4 Tips for Avoiding Scammers

All too often, eager submissives are easy targets for scammers. Do you know what to watch out for?

Scammers run rampant in the world of online domination, stealing photos and videos of popular Mistresses in order to take advantage of naive submissives who don't know any better.

It's up to you to determine the authenticity of who you're speaking with. Luckily, it's really quite simple if you know what to look for. As demonstrated in the tips and questions I've listed below, all it takes to avoid scammers is just a bit of common sense.

1. Be wary of how you meet.

If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

  • Did they contact you first? I'll never reach out to you first on any platform, be it FetLife, Twitter, Instagram, a dating app, a FemDom message board, etc. I don't have my slave or an assistant reach out on my behalf, either.
  • Did they find you on social media? I never do business of any sort on Instagram or Twitter-- this includes arranging bookings or otherwise soliciting payment.
  • Did they find you on a dating app? I'm not on Bumble, Tinder, Hinge, or any other dating app, be it vanilla or kinky.

2. Pay close attention to detail.

You can tell a lot about an account's authenticity based on its presented writing style, spelling patterns, and emoji habits.

  • Is my name spelled correctly? I'm Mistress Petra Hunter, not Misttress Pettra Huntter, Mstress Patra Hunther, or Mistress Petra Hunger.
  • Does my username match my display name? My username will never be something like QueenAlison2.
  • Does the account use my preferred honorific? I'll never call myself Goddess Petra.
  • Does the account sound like me? Pay attention to the way language and grammar are used. Look for confusion of common industry terms, like using dominate the verb instead of dominant the adjective.
  • Does the account use emojis like I do? Scammers love emojis, but I don't use them regularly.
  • Is there a link in the account profile? I've had so many social media accounts deleted without warning at this point that I no longer put external links in my profiles in case doing so somehow flags me for deletion again.

3. Question intent.

Scammers often pose as Mistresses looking for slaves. Sometimes, when they know you'll likely recognize the Mistress in the photos they've stolen, scammers will claim they're contacting you from a secret backup account or even an account made to promote a new website.

  • Do the messages mention enslaving you? It's a dream come true for many submissives to receive a message from a gorgeous woman expressing a desire to enslave them, but I have no reason to solicit slaves-- and I don't know a single Mistress who does, either.
  • Do the messages involve booking sessions? As a professional Dominatrix, there's already a high demand for my time and attention. Much like there's no reason for me to approach others for slavery, there's also no reason for me to solicit business from strangers on social media.
  • Do the messages suggest moving the conversation to a different app? I'm not on Kik, Telegram, or WhatsApp and I don't offer messaging packages through my DMs or a private number. The only messaging service I use is TextPetra.com, which charges per text rather than a flat rate.
  • Does the account give you a complicated backstory? Do your research when met with any “secret backup account” or “my main account got hacked” stories: while I've lost plenty of my social media accounts, my website footer always includes the correct links.

4. Be cautious when asked for money.

Eventually, scammers always ask their victims for money. Pay attention to how they ask for payment and where they demand you send it.

  • Is it a gift card I actually want? Scammers love gift cards, but their taste differs considerably from mine. I'm only interested in gift cards for stores it makes sense for me to shop at, like the options listed on my Gifts page.
  • Does the email address look like it belongs to me? None of my email addresses have usernames with filler like underscores or numbers. I don't have email accounts with Yahoo, Hotmail, or AOL, and while I have a seemingly-vanilla account with Google, I only share that address through a message associated with my site's domain.
  • What payment apps do they use? I don't use Zelle, Google Pay, or Apple Pay, and I'm banned for life from PayPal. I'll never tell you to send to accounts belonging to friends or other Mistresses so they can give me the money instead.
  • Does the payment app look like it belongs to me? None of my payment app usernames involve numbers, underscores, or other peoples' names.
  • How much money do they ask for? Simply put, my time and attention are expensive. I'm not interested in exchanging countless emails or messages for a $50 gift card, nor am I interested in working in any capacity for less than my posted rates.

Finally, remember that scammers are always evolving, and their tactics will likely change over time. The best way to avoid scammers and guarantee you're actually talking with me is through a platform with a built-in paywall like CallPetra.com or TextPetra.com.

If you're ever unfortunate enough to run into someone impersonating me, contact me as soon as possible with a link to their profile so that I can take appropriate action. I can't always get these accounts removed, but I can at least alert others to their presence.

Related: How to Find a Dominatrix