Traffickers use multiple methods to entrap their victims with romantic partnership being the most common method used by sex traffickers. Sex traffickers lure their victims by promising a happy, stable future together and work to satisfy their victim’s unmet needs – offering support, money and gifts, and/or housing by asking them to move in together. Eventually, the romance shifts and becomes exploitative, and the trafficker begins to use pressure, demands, and/or manipulation to force their victim into providing sexual services.

Traffickers also use the befriending method. This is where they establish a close friendship with their potential victim and/or use peers of the potential victim who they are already exploiting to lure in a new victim. Sex and/or labour trafficking is normalized and promoted as a way to get quick cash or a glamourous lifestyle. It is not until after victims begin performing these services that they learn the trafficker will be keeping the money. Shame and/or blackmail are then used to force the victim to continue providing services.

For more information, including additional methods of entrapment traffickers use, see: www.skprevention.ca/human-trafficking/#methods-of-entrapment.