For 500 women, there are going to 500 different situations, but I suspect most follow similar pattern, low educated, low income women in small towns, places that dot Northern/Central/Southern California, attractive young women, that aspire to be models, instagram stars, even escorts and porn stars.
For many it was a way to finance their lifestyle, and a chance to elevate themselves. They are not very sophisticated, though may present themselves that way, or even that aware of business, legal, like a lot of people in general. They likely do not watch porn, to the point they would know about sites like GirlsDoPorn.
I would think many are alcohol and drug users. This may seem condescending, but if you have met women that fit a profile like that, they aren't generally very aware of the rest of the world. They know instagram, but they don't know contract law, federal laws, and to be really fair, most people don't, and most of you don't, on here.
You are basically offered 5,000 (and often given less) for a young woman, and a free trip to San Diego, doesn't sound like a bad idea, you have to think from someone else's perspective. I know girls who did porn and stripped straight out of high school.