Seattle Police Sting Craigslist

The Seattle Police Department pulled a Fortuny on Craigslist recently. They posted bullshit ads for $150 full-service massages on CL, the Stranger and Seattle Weekly, but then instead of posting the names, email addresses and dick pictures of the responders on the internet ala Fortuny they arrested the guys.

From the P-I:

Detectives had to quickly learn the code words used by many of the men in order not to tip them off. For their education, the officers turned to the Internet: A growing number of Web sites are aimed at men who use prostitutes.

The men use the Web sites to exchange information about the women and rate them. Sometimes they tip each other off to fakes that are police operations.

That happened initially with the Seattle police investigation, but vice detectives simply re-worked the ad, using different photos, and went back to work.

Undercover officers greeted the potential customers alone, but under the watch of hidden cameras. Once a deal exchanging money for sex was made, officers would spring out of a bedroom and make the arrest.