Ripoff Reports

[QUOTE=BunkerBuster;2118762]Brother Cephlapod Love in DE has alerted us to a new scam, much like the mugshot extortion. A website called [URL]http://www.exposingjohns.com/[/URL] collects text messages sent by hobbyists, and posts them along with their name, picture, and phone number. Then, they offer to "investigate" the accuracy of the report for a fee ranging from $200 to $500, with nothing stopping them from declaring the report valid and keeping the money.

Reports can submitted by anyone.

This will eventually be shut down as an extortion racket, but until then, you must protect yourself. NEVER use your personal phone. Get a burner, or at a minimum, use a Google Voice number that you don't use for anything else.

[URL]http://www.usasexguide.info/forum/showthread.php?7280-BackPage-Advertiser-Reviews&p=2117372&viewfull=1#post2117372[/URL][/QUOTE]Bunker,

If you don't mind me asking, what's your favorite brand of burner phone? I use net 10, but I don't like how you always have to buy $25 units, I'm not quite that active in the hobby for something like that. In addition if you let your phone number expire you'll need to get a new SIM. GV and other app type numbers are also risky as they are still connected to your physical phone.

[QUOTE=MGMplayer;2159988]Bunker,

If you don't mind me asking, what's your favorite brand of burner phone? I use net 10, but I don't like how you always have to buy $25 units, I'm not quite that active in the hobby for something like that. In addition if you let your phone number expire you'll need to get a new SIM. GV and other app type numbers are also risky as they are still connected to your physical phone.[/QUOTE]I have a simple T-mobile phone from WalMart 19.88. It makes calls. It texts. Nothing else.

[QUOTE=Aragorn;2160207]I have a simple T-mobile phone from WalMart 19.88. It makes calls. It texts. Nothing else.[/QUOTE]To address MGM's other concerns, what is the minimum purchase requirement for additional minutes ($10, $25, etc.) and what is the minimum activity level (# of minutes used per month, etc.) required to keep the phone number active?

Like a lot of things, the initial cost of the hardware (19.88 in this case) may be minimal but it's the cost of additional services / fees that can add up in a hurry.

Thanks for the info.

For what its worth, I have an old GSM phone that I took to T-Mobile and got a plan that costs $100 for 1,000 minutes. The nice thing is that the minutes do not expire for 12 months and there is no monthly fee. I'll likely never use 1000 minutes, but it is the best option for me.

N_R.

[URL]http://prepaid-phones.t-mobile.com/prepaid-plans[/URL]

[QUOTE=MGMplayer;2159988]Bunker,

If you don't mind me asking, what's your favorite brand of burner phone? I use net 10, but I don't like how you always have to buy $25 units, I'm not quite that active in the hobby for something like that. In addition if you let your phone number expire you'll need to get a new SIM. GV and other app type numbers are also risky as they are still connected to your physical phone.[/QUOTE]In the past, I've recommended Virgin. The phone is about $15, and they have a $30 monthly plan that gives 1,000 minutes and 1,000 texts. There's a $20 plan with 400 minutes, but no texting. You can buy packages where texts are 10 each; young girls text like crazy now, so it's easy to blow past 100 texts per month.

Trac fone is the cheapest phone I've found. Phones are $5-10 at supermarket, Target, Best Buy, etc. And include 60 days (10 min) to start.

Min airtime is $20 for 3 months. I find the 90 days expires before the minutes.

$10 phone (60 days) + $20 airtime (90 days) = $30 for 150 days (5 months).

I mainly use texts and the rare call. Email works in theory but I'd say it's not reliable (may take 2 days). For a burner phone, I don't need a smart phone.

This is nominally 60 min that expires in 90 days, but.

* These phones come with double or triple minutes.

* There are bonus codes on the internet for more free time, so the $20 buys at least 150 minutes.

Texts are 1/3 minute, maybe. 50 to. 70 minutes with attachments. Phone calls to set appointments don't run more than 1-2 minutes.

For $25-30, I can send / receive all the texts and calls I need for 1-2 appointments per week; you can keep your number for $7/ month.

For any burner phone, I'd set it to silent, with a real ring for any one you actually expect to call. The phone seems to have at least 3 incoming calls per week, computerized sales calls with the occasional wrong number or spam texts from the small number I've answered. I don't want it ringing at odd hours as a nuisance; if you have to hid the phone this is even more important.

[QUOTE=WilliamRva;2170999]Trac fone is the cheapest phone I've found. Phones are $5-10 at supermarket, Target, Best Buy, etc. And include 60 days (10 min) to start.

Min airtime is $20 for 3 months. I find the 90 days expires before the minutes.

$10 phone (60 days) + $20 airtime (90 days) = $30 for 150 days (5 months).

I mainly use texts and the rare call. Email works in theory but I'd say it's not reliable (may take 2 days). For a burner phone, I don't need a smart phone.

This is nominally 60 min that expires in 90 days, but.

* These phones come with double or triple minutes.

* There are bonus codes on the internet for more free time, so the $20 buys at least 150 minutes.

Texts are 1/3 minute, maybe. 50 to. 70 minutes with attachments. Phone calls to set appointments don't run more than 1-2 minutes.

For $25-30, I can send / receive all the texts and calls I need for 1-2 appointments per week; you can keep your number for $7/ month.

For any burner phone, I'd set it to silent, with a real ring for any one you actually expect to call. The phone seems to have at least 3 incoming calls per week, computerized sales calls with the occasional wrong number or spam texts from the small number I've answered. I don't want it ringing at odd hours as a nuisance; if you have to hid the phone this is even more important.[/QUOTE]What's the cost for buying more minutes once the original batch expires? I do a fair amount of shopping around, and screen girls based on their phone manner and personality. I'd probably blow through those minutes within 4-6 weeks, so the time staying valid for 5 months doesn't mean much to me.

[QUOTE=nite_runner;2160737]For what its worth, I have an old GSM phone that I took to T-Mobile and got a plan that costs $100 for 1,000 minutes. The nice thing is that the minutes do not expire for 12 months and there is no monthly fee. I'll likely never use 1000 minutes, but it is the best option for me.

N_R.

[URL]http://prepaid-phones.t-mobile.com/prepaid-plans[/URL][/QUOTE]There is an App for IPhone (probably google too) called Burner that let's you get custom new numbers at will for reasonable cost. The ability to get or change numbers is handy when dealing with the new or unknown.

[QUOTE=BunkerBuster;2171906]What's the cost for buying more minutes once the original batch expires? I do a fair amount of shopping around, and screen girls based on their phone manner and personality. I'd probably blow through those minutes within 4-6 weeks, so the time staying valid for 5 months doesn't mean much to me.[/QUOTE]I usually buy the 60 minute refills, because they're cheap (25 bucks) and my LG phone always sends texts with codes to double the minutes. So basically 120 minutes for 25 bucks. You can also buy in 120 minutes and 240 increments for refills, and get the same double minute deal.

[QUOTE=BunkerBuster;2171906]What's the cost for buying more minutes once the original batch expires? I do a fair amount of shopping around, and screen girls based on their phone manner and personality. I'd probably blow through those minutes within 4-6 weeks, so the time staying valid for 5 months doesn't mean much to me.[/QUOTE][URL]https://www.tracfone.com/direct/Purchase?payGo=true&app=TRACFONE&lang=en[/URL]

If you're using 150 minutes in a month, it's probably worthwhile for you to get the 400 minute /1 year card for $100. Tracfone's site is currently offering a 250 minute bous, so for $100 you'd get 1050-1450 minutes (depending on whether your additional $10 buys a phone with double or triple minutes) - sounds like this should give you anywhere from 9-12 months for $110 total.

As noted on the site, there are also 90 day cards for $30-$80, and some web specials with 1500 minutes /1 year.

I haven't needed to figure out how to use the web specials without giving a real credit card (defeats the anonymity of a burner), but I'd be curious if anyone else has done this. The prepaid / green dot cards in the drug stores talk about registration etc. - is this easy to do without real personal details?

Report from Charlottesville [URL]http://www.usasexguide.info/forum/showthread.php?2700-Charlottesville&p=2156565&viewfull=1[/URL]#post2156565 on the following provider [URL]http://escortphonesearch.com/954-661-5609/[/URL].

She posted on BP she was in Fredericksburg passing through.

I use the preloaded cards all the time. When you register, you can put in anything you want for name, address, etc. Just remember what you put down in case you need to confirm. It works for me every time. Good luck.

[QUOTE=WilliamRva;2172351][URL]https://www.tracfone.com/direct/Purchase?payGo=true&app=TRACFONE&lang=en[/URL]

If you're using 150 minutes in a month, it's probably worthwhile for you to get the 400 minute /1 year card for $100. Tracfone's site is currently offering a 250 minute bous, so for $100 you'd get 1050-1450 minutes (depending on whether your additional $10 buys a phone with double or triple minutes) - sounds like this should give you anywhere from 9-12 months for $110 total.

As noted on the site, there are also 90 day cards for $30-$80, and some web specials with 1500 minutes /1 year.

I haven't needed to figure out how to use the web specials without giving a real credit card (defeats the anonymity of a burner), but I'd be curious if anyone else has done this. The prepaid / green dot cards in the drug stores talk about registration etc. - is this easy to do without real personal details?[/QUOTE]

I would personally recommend regularly changing out your phone so I am not a proponent of getting a huge amount of minutes for multiple months or even a year. Verizon has a prepaid that is $9. 99 at most places and gives you 40 minutes and does not require any on-line registration. That is enough time to set up a handful of dates if needed. I then discard the phone once used up. I just figure (and maybe being overly cautious) that it is not wise to have the same number show up on a whole bunch of providers phones, especially since some of these providers may be involved in other illegal activity that might cause greater scrutiny.

[QUOTE=SSmitty8;2172124]I usually buy the 60 minute refills, because they're cheap (25 bucks) and my LG phone always sends texts with codes to double the minutes. So basically 120 minutes for 25 bucks. You can also buy in 120 minutes and 240 increments for refills, and get the same double minute deal.[/QUOTE]120 minutes for $25 (Trac) vs. 1,000 minutes and 1,000 texts for $30 (Virgin).

Yes, the minutes expire every month, but I don't worry about my minutes expiring when it takes 40 texts to set something up and make it happen.

Maybe if you only make a few calls per month, but when I'm shopping around and screening girls, the minutes and especially texts can burn by.

[QUOTE=BunkerBuster;2173441]120 minutes for $25 (Trac) vs. 1,000 minutes and 1,000 texts for $30 (Virgin).

Yes, the minutes expire every month, but I don't worry about my minutes expiring when it takes 40 texts to set something up and make it happen.

Maybe if you only make a few calls per month, but when I'm shopping around and screening girls, the minutes and especially texts can burn by.[/QUOTE]I don't use my batphone that often just in spurts and the tracfone minutes last for something like 5 months. The virgin deal is obviously superior if you're a consistent and savvy mongerer. Dandy dons suggestion is also very good for all the reasons he stated. If you get the urge just get the phone for ten and use the minutes to find your flavor.