are being scammed or have been scammed, take screenshots of your conversations and gather any other evidence. Report the scammer by visiting their profile and click the "report this profile" button located underneath their photos. Fill out the report carefully and explain your concerns clearly and respectfully before clicking “submit”. You will receive an automated response from us with an ID number, which means a member of Tryst.link's Trust and Safety Team is now discreetly looking into your concern. Reply to this email and supply screenshots of your conversation and anything else showing the scammer's behaviour. With this evidence, the Tryst.link's Trust and Safety Team can now act swiftly, as we will have the evidence we need to take action.
Use Tryst.link with confidence
Sex workers are incredibly diverse. They offer different services, charge different rates, set different boundaries, and prefer different screening methods. The considerations in this guide are not universal rules that apply to every single booking. They are simply tools to help you use your critical thinking.
The sex industry is just an industry, and sex workers are dedicated business professionals. If you approach this process with the same common sense you use anywhere else online, you will have a much safer and easier time.
Tryst.link is the proud home of the independent escort. Thousands of incredible providers advertise on our platform every day. We know that if you look out for warning signs, respect the normal screening processes and approach providers with curiosity, you will find the perfect match and have an incredible experience.
Are you a sex worker with a story, opinion, news, or tips to share? We'd love to hear from you!
We started the tryst.link sex worker blog to help amplify those who aren't handed the mic and bring attention to the issues ya'll care about the most. Got a tale to tell? 👇☂️✨
