Escort Agency Targets Students with Misleading Job Advertising

Words by Zoë Mills (she/they) 

Suspicious posters erected throughout Kelburn campus advertising part-time roles at an unnamed “nightclub” were actually recruiting for full-service sex work roles at an escorting agency in Wellington Central. 

The posters, which have been removed, exclusively asked for “female” applicants. The advertisement did not describe the role further than “nightclub work”, but emphasised the high pay rate of $250 per hour and $150 per half hour. “Pay for the resources you can't afford, Bus Fares, clothing, Mobile top ups and more”, the poster read. 

VUWSA did not give approval for the posters to be put up on campus. “If they're putting [the advertisements] on the VUWSA notice boards, they need to ask us. We [approve] them for reasons exactly like this,” Olivia*, a representative of VUWSA, told Salient. 

Olivia contacted the company and received multiple emails back from a recruiter, which she describes as “suspicious”. Salient understands that the contact information on the poster was linked to a recruiter hired by the agency. The recruiter clarified to Olivia after a few emails that the role was for full-service sex work.

Olivia says that the lack of clarity of the actual role in the first place was “insidious, and very suss.” Olivia belives that not being explicit and clear in advertising a sex work role is “preying on young people” who are financially struggling and unaware of the reality of the role.

The escorting agency has denied knowing that the recruiter was advertising at the university, calling the incident “embarrassing” after Salient reached out for comment. “We have spoken to [the recruiter] about this and [they have] agreed not to circulate any more promotional literature,” they said. “We understand the university stance on this kind of advertising and apologise for any stress and anguish such information in the ads might cause to young women on your campus.”

Salient contacted the recruiter by posing as a student seeking work at the club. Over the phone, the recruiter avoided stating what the actual role was until we asked for clarification.

Dame Catherine Healy, a spokesperson for the New Zealand Prostitutes’ Collective (NZPC), says that the misleading job description was “creepy”.

“It's really important when you're considering sex work to know what it is you’re considering,” she said. “It's unfortunate, I think it would be much better if they were able to be explicit [in advertising the role].” 

Healy says that recruiting for sex work at the university has been an debate on campus for years. She added that the reasons recruiters cannot be explicit in describing the nature of the sex work roles are multifaceted. “Universities might say [that] we don't want this kind of work advertised to students who can be financially vulnerable. They might make that kind of parental decision on your behalf to protect you from clubs that advertise and seek to recruit people under sex work.” 

Healy recalls speaking to sex workers who had previously responded to vague, non-descript ads of a similar nature, and says that many of them had no idea that they were entering sex work. 

Wellington Community Law lawyer Kate Scarlet says that while advertising for sex work roles is completely legal, under the Fair Trading Act 1993 - “all statements made about the job to the prospective employee [must be] accurate.” According to Scarlet, advertising of sex work employment must be clear in the nature of the role and “not be misleading or deceptive” under section 12 of the Fair Trading Act 1986.

“The university has the ability to create policies for its governance and management. Looking at the VUW policy page, there is a procedure regarding the promotion of alcohol on campus, but nothing to address sex services or sex employment,” Scarlet said.

“Generally, it is illegal to put up posters on someone else’s property without their permission (see s 33, Summary Offences Act 1981). Consideration would have to be given as to whether the university has given individuals or businesses permission to put up posters in this manner.”

For students considering entering a line of sex work, Healy suggests visiting organisations like the NZPC to educate yourself on the industry. “It's suitable work that's work that we don't necessarily equate with being undignified.” Healy also recommends finding support through discussing the industry with other sex workers. “Find out about ways in which you can be a sex worker, the different models, [and] different practices that you need to be familiar with.” 

*names have been changed