Web site offers 'friends' for rent

A Web site based in New Jersey that allows users to "rent a friend" for platonic outings said it has 1,200 paying members.

RentAFriend.com founder Scott Rosenbaum said the site, which started up five months ago, boasts 108,000 friends for rent and 1,200 customers paying $24.95 a month to browse the 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.

The founder stressed his Web site is not a place for personals or escorts and physical contact is specifically banned by the Web site's rules.