Phone Verification in Erotic Services
In early March we implemented a phone verification system for our “erotic services” category, which taken together with other measures has reduced the volume of ads in this category by 80%, and more importantly has signficantly improved compliance with our terms of use and other posted guidelines.
For example, here is a graph of the daily volume of “erotic services” ads submitted to the Hartford, Connecticut site:
May 1st, 2008 at 1:00 pm
I can not tell you how fantastic it is that Craigslist is taking steps to prevent humantrafficking for sexual slavery on it’s web sites. Thank you.
I look forward to reading more.
May 15th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
Oh gawd please… many people have made more of a legitimate business out of what should already be a legitimate business (as it is a victimless crime) thanks to Craigslist. But now, those who are on the edge are forced off into what maybe real crimes with real victims and far more dangers. Those people FAR outnumber the few unfortunate individuals who may actually be victims of human trafficking here in the USA. I realize some of you may think the heinousness of a crime somehow increases its statistics of occurrence but it doesn’t, only the fear factor increases which makes it easier to control the minds of those who do not have perspective.
One way to kill freedom of speech, free expression and experimentation is to remove the possibility of anonymity. It’s a slippery slope Craigslist has stepped on, soon all categories will have some sobbing mother’s reason why they need verification.
I would suggest CL implement a statement on each ad as to whether a posting is verified or not and let the viewer decide then if they wish to partake of the ad’s contents.
May 20th, 2008 at 6:06 pm
I’d be interested in hearing from someone at CL that could explain how this phone verification thing has done what it’s done.
There’s been some interesting discussion on my blog - http://www.merchant911.org/blog/index.php/2008/05/15/another-less-than-useless-service/ - about these phone verification services and how they prevent credit card fraud.
If a CL employee in the know is listening, I’d llke to hear from you. Email link on the web site.
Thanks!
Tom Mahoney, Director
Merchant911.org
July 16th, 2008 at 11:19 am
Fabulous. I just tested out the phone verification, and it wouldn’t accept my phone number.
“Your phone number could not be verified.
Please start over with another number.
We need you to provide a valid, working phone number so that we can verify your account.”
Sorry, but I only have that one number. I guess I can’t post on CL.
August 17th, 2008 at 10:50 am
oh plze give me a break your husbands cheat on you 24/7 you *think* hes faithful ur so wrong! if hes not getting it in the bedroom u know hes getting it else where trust me just cause you don’t smell the perfume dose not make him the perfect man
September 8th, 2008 at 7:29 am
my account was placed on hold. why does that happen and how can I get the posts down
September 18th, 2008 at 5:23 pm
This is lame, people will move to some other site instead of craigslist…
September 22nd, 2008 at 6:58 pm
My account has also been placed on hold for NO REASON. I have not posted anything in over a week and none of my posts were flagged off. Craigslist wont repond or give a valid reason my account is on hold. CL is a valid business and legally SHOULD have a customer service line to call. Why don’t they have to follow the same laws as any other business?
November 2nd, 2008 at 6:56 pm
yep, mine has been placed on hold as well, i’m sick of craigslist, someone please make a great, legitimate craigslist alternative where we can get back to the good old days of the internet being free, we don’t need companies like this that are going to censor and play hush hush, we have enough of that already!
January 8th, 2009 at 7:42 pm
Raelene, you don’t know sht from dck. The cause of human trafficking for sexual slavery IS the illegal status of sex-based industies. People being afraid to tell authorities for fear of being busted for engaging a prostitute, for example, would not end a slavery situation. It would be the enabling factor.
Everything you know about sex-work is likely based entirely on assumption rather than experience.