I read the article but it still didn’t explain how the trafficker came in contact with the girl in the first place. Too vague, doesn’t give valuable information we could use to warm our kids about certain signs of danger.
I’m not sure if you meant the original posting article or my article. I was pretty aware of it at the time as I have two teen girls. Made sure they knew what to look for and how to avoid it.
Single girls hanging out at the mall or anywhere were prime. They prey on those that look a bit lonely, disaffected(?), or like they don’t fit in. Many of them use younger guys, or portray themselves as younger. Befriend them.
“Yeah I know, my parents don’t understand me either.”
Then invite them to go somewhere else with them. “Hey - I know a guy where we could score some pot.” I’m not so sure it is an “abduction” right away where they grab a girl off the street and toss them into a van (although that can happen!), it is more going after likely targets. Groups of girls are always better.
A few years ago my daughters were with two other friends celebrating their birthday and we had driven them to Pike’s Place Market. My wife and I were sitting on one side of a not-crowded space, giving the girls there space (40 feet). An older guy came up to them and started having a conversation with them. He looked like a kindly old bum, but I was watching closely the entire time. I could tell the girls didn’t feel threatened - but I could tell they felt awkward. After he left they came over “Well that was weird - he was telling us what it was like when he was growing up!”