ID's Requiring clients to share ID with you in order to book allows you to verify their identity. Some providers ask for photos of ID and some request selfies with the client holding their IDs. The preffered method is an ID with a selfie, even if all the info is fake at least you know what they look like. Many clients will refuse saying that they are "famous", "it is a breach of privacy", they "can't risk being exposed" etc. These clients value their privacy and safety above yours, politely refuse them and move on to clients who do value your safety. Be aware that clients can buy fake ID's online which have proven to beat established "verification agencies". There are numerous guys going around abusing and scamming providers with fake ID's - see the above example of one guy who's been evading cops for years, this guy has numerous ID's, phones, emails, b/cards etc. Social Media Profiles Ask for ID/profiles, business card. Ask for a photo of their work ID, S/M or their LinkedIn profile. Again, some clients will hesitate but the ones that verify this info are usually safer to see. By the same token, the more profiles you have to show clients - the more creditable you become! You can create a free profile and list your links on this site. References Make the client share information on providers they have seen prior, so you can contact another provider and verify that a client is safe. (The client MUST notify the provider 1st and pay her fee). Make sure this provider exists and is active on socials, profiles & emails can be faked! Many providers refuse to share client information - respect their decision, also many providers are now charging for their time to provide references. If you are contacted for a reference – DO NOT GIVE bad references! Either decline or be discrete – or it may explode on you. One caveat: Clients don't behave the same with every provider, a good reference is not a 100% guarantee that a client is safe so exercise caution! If a client demands that you provide references – point them to your S/Media, Site pages, OnlyFans etc. If they are not happy with that – it’s probably a cop fishing for personal info or someone too lazy to look for themselves. Demeanor Some people exist only as examples of what to avoid. The demeanor of a potential client says a lot more than you may realize. A recent survey of client enquiries revealed that the intitial approach said a lot about the prospective client and the following graph shows just how motivated clients actually were - Another giveaway is the language they use, if a client is calling you "babe", "honey" etc from the outset be VERY wary as they tend to have delusions of marrying a SW'er. Also telling you they are trustworthy, honest, rich etc is are red flags, rich and honest people have no need to advertise the fact. Deposits Asking for a deposit filters out timewasters and law enforcement. LE normally do not pay deposits and timewasters have no intention of booking in the first place. Deposits can be a percentage of the booking fee, a set amount of $$, etc. Be wary of bank deposits and the wording used - Words like Gift, Transfer, Donation etc won't be flagged in either of your accounts. Checks, Payments (incl PayPal, Venmo) can be reversed and we have heard of numerous payment reversals recently. There is even a Venmo scam where the client forwards a fake payment screen. Read our article on scams SW'rs should be aware of. Consider switching to a COIN account with card facilities, or an EFT machine where available.