Almost every scam in this business follows the same script. A profile with photos that look like a magazine shoot. An answer within a minute. A friendly, slightly flirty chat. And then one small condition: “Just send a deposit so I know you are serious.” Once the money is gone, so is the number, and usually the profile too.
Nobody likes to admit they fell for it, so these scams are rarely talked about. That is exactly why they keep working. The good news: once you know the script, you will recognise it in the first few messages.
Why the deposit trick works
It plays on two things at once. First, it sounds reasonable. Advertisers really do lose time and money to people who book and never show up, and some of them are open about wanting a confirmation. Second, the amount is small. Five hundred or a thousand crowns does not feel like a big risk, especially when you are looking forward to the meeting.
Scammers know this. They do not need to fool you for long. They only need one transfer, and then they move on to the next person with the same photos. Some come back with a second request: a “taxi fee”, a “security deposit for the apartment”, a “fine” because you were late. Every new request is a new reason to stop.
Warning signs on the profile
- Photos that are too perfect. Studio lighting, heavily retouched skin and a slightly different face in every picture often mean the images were taken from a model’s portfolio or another website. A reverse image search (Google Lens, TinEye or Bing) takes a minute and is worth it.
- A price far below everyone else. If one profile costs half of what similar companions in the same city ask, ask yourself why. Real advertisers know the market. A price that seems too good is often bait.
- No details, or the wrong details. Real advertisers usually write what they offer, what they do not, where they meet and which languages they speak. A vague text that promises “everything, no limits” is a red flag, and so is text copied word for word from another profile.
- A brand-new profile with a long list of reviews elsewhere. Reviews on other sites, screenshots of chats and “testimonials” cannot be checked. On Paramour only registered members can write reviews, and the advertiser can reply to them in public.
- Only one way to contact. A profile that insists on a single messaging app and ignores messages on the site is not automatically fake, but combined with other signs it is worth noticing.
Warning signs in the conversation
- A request for a deposit, a voucher or gift card code, a crypto transfer or a “booking fee” before you have met.
- Pressure and urgency: “I have another client waiting, decide now.”
- The address changes at the last minute, or you are asked to wait somewhere and pay a “driver”, “manager” or “security” first.
- The person refuses any short call or voice message, even though the profile says they speak your language.
- The story keeps changing: different age, different city, different reason why the payment is needed.
- You are asked to send a photo of your ID or your face “for safety”. That can end up as blackmail material.
One of these signs alone does not prove anything. Two or three together almost always do.
Test yourself: red flag or fine?
- The companion asks you to confirm the time an hour before the meeting. Answer: Fine. A short confirmation protects both of you and costs nothing.
- “Send 1,000 CZK by bank transfer as a deposit and I will send you the address.” Answer: Red flag. This is the classic deposit scam. Do not pay in advance to someone you have never met.
- The profile has the Verified badge and the person sends you a short voice message. Answer: Fine. Both are good signs that a real person is behind the profile.
- You arrive and a man in a car says you have to pay him first, then she will open the door. Answer: Red flag. Leave. Payment, if any, is made to the person you are meeting, in person.
- The price is half of everyone else’s and the photos look like a fashion campaign. Answer: Red flag. Check the photos with a reverse image search before you write.
- Someone writes as “Paramour support” and asks you to pay a fee to unlock the contact. Answer: Red flag. Paramour never asks clients for payments to contact advertisers.
The one rule that stops most scams
Do not send money in advance to someone you have never met. Paramour is an advertising platform: we do not take part in meetings or payments, and we never ask clients for deposits on behalf of advertisers. Anyone who claims to be “Paramour support” and asks you to pay is not us.
What helps you choose safely
Start with profiles that carry the Verified badge. It means a moderator compared the profile photos with a video of the person. It is not a guarantee of a safe meeting or of any service, but it removes the most common trick: stolen photos.
Read the reviews, and read the replies too. An advertiser who answers calmly and specifically is usually a real person who cares about their reputation. A profile that has been on the site for a while, with consistent photos and a consistent text, is a better first choice than one that appeared yesterday.
Agencies are another option if you want an extra layer: you can browse escort agencies in Prague and see which profiles belong to which agency.
For the first meeting, a busy, well-known part of the city is easier than an address you cannot check. Tell a friend where you are going if that makes you feel better. And if something feels wrong when you arrive, leave. You owe nobody an explanation.
Before you write: a quick checklist
- I read the whole profile, including services, limits and prices.
- The photos look consistent, and a reverse image search found nothing suspicious.
- The price is in line with similar profiles in the same city.
- The profile is verified, or has reviews from registered members.
- I will not pay anything before we meet.
- I know where the meeting is and how to leave if I want to.
If it already happened
Stop paying. Scammers often come back with a second and third request, and each one sounds more urgent than the last. Do not reply to threats.
Keep everything: screenshots of the profile and the chat, the phone number, bank or crypto payment details. Then report the profile on the site and, if you lost money, report it to the police. In the Czech Republic you can do that at any police station or by calling 158. The platform cannot recover payments made outside it, but your report can stop the same profile from catching the next person.
How to report a suspicious profile
Every profile has a Report button. Choose the reason that fits best: scam, stolen photos, impersonation, stolen contacts or another reason. A moderator reviews each report and can hide the profile while it is checked.
If anything on a profile suggests that a person is under 18 or is not acting of their own free will, report it straight away and see our page on human trafficking. Those reports are handled first.
More about how we check new profiles and keep the directory clean is on the Trust and safety page.
Looking for someone in Prague? Browse escorts in Prague, erotic privát venues in Prague or erotic massage in Prague, and start with verified profiles.
Frequently asked questions
Is it ever normal to pay a deposit?
Some established advertisers ask regular clients for a confirmation before long or overnight bookings. With someone you have never met, there is no way to tell a real request from a scam, so the safe answer is no.
Does the Verified badge mean the person is safe?
No. It means a moderator compared the photos with a video of the person. It makes stolen photos much less likely, but it says nothing about behaviour or services.
I paid and got blocked. Can Paramour give my money back?
No. We do not handle payments between clients and advertisers, so we cannot reverse them. Report the profile to us and the payment to the police.
Someone is threatening to tell my family. What should I do?
Do not pay and do not reply. Keep the messages and contact the police. Paying usually leads to new demands.