ABC News report – are human traffickers targeting big box stores?
ABC-7 News
Reporter Simone Cuccurullo
The social media posts about various scares of creepy men at Target have been shared thousands of times.
A big question is this: Do human traffickers target big box stores such as Target and Walmart?
Since these cases are under an active investigation, there’s no way to tell if it’s human trafficking or not, so an official word from authorities will be needed.
Experts talked about the traditional signs and signals you can look out for in order to spot a human trafficker.
It’s estimated that there are over 40 million victims of human trafficking all around the globe.
But Assistant Professor of Social Work at FGCU Amanda Evans said, “It’s very rarely a ‘snatch and go’ sort of crime.”
Evans has been researching human trafficking for over a decade working for both the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and Florida Gulf Coast University.
So what if a strange man is following you around at Target?
“It probably isn’t human trafficking. Could be, yes. But statistically, that’s not how traffickers function,” Evans continued.
We even got a second opinion sitting down with Julie Franklin, the Chief Operating Officer of The Shelter for Abused Women and Children.
“Someone following you around, that doesn’t mean that they don’t have bad intentions. But it’s not necessarily to make a profit off of you,” Evans said.
She explains that human traffickers are much more likely to make a relationship with their targets by taking advantage of vulnerable people like runaway teens or young homeless women.
“Would I necessarily say that this is related to human trafficking? It could be. But again, what we see is that victims are not often taken,” Franklin said.
Victims not taken, but rather coerced, into staying with their trafficker who may offer them drugs, money, and even love in return.
“It doesn’t happen overnight normally. It can happen, but that’s not normally what we’ve seen,” Franklin finished.
Not typically something that happens during a routine trip to your favorite store.
The Fort Myers Police Department Public Information Officer said, “There is no way anyone can determine what, if anything, was the motive behind the male’s actions. There is absolutely no indication that this incident is linked to any kind of human trafficking whatsoever.”
If you feel that you are a victim of human trafficking, we want to encourage you to check out some resources at the following links:
Collier County Sheriff’s Office Human Trafficking Unit – for information, resources, prevention education, or enforcement regarding human trafficking contact 239-252-0060 or email Marisol.Rodriguez@colliersheriff.org.
To report human trafficking after hours contact CCSO at 239-252-9300 and if a crime is in progress or you have an emergency call 911.
If you wish to make an anonymous tip regarding human trafficking, call Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS (8477). You may be eligible for a reward.
To learn more or make an anonymous tip online regarding child victims of human trafficking contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Additional resources:
National Human Trafficking Resource Center / Polaris Project
1 (888) 373-7888 or SMS: 233733 (Text “BeFree”)
24 hours a day seven days a week in English, Spanish and 200 more languages.
Shelter for Abused Women and Children – Leading the community to Prevent, Protect and Prevail over domestic violence through advocacy, empowerment and social change. 239-775-3862.
Project HELP is a non-profit organization staffed by professional counselors and advocates committed to providing hope, empowerment, and healing to those affected by sexual violence, sudden death, and other crimes. Along with free counseling and advocacy services, Project HELP provides our community with a 24-Hour Crisis & Referral
Hotline: (239) 262-7227.
The Coalition of Immokalee Workers – 239-657-8311
