Web-based reverse stings involve police posting online decoy ads and setting up a reverse sting operation at a hotel or apartment. A variation of this approach involves police responding to real online ads, replacing pimps and prostituted persons with police decoys, and continuing to take calls from johns on the survivors’ phones. An alternative web-based reverse sting involves women police decoys responding to online ads placed by johns.
For more information on this intervention (based on data Abt Associates has gathered on over 340 cities and counties employing web-based reverse stings since 1995), access the resources below.
Overview of Web-Based Reverse Stings in the U.S.
- Web Reverse Sting Overview National Assessment (PDF, 31 k)
News Reports on Web-Based Reverse Stings
- Charlotte, NC: Charlotte Police crack down on internet based prostitution
- Cumberland County, ME: Police arrest 11 in prostitution sting
- Northwest Arkansas: http://nwahomepage.com/fulltext?nxd_id=428032
- Pekin, IL: Area men get stung: Pekin Police Department nets 19 in prostitution sting
- Philadelphia, PA: http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/local&id=9081094
- Provo, UT: Nine Utah men cited in Provo prostitution sting
- San Jose, CA: ‘Operation B-Sting’ leads to 32 prostitution arrests
- Seattle, WA: Police Target Craigslist Prostitution Ads
Articles and Reports on Web-Based Prostitution
- Daneback, K., Ross, M.W., & Månsson, S-A. (2006). Characteristics and behaviors of sexual compulsives who use the internet for sexual purposes. Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity, 13:53-67
- Galvin, (2011). Internet helps prostitution thrive. Albuquerque Journal, July 23.
- Kristof, N. (March 18, 2012). Where Pimps Peddle Their Goods. New York Times.
- LaPeter, L. (2006). Escorts leave the streets to get on the superhighway. St. Petersburg Times Online.
- McCabe, K.A. (2008). The role of Internet service providers in cases of child pornography and child prostitution. Social Science Computer Review, 26(2):247-251.
- Mitchell, K.J., Finkelhor, D., & Wolak, J. (2005). The internet and family and acquaintance sexual abuse. Child Maltreatment, 10(1):49-60.
- Roane, K.R. (1998). Prostitutes on wane in New Yorkstreets but take to the Internet. New York Times, February 23.
- Ross, M. (2005). How the Internet is bringing the world’s oldest profession to a neighborhood near you. Diablo Magazine, June.
- Ross, M.W., Månsson, S.A, Daneback, K., & Tikkanen, R. (2005): Characteristics of men who have sex with men on the Internet but identify as heterosexual, compared with heterosexually identified men who have sex with women. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 8:131-139.
- Sanders, J.Q. (2008). Central Arkansasprostitutes taking business to web. Arkansas Democrat Gazette: Northwest Arkansas Edition, February 11.
- Shaffer, J. (2008). Internet’s Anonymity Fuels Surge in Sex Traffic. Scripps News. Accessed March 3.
- Young, A.B. (2013). Vice squad prostitution ring features increasingly common online solicitations. Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, January 7, 2013. http://lubbockonline.com/crime-and-courts/crime/2013-01-05/vice-squad-prostitution-ring-features-increasingly-common-online
- Youngbee, D. (2010). South Korea: Internet teen prostitution becomes out of control. Human Rights Examiner.
- Prostitution-Ad Revenue Still Falls Short Of Past Craigslist Totals
- Santa Fe, New Mexico: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324761004578286321351312566.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
Recent News Reports on Internet Prostitution & Trafficking
- Alaska: Teen Sex Trafficking Hides in the Internet
- Beloit, WI: Prostitution moves from street to web. January 28, 2012.
- Tucson, AZ: http://www.wdam.com/story/22045356/prostitutes-flock-to-popular-websites. April 24, 2013.