(WWJ) January is Human Trafficking Prevention month.
An FBI expert at Detroit's Office said virtual learning amid the coronavirus pandemic is making it all too easy for predators to access victims online.
They said they've been seeing an uptick in reported cases since schools shifted to remote learning in March.
"One of the reasons there has been more cases there and more exploitations is because more of those children are at home," Melissa Novak, a victim's specialist with Detroit's FBI Office, said. "Not all of the schools, not all of the programs have the highest security. The (predator) is going to go where the victim, or the child is."
The National Human Trafficking Hotline (NHTH) defines Human Trafficking as: "a trafficker using force, fraud or coercion to control another person for the purpose of engaging in commercial sex acts or soliciting labor or services against his/her will. Force, fraud, or coercion need not be present if the individual engaging in commercial sex is under 18 years of age."
Human trafficking is an estimated $30 billion per year industry.
Model D reported that 838 victims were identified by the NHTH in 2018, according to the Polaris project, with Detroit being a hotspot.
Michigan tied as the 6th highest state for human trafficking cases with 1.8 cases per 100,000 people as of 2018, according to Price Economics. Washington D.C. ranked highest in the poll, with 6.1 cases per 100,000 people.
Novak told WWJ's Jon Hewett it's important for parents to be proactive: "talk about what's on your iPad or your laptop. Who are you engaging? Who is that friend in this game? Who are you sending a video to? Because that's how (the predator) strikes out. You know, kids want to tell their parents everything. But the human trafficker says let's keep this a secret."
Novak urges parents, teachers and other adults to be on high alert for calling cards of human trafficking. The Boys and Girls Club of America lists the following signs:
- unexplained school absences; the presence of multiple cell phones, burner phones or erased call logs
-multiple fake IDs
- a young person appearing malnourished or hungry, or dressed inappropriately for weather conditions
-bruises or other signs of physical trauma
-signs of drug addiction
-presence of a noticeably older, controlling or abusive "boyfriend" or "girlfriend."
Children who frequently run away or go missing, survivors of childhood sexual abuse, children living with parents/guardians who abuse substances, or LTBQ children/teens, homeless and disowned children/teens are all high risk, according to The Boys and Girls Club of America.
If you believe someone you know or love is in a human trafficking situation, please call your local police department or The National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.
