A Web site based in New Jersey that allows users to “rent a friend” for platonic outings has 1,200 paying members. RentAFriend.com founder Scott Rosenbaum said the site, which started five months ago, boasts 108,000 friends for rent and 1,200 customers paying $24.95 a month to browse profiles. Rosenbaum said the friends for hire, who list their profiles for free, can negotiate their hourly rates and receive payments in advance via PayPal. Rosenbaum stressed his site is not a place for personals or escorts and physical contact is specifically banned by the site’s rules.
