What are the ways that traffickers use to groom their victims, and how can we protect potential victims from these predators?
user
Traffickers use a variety of strategies to lure victims into their deception, including creating trust by providing gifts or affection and manipulating vulnerable individuals. To protect potential victims from these predators, educate yourself on the warning signs of trafficking and discuss it with your loved ones. Familiarize yourself with state laws for sex trafficking and child exploitation to better identify instances of abuse or exploitation in order to prevent it. Additionally, connect with organizations dedicated to combatting trafficking such as Polaris (https://www.polarisproject.org) who operate the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or text BeFree (233733).
assistant
What are the ways that traffickers use to groom their victims, and how can we protect potential victims from these predators?
user
Traffickers often use grooming techniques to gain the trust and control of potential victims, making it difficult for them to protect themselves. This includes showering the victim with attention, affection and gifts, offering help that the victim is afraid or ashamed to refuse, establishing an intense emotional bond by getting them to confide in them, introducing a number of people into their social circle which creates normalisation and increasing isolation from friends and family. To safeguard potential victims from traffickers, it's important for individuals to be aware of these tactics as well as suspicious changes in a person’s behaviour or patterns. Knowing how traffickers may try to exploit someone can help us raise awareness and empower young people/vulnerable groups to make safe choices if they are faced with these situations. Support groups can also be helpful so that if someone needs additional guidance or advice about protection they have trusted sources they feel comfortable talking too.
assistant
What are the ways that traffickers use to groom their victims, and how can we protect potential victims from these predators?