Ads Offer to Swap Rent for Sex

“Upscale executive seeks beautiful female 18-24 to live in his luxury condo in Coral Gables for $1/month in exchange for some light duties. Help take care of dog, cook occasionally. Sex 2x/week. Serious inquires only. Please email a picture for consideration. The Coral Gables man who offered that startling pitch in a recent posting on the popular website Craigslist.com is among a growing pool of men who routinely seek sexual favors in the room-for-rent section of Internet ads. Such postings — a type of bartering of homes for sex — are not only worrisome because they target young women who may be desperate for affordable housing in South Florida’s harsh real estate climate. They may also be illegal. ‘They would be of concern to us,’ said Sgt. Kelly Sullivan with the Miami-Dade Police Department’s organized crime unit. ‘It is a form of prostitution because they are enticing young girls who may be strapped for cash.’ Trading a room for sex over the Internet is relatively fresh terrain for law enforcement — so much so, that Sullivan admitted he wasn’t aware this was happening.” — Miami Herald (US)