Today’s generation is more online and well-versed in the internet than ever before. As teens and children gain access to technology and social media at younger and younger ages, their unlimited access makes them more vulnerable than we may realize. Predators are very adaptable. They are just as knowledgeable about technology as the kids raised and immersed in it, and they manipulate it to prey on any unsuspecting victims.
In 2020, considering the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns, the National Human Trafficking Hotline identified a 22% increase in online recruitment into trafficking schemes and reported the internet as the top recruitment location for all forms of trafficking. From 2019 to 2020, there was a 125% increase in recruitment on Facebook and a 95% increase on Instagram since the previous year.
Awareness
Traffickers use sophisticated techniques to groom and manipulate victims online. This can involve building trust through fake personas or manipulating victims into believing they are entering legitimate job opportunities or relationships. The internet has both amplified existing trafficking methods and created new avenues for exploitation due to its global reach, anonymity, and accessibility. The UN Office On Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has identified two primary online exploitative strategies that traffickers use to recruit victims: Hunting Strategies and Fishing Strategies.
Hunting Strategies:
Proactive pursuit of specific victims (on social media, online chat rooms, or dating apps) and potential buyers online.
Traffickers initiate contact based on information/characteristics such as economic, emotional, or other vulnerabilities, making them susceptible to exploitation.
Initially friendly, then more aggressive as the relationship develops
Fishing Strategies:
Passive pursuit of victims – posting advertisements online available to everyone (e.g., false job advertisements or fake employment agencies)
Victims initiate contact by responding to online advertisements promising high pay or other benefits (e.g., travel) with little job information.
Advertise jobs to attract any number of victims–online classified advertisements, social media platforms, job boards, and specialized websites for sexual services.
Globally, according to cases collected by the UNODC in 2020, the majority of cases to recruit victims involved fishing strategies rather than hunting strategies.
Action
The United Nations recommends these actions to help protect yourself against online trafficking:
Set strict privacy settings If your social media accounts are public, then anyone can see your photos, posts, and other information. Traffickers have used this information to reach out to and recruit victims. Consider setting your accounts to ‘private’ and turn off location sharing on posts.
Beware of strange friend requests Only accept friend/follow requests from people you know, even if you have friends in common. Traffickers have reached out to strangers to ‘chat’ via social media and then slowly work to build trust with the potential victim.
Don’t overshare Remember that everything you put online is in the public domain. You no longer have total control over how it is being seen or shared. Traffickers have used people’s photos and personal details to help them blackmail, contact, groom, or otherwise recruit and monitor victims. Never share personal information, such as your phone number, address, or live location online.
Beware of advertisements that seem too good to be true Traffickers often use catchy language in job advertisements online, promising high wages for simple work or a chance to become a model. Traffickers will often be vague about the company’s credentials, details, or your terms of employment. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Flag it, don’t share it! Stay vigilant in the online sphere and report suspicious pages or activities to the authorities. Don’t hesitate to unfriend, block or report someone who is harassing you or talking to you in a way you don’t like. Click on the links to see how to block accounts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and Snap Chat. Take screenshots of the messages or posts – they might be useful later for an investigation or law enforcement.
Know the warning signs of trafficking Being aware of the warning signs of trafficking can help you to identify when you or a loved one is at risk of being ‘groomed’ or recruited online.
Get help or raise the alarm Many countries have free, confidential resources and helplines for those who have been or are at risk of being trafficked. Make sure to know your National Human Trafficking Hotline.
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