The rise of the Internet has led to increasingly sophisticated methods used by unscrupulous individuals to take advantage of the human desire for intimate connection. They create fake profiles that appeal to potential victims. One of the most prevalent of these is the escort scam, where deceptive individuals exploit nuances of paid companionship to coerce and extort.
These scams can involve either genuine escort agencies or completely fabricated ones. Victims may be promised services that never materialize, asked to prepay for nonexistent offerings, or even threatened with violence if they fall prey to this deceitful trap.
Different Types of Escort Scams
Most extortion schemes originate from seemingly innocent online contacts that turn flirtatious in a classic bait and switch. While the goal of an escort scam is to get money from vulnerable victims, but the means to do so can vary depending on the scammer. Here are some of the more common escort scams:
Depositing Scam/Cash First Scam
A depositing scam or cash first scam occurs when the scammer asks for a deposit to be paid to secure a booking before any service is provided. To ensure the victim can’t charge back any collected funds, they’ll normally request payment in the form of gift card or crypto payment ensuring the charge can’t be disputed or recovered.
To be clear, many reputable companies that provide legitimate companionship services will also require some form of depositing, however, payment will be scheduled using more formal means.
Cartel Death Threat Scam
The Cartel Death Threat Scam happens when scammers impersonate escorts to target victims and gain their trust. They’ll also be a no-call no show scam where the messaging will turn to violence.
The cybercriminals send messages to the victim from different numbers or accounts, claiming to be part of a different criminal cartels. The messages often contain graphic images, such as photos of mutilated bodies, threatening violence against the victim and family if the payments are not made.
Bait & Switch Scam
This is one of the most deceptive and classic scams. Scammers use misrepresentative photos in their ads to lure in clients with a combination of incredible looks plus an abysmally low rate that is just too good to be true.
Fake Law Enforcement Extortion
This scam usually starts with the victim visiting an escort website and getting into a conversation with an “escort.” on a messaging application or social network. After a few days, a “police offer” contacts the victim and claims that they have either been charged with solicitation or f engaging with a minor. The victim is then asked to pay a “fee” to avoid imprisonment.
Malware Appointment Setting Pages
This scam entices people to click on links or schedule appointments on escort websites. The links in question lead to malware-infected websites. Once the victim clicks, the malware is installed on their devices to steal personal information or track browsing activity used later for different types of cyber extortion..
The Signs of an Escort Scam
Unfortunately, it’s difficult to distinguish a legitimate escort service from a fraudulent one, as this scam has many variations. However, some red flags can alert victims of an escort fraud:
- Emphasizing Sexual Services: In the US prostitution and the act of accepting sex for money is illegal save for licensed brothels in designated areas of Nevada(1). As a result most legitimate escort services advertise companionship only and have strict regulations on what they will communicate to clients.
- Pressures For Payment In Full: A common red flag is being asked to pay upfront for services using unconventional methods like gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers.
- No In-Person Meeting: If the person in question tries to keep the conversation online or on messaging apps only, it is a clear sign of extortion.
- Pressure to Change Communication Platforms: Many platforms including social media and dating applications do not allow these types of services to advertise. This is why many scammers will try to move as many of their conversations with potential victims to other platforms that do not deploy the same monitoring.
Is an Escort Scam The Same As a Cam Girl Scam?
No. There are differences unique to cam girl scams. Although both lure victims with false promises, their focus and targets differ. Escort scams target those looking for companionship services, enticing them with promises of in-person encounters that will never happen.
Meanwhile, cam girl scams target users of webcam sites for adults into paying for explicit content or “private shows” online that may be pre-recorded or not delivered as promised. These scams often turn out to be sextortion scams targeting those seeking online intimacy.
Handling an escort scam on your own must be a difficult task, one that requires an experienced hand. Contact our Blackmail Helpline for a free consultation with our professional team. With most escort scams taking place online, we can trace the digital footprints of scammers to investigate any potential exposure and compromised devices you may have.
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