Cesspool is right!! I haven't been able to find much in this town in 2020, but I am quite cautious too. From March to October, I did not pursue anything.
First, commit yourself to your own security (physical, monetary, and identity). It must be top priority without compromise. I am an accomplished martial artist, but I will not enter into a situation that doesn't look and feel right even though I can defend myself by doing tremendous damage to another person's body. You still don't know who (or how many) could be behind that door.
Go buy a dummy phone from Walmart and pay the fees. Cost of the hobby. Don't give that number to anyone you know. The great thing about this is, you can text dozens of people and test to see what comes back. Wade through it from there.
Time is your friend. You can employ time when you get over 40 years old. I research a particular ad every way I can. Google the number is a great way. I like to start a text conversation with a woman, then ice it for a week, and text again to follow up. If it is scam, it will likely be gone by then. If it is LE, they will be gone by then. Check the reviews right here on this site. No money up front!! No verification sites inputting personal information. No way. Forget that.
Impatience on the part of the provider is another red flag. If they are impatient, it wont be a favorable experience anyway. I am looking for a long term, bedroom only, relationship and I am ready to back it. So, patient girls, there it is. Message me if can fit the bill. There are a lot of ways to look and I didn't fall off the rhubarb truck just yesterday.
Another red flag is lengthy canned text responses. I texted one girl and immediately got a long corny text response. No way did she have enough time to hen peck that in. Waited a week, texted her again, same exact canned message came back! BS.
Good luck and be safe. It isn't worth risking your security for.