Teen Grooming & Trafficking
WHAT TO KNOW & SHARE

This step is the hardest step to recognize.  A new, seemingly, non-threatening "friend" strikes up a friendship with your teen. The new friend is typically fun, seems very nice, and often acts as a mentor. Groomers vary in age and could be found at a school, the supermarket, or even the local church. Additionally, some groomers have a fake house, family, or parents, which is a facade for the recruiting process.

This stage isolates the teen from long-time friends who share core values. The groomer introduces “more fun” new friends who encourage risky behavior and provide unquestioning acceptance. Meanwhile, the old friends are gradually pushed out of their life. The teen may begin to lie about activities, saying that they are spending time with an old friend when really with the new friend group. Once this step is complete, the teen is in real and immediate danger.

The "friend" intrduces friction in the teen's relationships at home. Their objective is to make sure your child  feels "cool", often introducing alcohol and/or drugs. This “friend” will increase the frequency and accessibility of these substances. As your child begins to develop a sense of independence, this increases their desire to fit in because "everyone" they begin to surround themselves with is doing the same.

This step disorients the teen's moral compass. The groomer introduces the idea of a "better" life, and continues to introduce new, older friends, perhaps at a nightclub where the teen somehow gets in, despite being underage. The new friend group fawns over the teen, making him or her feel extra special, reinforcing the idea that the teen's parents are the enemy. The new friends seem to have money and a great lifestyle and entice the teen to begin participating in activities that are normally forbidden (e.g. dancing for money, dealing or doing drugs).

Groomers often appear polite and trustworthy around parents, sometimes even fabricating a stable home life. But behind the scenes, they criticize the teen’s parents and highlight their “unreasonable” expectations, aiming to drive a wedge and position themselves as the more understanding figure. This manipulation isolates the teen and increases their dependence on the groomer.

The final stage is full separation from the parents. Through brainwashing, coercion, kidnapping or a combination of the three, the groomer's intent is to take a daughter or son and exploit them for profit. The recruiters wait patiently, then take advantage of the right opportunity when it presents itself. This could look like your teen going to a party, but never returning home. In this step, if the recruiters can keep your teen away for more than three weeks, it is very difficult to find and rescue the victim.