WASHINGTON POST - May 5 - The phone-chat services offer several ways for users to interact. Traditionally, callers are connected at random to another user already on the line. If they are not interested, they can disconnect and move on to someone else. Recently, however, companies have offered members use of a voicemail box through which they can record a personal message and pore through dozens, or hundreds, of other people's messages before leaving a contact number for anyone. Some of the most popular adult-oriented chat sites have more than 1M visitors logging in each day, said Mark Brooks, a consultant and editor of Onlinepersonalswatch.com. What happens after users turn over their credit cards for monthly membership payments is largely left to chance -- and users are generally good about taking precautions, Brooks and others in the industry said. "People arrange to meet at your place or mine," said Jonathan Crutchley, chairman and founder of Manhunt.com, which operates gay-oriented phone and Web chat services. "And every now and then, people get murdered. There have been some murders." "Even if you just go into a bar, you can have a bad experience," Brooks said. "So common sense applies. If you are going to meet up with someone, let someone know where you are headed. Don't let them pick you up at home. Meet somewhere public. There are three basic rules. People break the rules." FULL ARTICLE @ WASHINGTON POST
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