Most people, when asked about human trafficking and the methods used to lure in victims, will usually think of unrealistic situations where a stranger spontaneously kidnaps a person off the side of the street and vanishes. Due to the media’s false and exaggerated portrayals of human trafficking, many do not consider the plethora of ways that someone can be trafficked using insidious and methodical tactics, oftentimes by people they trust. In fact, the reason why human trafficking remains one of the most profitable crimes is because it is difficult to detect and trace. A large percentage of victims are women, children, and those from lower-income backgrounds, who are often lured through gradual trust and the promise of money or employment. However, it is important to note that anyone can be subject to human trafficking, no matter one’s gender, age, or location. 

The process of human trafficking is rarely physical, as evidence of physical violence can be seen on the body by healthcare professionals, family members, or friends. Instead, traffickers will often use psychological tactics in order to manipulate their victims and prevent them from seeking help. By avoiding physical restraint, human traffickers are able to indulge in a “low-risk, high-reward” venture that brings in $150 billion in revenue each year. Examples of such psychological tactics include slowly isolating an individual from their friends and family by posing as a lover, friend, or mentor. As a victim becomes gradually intertwined with their trafficker, they will experience emotional abuse in the form of dehumanization, intimidation, and threats. 

A more specific term that is used in order to describe this tactic of acting as a lover in order to get close with a victim is called “boyfriending.” Despite the name, women have also been known to use this method. A survivor of human trafficking, Kimberly Blitz, tells Stop Modern Day Slavery about her experience with a boyfriend who turned out to have other intentions. Having met her abuser when she was only 14 and vulnerable from the death of her grandmother and the unfamiliarity of a new city, Kimberly found herself easily taken with this older man who seemed to be interested in her. However, as their relationship progressed, the physical, emotional, and sexual abuse began. Kimberly recalls, “I thought things were great between us until our first fight where he ended up hitting me. I remember thinking how wrong it was, but at the same time justifying it. The next day he showed up with flowers, crying about how he never meant to hurt me. And then he said the three words I was craving to hear: ‘I love you.’” Due to this constant back and forth and psychological manipulation, Kimberly became trapped in an abusive relationship and was trafficked for sex to over 200 men over the course of her trafficking. The belief that what she was experiencing was normal and that her boyfriend abused her out of love prevented Kimberly from seeking the help she needed in order to escape.  

As previously mentioned, another method often utilized by human traffickers is false job advertisements. Human trafficking recruiters will seek out people in search of higher pay or who are vulnerable in their current situation. Through ads in magazines and online, traffickers are able to catch the attention of certain individuals and relocate them to other places within the country or outside of country borders. Once a victim has been flown out to the job that they have been hired at, they will be blackmailed into paying off their traveling fee or have their passports forcibly taken away with no means of returning home. However, it is also a large misconception that human trafficking requires the movement of an individual. According to the Washington Post, a Texas man was convicted of human trafficking in 2016 when he confiscated the passports of workers who had arrived in Texas through valid work visas. He then forced them to work and live in inhumane conditions, threatening them with deportation if they sought help or attempted to escape. Especially with the COVID-19 pandemic taking 195 million jobs around the world, it is important to acknowledge that human trafficking can happen locally, as many families will be in urgent need of new employment and income. 

The generalization that human trafficking occurs only at the hands of strangers or gangs is another misconception that is only encouraged by the media. While cartels and gangs do largely contribute to the number of people forced into labor or sex work, family members, friends, and even a country’s government in some cases can be responsible for human trafficking. According to the CDTC, around half of all human trafficking cases involving children are initiated by a family member. Despite the fact that more than 200,000 children in the US are victims of human trafficking, a very small percentage of such cases are reported. Many children may feel shame or humiliation in telling someone else about their situation and are often threatened by their abusers and manipulated into keeping quiet. 

Around the world, millions of people every year are trafficked, and many cases are left unreported. In order to stay safe and to spread awareness, it is crucial to acknowledge that human trafficking can occur in every country and not just by strangers. By understanding the most common recruitment tactics, we can not only better help survivors of trafficking but also work to prevent future cases from happening.