DA Keane warns Erie County residents about escort scam

Submitted by the Erie County District Attorney’s Office 

As part of the office’s ongoing effort to protect citizens and prevent crime, District Attorney Michael J. Keane is warning the public about a scam involving robbery and sextortion. The Erie County District Attorney’s Office is actively investigating several complaints from victims who reported being robbed during an encounter with a person they believed to be an escort.

According to the complaints, when the victim arrives for the arranged “date,” they are robbed by the perpetrators. Other reports involve the victim being forcibly filmed by these criminals who threaten to post the explicit video on social media unless a sum of money is paid.

The victims have reported contacting the offenders through escort service advertisements or online dating apps. According to the complainants, the offenders are men and women who appear to be working together to commit these crimes. This escort scam has been reported at residences and motels in the Town of Amherst, Town of Hamburg and the Town of Lancaster.

The victims of this scam have been reluctant to come forward and continue with prosecution, so there may be additional incidents in Erie County that have not been reported to law enforcement.

“I am warning residents to not engage in this high-risk behavior, because patronizing a prostitute remains a crime in New York state and they could become the victim of this robbery set-up,” Keane said. “I believe there are more victims who are not coming forward due to fear or embarrassment. I cannot overstate the importance of cooperation from our community in our effort to combat crime. Our citizens can help law enforcement identify these offenders and save someone from becoming the victim of exploitation. I encourage any victims or witnesses who have information on this crime or suspected human trafficking to contact my office or their local law enforcement agency.”

January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month. Every day, the Erie County District Attorney’s Office, law enforcement agencies and our community partners are working to end this crime by prosecuting the offenders and providing trauma-informed support to the survivors. The Erie County District Attorney’s Office is a partner of the Western District of New York Human Trafficking Task Force, a multi-disciplinary team consisting of law enforcement and social service agencies who identify and investigate suspected human trafficking with a victim-centered and trauma-informed response.

The District Attorney’s Office has a team of prosecutors dedicated to the investigation of crimes involving sexual assault, domestic violence, child abuse, and human trafficking. Our mission is to aggressively pursue justice for our most vulnerable victims while being sensitive to the unique dynamics associated with these crimes.

Assistant district attorneys assigned to the special victims/domestic violence bureau have extensive experience and specialized training to prosecute these cases with a victim-focused approach. Our prosecutors work alongside victim advocates who offer counseling and other supportive services while helping survivors navigate the criminal justice process.

Anyone with information can call the Erie County District Attorney’s Office at 716-858-2400 or contact their local law enforcement agency.