Fake sex ad draws in hundreds of Swedes
Hundreds of would-be sex-buyers responded to an advert in a newspaper in western Sweden, which offered the services of a fictional 19-year-old prostitute.
The Metro newspaper in Gothenburg published an advert about a fictional 19-year-old woman looking for sex in the city.
While the paper points to the internet as the most popular forum for organizing prostitution meets, men around the city were quick to pounce on the phone number provided.
Over the weekend, the phone had 130 missed calls and seven texts. After a week, the number had grown to 287 calls and 57 texts.
One man offered 1,000 kronor ($155) for half an hour with the prostitute, while another offered 2,500 kronor to urinate on her.
Local police experts were not surprised by the public interest.
"The fact that you got 130 calls over the weekend doesn't surprise me. For those people keeping an eye on the supply, things get exciting with a new ad," Mats Paulsson, head of the prostitution unit of the Gothenburg police, told the Metro newspaper.
He added that he thought the callers were more curious than interested in buying sex.
"Many people call up because they're tickled by the whole thing. They're satisfied to just call or text."
In Sweden, selling sex is not a crime, however paying or attempting to pay for sex is punishable by fines. Anyone convicted of purchasing sex from a minor can be sentenced to up to two years in prison.
The Local/og
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The Metro newspaper in Gothenburg published an advert about a fictional 19-year-old woman looking for sex in the city.
While the paper points to the internet as the most popular forum for organizing prostitution meets, men around the city were quick to pounce on the phone number provided.
Over the weekend, the phone had 130 missed calls and seven texts. After a week, the number had grown to 287 calls and 57 texts.
One man offered 1,000 kronor ($155) for half an hour with the prostitute, while another offered 2,500 kronor to urinate on her.
Local police experts were not surprised by the public interest.
"The fact that you got 130 calls over the weekend doesn't surprise me. For those people keeping an eye on the supply, things get exciting with a new ad," Mats Paulsson, head of the prostitution unit of the Gothenburg police, told the Metro newspaper.
He added that he thought the callers were more curious than interested in buying sex.
"Many people call up because they're tickled by the whole thing. They're satisfied to just call or text."
In Sweden, selling sex is not a crime, however paying or attempting to pay for sex is punishable by fines. Anyone convicted of purchasing sex from a minor can be sentenced to up to two years in prison.
The Local/og
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