If you’re an independent escort, screening clients is a vital procedure for your safety.
Doing so, will help to ensure that you’re not at risk of scammers, and unsafe or dangerous clients.
When screening your clients, you should aim to find out as much about them as possible and gauge their attitudes and behaviours before meeting up with them.
Below are some screening measures you should put in place before you share any personal details or accompany them.
Ask for ID
Check their identity by asking them to provide formal photo identification (e.g., a passport or driver’s license) along with an image of themself.
To be extra safe, you can request for this to be done via a video call. That way you can see if their face matches the photo on their ID.
Make sure that all details are displayed clearly and make a record of their name and date of birth.
Likewise, some clients may also want confirmation that you too are genuine. Age verifying and photo verifying your ads will help to build trust between both parties.
Ask personal questions
Don’t hold back from asking your client personal questions, such as where they work, what area they live, where they hang out, or where they usually find escorts.
If they have nothing to hide, they should be open and willing to give up this information.
This will help you get to know the person better and determine whether they are genuine or not.
Check their social media accounts
Whether you pop their name in Google or ask your client directly for their social media accounts, this is another way to learn more about them and confirm that they are who they say they are.
Check their bios, the type of content they are sharing online, and the people they are engaging with to get a sense of their personality.
Don’t forget to check out their LinkedIn, as this is a professional profile that could reveal their working status, current occupation, and past jobs.
Take a look at client reviews
Make the most of sites and forums that allow escorts and sex workers to review clients, such as SAAFE.
Check to see if their name or contact details flag up during your search to find if other escorts have reported them.
If something appears, you can read the details and decide whether or not this is the type of client you want to meet up with.
Look on platforms that have client blacklists
There are other sites and apps out there that blacklist suspicious clients for your safety and protection.
The ClientEye App is a great app for escorts to report dangerous clients and known timewasters. Pop their number in the app and see if anything flags up.
Likewise, if you believe a client is unsafe, notify fellow escorts by reporting them in the app too.
If you become a member of National Ugly Mugs, you will also be able to get alerts on dangerous clients. This is a great way to avoid these types of clients in the future if you are approached by them.
Ask other escorts
If it’s not your client’s first time booking an escort, ask them if they can provide you with the name of a previous escort they met up with and where they found them.
You can reach out to the escort and ask them to provide their personal account of the client and what their experience was like to help you decide whether they are safe to be around.
Ask to talk on the phone
You should always initiate a telephone conversation with the client before meeting each other.
As well as being another way to find out who they are, it’s a way to break the ice, develop a more human connection, and get a feel of the client’s character.
Do not accept calls from blocked numbers. If they are not willing to display their number, this is a red flag.
Talking on the phone prior to meeting up is also a tactic that will allow you to find out if a client is intoxicated.
If this is obvious, whether they are slurring their words or responding incoherently, do not meet up with this client, as they could be drunk when you meet up with them.
Let them know you accept card payments
Unlike cash, bank cards offer traceable details. Let your client know that you take card payments to test their reaction.
If they refuse to use this payment method for your services, this could be suspicious.
Take control over transportation
For your safety, we always advise escorts to make their own travel arrangements when meeting up with clients.
However, should you decide to have your client pick you up after double-checking the destination, you should ask them to provide their vehicle number plate before they arrive.
Such information will allow you to check up these details to make sure it’s registered to the right person.
Before getting into the car make sure the registration number they have given you and the one displayed on the vehicle match up.
Send it to a friend or family member so they are aware.
Trust your gut
You can never go wrong with trusting your gut.
If you feel uneasy with a client when screening them for whatever reason, don’t allow them to book a service.
Even if you’re unable to pinpoint what makes you feel uncomfortable, this is still an alert and they should be avoided.
Have them take a COVID test
During COVID-19, there are extra safety precautions you may want to take while working.
As Coronavirus is spread through close contact with a person, we recommend that you screen them by checking if they have been tested for COVID before starting your session.
This will allow you to assess your own risk and decide whether you want to proceed with the booking or not.
Screen your clients
Screening clients make sex work safer and should not be disregarded at all costs.
If a client is non-compliant or refuses or fails to provide some of the information above, then this is a warning that you should stay away from the client.
You should understand that some may be sceptical to provide some details for personal reasons, such as ensuring confidentiality from friends and family.
However, you should find alternative methods for finding out important information or whatever makes you feel comfortable to proceed to do business with a client.
If you need more advice on sex work safety, clients to avoid, or support services, please check out our other articles below:
