East Bridgewater is a town of about 14,000 located about 26 miles south of Boston.  In 2008, the East Bridgewater Police department initiated a reverse sting operation which resulted in 9 arrests for prostitution.  The names, ages, and addresses of the johns were published in local media outlets in an effort to shame and deter offenders.  In addition, cash totaling about $500 was seized from the men.  In a similar reverse sting in 2007, seven johns were arrested and shamed and the police seized over $3,000.

In October 1999, investigators from Bridgewater, East Bridgewater, and West Bridgewater formed the WEB Major Crimes and Drug Task Force. In 2007 and 2008, this task force conducted a reverse sting using investigators posting ads on Craigslist, which yielded  hundreds of responses. Using Craigslist, police arrested many sex buyers throughout the county; the number arrested in East Bridgewater during the major reverse stings was not disclosed.  The investigation was initiated by complaints and tips from the community about prostitution occurring in a residence.