Clients setting up via text sometimes ask me if I'm a cop and I always tell them that even if I WAS a cop, I wouldn't legally be required to tell them anything because a sting/setup would be considered a pending investigation.
...I've definitely lost a few bookings saying that
But I agree, they are stupid rumors transformed into misinformation over the span of decades. If that's the only screening you're doing on your providers (if you're really that stupid...), I don't really want to see you anyway.