Are the free identity verification websites used by women on Craigs List personals a scam to generate revenue or are they legitimate verifications to safely meet women seeking safe erotic encounters?

Anyone saying that they want to do a verification that you aren't a criminal is likely getting into databases that make you prone to identity theft.

Potential daters are not likely to use Craigslist PVA accounts (usually its a business behind that).

Do a little web browsing, search for the persons name or e-mail address in google and see if it takes you to a "suspected scammers list". Report contacts that want you to go to a secondary sign-up site, most Terms of Service (TOS) agreements forbid it.

Never go to a link from their email, its likely a phish or a redirect and they are getting paid by the hits to that site or by sign-ups.

Age verification for dating is pretty obscure.....a real woman would want to talk to you and could tell if you are underage - a spammer is likely to want to verify you quickly and sell your verified info to a spam listing. Verified info gets more $ for the listing.