What Parents Need to Know about Human Trafficking
Online Grooming
Online grooming is how a sex trafficker establishes relationships with children and lures them into sexual exploitation or sex trafficking. Traffickers offer false promises, attention, affection, adventures, gifts and later may control victims through dependency, threats and/or force. The trafficker drives a wedge between children and their parents, guardians, and friends; they create a climate of fear and attachment (trauma bonding) that makes escape seem impossible.
What are some Red Flags to Watch For?
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Always on their phone and refuses to take breaks
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Sleeps with their phone
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Not coming home at night
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Coming home in different clothes than when they left
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Wearing clothing you did not buy them
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Sudden change in fashion (more provocative)
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Sudden negative change in grades
How to Keep your Children Safe Online
Talk to your children about internet safety and create agreements with your child that covers the following points:
1. Allowing you to be friends with them on their social media sites,
2. Accepting friend requests only from people they have met in person,
3. Having them tell you if someone suggests that they send sexy or provocative photos or if someone offers them a job or travel opportunity,
4. Talking to you if they receive sexual images or other inappropriate links from another person,
5. Ensuring your child is setting their photos to the highest level of internet security so that strangers cannot download their images.
Be present and available for your kids.
Let your kids know that you care. Tell them you love them. Show them you love them. Meet their needs as best you can, and if you can’t, then at least let them know you are trying!
Make a "Human Trafficking" talk a mandatory talk to have with your kids, like the “Sex Talk” or the “Drug Talk”.
For more information and direct support call Sudbury and Area Victim Services at 705-522-6970
Click here for information about reporting Human Trafficking