The Power of "Thank You" in Preventing Trafficking

Human traffickers haven’t closed their “business” nor observed social distancing in response to COVID-19.  In fact what has been a challenge for most of us has been an opportunity to increase their business as seen in the fact that through June, 2020, calls to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children reported a 90% increase in calls of “online enticement” compared to the same time the year before. 

The traffickers’ strategy to offer their porn sites for free in order to generate more business during COVID’s shut downs apparently paid off in that porn site hits increased 4700% -- that is thousand -- since March, 2020.  Since pornography is known as the gateway to trafficking, we can only guess at the increase in the demand for young girls and boys.  

Flattery, an offer of a job that is too good to true, or an offer to fulfill a need such as food, clothing or shelter is the first sign of a trafficker.  If youth are aware of this first sign, trafficking can be prevented before the grooming process progresses.  It can be by simply answering “thank you” or “no thank you.”  We know this to be true from asking several pimps, how do you know what youth to pursue? Their answer was unanimous:  I first flatter them by saying, you are beautiful.  If they look me in the eye and say “thank you” I move on.  If they look down and say, I am not pretty, that is the one I pursue.  

After working with many youth over the last five years and teaching them this simple protection strategy, I have found not one that has been able to then accept a legitimate compliment or recognize the difference between flattery and a compliment.  Those who interact with youth can prepare them to receive a compliment simply by complimenting them and teaching them to receive it by saying, “thank you.”  Compliment or criticize?  When it comes to trafficking, the better choice is always to find something you can sincerely compliment.   Email Jan at jemf2f@gmail.com to learn more.