Sex traffickers often start a conversation to get your phone number. They may use intermediaries to get your number or prepaid phone numbers. Once they have your number, they can track you.
They can also track you if you reply to a text message. This can be very dangerous.
Sex traffickers start a conversation to get your phone number
If you’ve ever received a suspicious text message, you know that it could be a sex trafficking scam. The messages are sent from unknown phone numbers and usually have a picture of the same girl. You shouldn’t respond to these texts, even if they ask for your location.
The best way to prevent these scams is to stay alert. Human traffickers often blame the victims for their situation and minimize their involvement. They make the victim believe that they’re the one responsible for the situation and that they can control them. They use the phone to spy on their victims.
They get it from intermediaries
There is a complex set of factors that contribute to human trafficking. These include poverty, unemployment, social norms that discriminate against women, and globalization. In the United States, traffickers often target American Indian and Alaska Native communities, as well as undocumented migrants and temporary guest workers. Fortunately, there are ways to protect yourself from being a victim.
They get it from prepaid phones
There’s a new viral message circulating on Facebook, claiming that responding to text messages from unknown phone numbers can land you in the hands of sex traffickers. Some of these texts have pictures of the same girl on them, and if you reply to them, the scammers can track you down. Experts warn that these texts are scams.
Prepaid phones are a popular medium for human traffickers, who can use them to arrange meetings with their victims. They can also use the GPS signals from smart phones to track victims. But most traffickers don’t leave digital trails of their activities, which makes it difficult for law enforcement to monitor their activities.
They can track you if you reply to a text message
A recent Facebook post has sparked an online discussion about how sex traffickers can track you based on what you reply to in text messages. The post claims that if you reply to a sex-related text message, the sex-traffickers can find out where you live. The post also includes screenshots of text messages that sound like they are related to sex trafficking. A cybersecurity expert says this idea is false.
If you receive an unknown text message, you should delete it. Moreover, do not reply to any unknown text and avoid providing your personal information. The post has more than 10,000 shares and hundreds of comments. Even though the post says it is a warning, law enforcement agencies could not verify its authenticity. Replying to a text message can give sex traffickers access to your location and let them track you, and they may use your phone to spy on you.
Red flags of sex trafficking
Red flags of sex trafficking include fear, submissiveness, paranoia, and physical injuries. A victim may also appear malnourished or have injuries that aren’t apparent. They may also have a lot of cell phones and appear tense or nervous.
Other red flags of trafficking include language used by the victim. For example, if a young person is using words like “daddy” or “boyfriend,” then he or she may be using the language of trafficking. Other words associated with trafficking include “game,” “life,” “square,” “trap,” “stack,” and “royalty.”
Other potential Red Flags of sex trafficking include people who are ill-treated or appear afraid of authority figures. Participants suggest that healthcare providers should be aware of these characteristics and educate themselves about their own biases.