Deliciously Addicting

RICHLAND COUNTY, SC (WIS) - From the streets of the Midlands to the hotel rooms where the dirty deals are made, WIS News 10 has been following the prostitution problem. Now, it's a new fight as prostitutes are posting ads on the internet, making the practice more available.

You've seen the stings. The undercover agent calls a woman to his hotel, they negotiate cash for sex. He pays, then she gets arrested.

Now, the world's oldest profession is taking on new technology. Lt. Ruben Santiago says, "If you think about it, it's not in the public's eye. It's here for targeted audience and so the common person wouldn't know this illegal act is going on."

In an online prostitution bust set up by the Richland County Sheriff's Department, they're using the classified ad site, Craig's List, to find women. Lt. Santiago says, "They're very upfront about what they're offering."

One entry reads, "Hey fellas I'm in Columbia looking for right guy to fulfill my exotic fantasies, discrete and confidential."

Lt. Santiago comments, "That doesn't sound like she's baking cakes or anything."

After the deputies find the women, they call the numbers listed. After setting up the appointments, four women showed up at a hotel room and were arrested for prostitution.

Deputies say they used to catch prostitutes in the Midlands on the streets. Now, deputies say they're finding more prostitutes online. But deputies say it's easy to catch them whether they're on the streets or online.

Lt. Santiago says, "We thought maybe we were getting rid of prostitution. It's not the case. It's just been moved to better technology."

The sheriff's department plans to take its message online also, by posting the arrest pictures.

Deputies say the women arrested are probably already out of jail. And in some cases, they've seen the women posted back on Craig's List the next day. Deputies say online prostitutes can make up to $2,000 a day.