Traffickers are targeting children, teens on social media

 

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WECT) - Parents go to great lengths to keep their children safe, but one of the greatest threats to them may be lying in the palm of their hands.

According to Judi Paparozzi, an adjunct professor at UNC Pembroke and an expert on human trafficking, traffickers use social media to target children.

“The worldwide market for sex trafficking is 11 to 14 years old, our middle schoolers and early high school,” Paparozzi said.

Paparozzi has an extensive background in criminal justice, but says she has never seen a crime like this.

“It’s a crime where you can lock your car doors, you can lock the doors to your home, but all the criminals in the world come through our cellphones, all of them. Unless we teach our children, this is not safe, it can be safe, but with the privacy settings and the way we have them set now days it’s not safe.”

She explained traffickers look to manipulate, lure, and trap younger teens as they are the most vulnerable.

“Because of the threat of AIDS and HIV the virus, as well as STDs, for some reason Johns think that if they have sex with a younger child they have a lower risk of getting AIDS,” she said.

This worldwide problem is happening in southeastern North Carolina too. Paparozzi says it is difficult to prosecute traffickers and often times, people do not notice warning signs.

“There is almost no start up cost, there is very low risk of prosecution because it’s a crime that’s happening right in front of us and we don’t really know it and there are incredibly high profits. Especially with the younger and younger sex slaves that these guys are targeting because they are the easiest to manipulate, to scout, to lure, to trap into human trafficking. And they say once we get that girl we own her,” Paparozzi said.

Paparozzi says there are ways to keep your kids safe from the dangers of social media by partnering with them to teach them about proper use.

"Please give this information to your children, have the talks with them because this is the weapon of the human trafficker and you just gave it to your child,” Paparozzi said.

She says having conversations about talking to strangers online is a good start. It is also important to ensure safety settings on all apps are turned on, and location tracking is turned off.

“You wanna be the parents. You don’t really want to be a friend when it comes to their phone, you want to be a parent but you want to partner with your child," she said.

She also suggests having frequent 'app nights' where parents and children review app use together, in addition to making sure phones stay with parents when children go to bed.

“The conversations you can have earlier are about strangers and so forth. Then you have to get into when the parents allow cellphones that the strangers now have access to you. But why it’s so important is because the kids that have been trafficked — 15, 14  13, they’re coming not from just one community or one race, they’re coming from everywhere. The parents have to understand that if you don’t have the conversation it’s too late," she said.

Paparozzi recommends using netsmartz.org as a resource for talking with your children.

AMBER Alert: 22 Years of Progress in Recovering Abducted Children

AMBER Alert: 22 Years of Progress in Recovering Abducted Children:

Today, the AMBER Alert system is being used in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Indian country, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and 22 other countries. As of March 2018, a total of 924 children had been successfully recovered through the AMBER Alert system.

AMBER Alerts will link to photos of missing children under FCC upgrades.
On September 29, 2016, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved improvements to Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA), a system that delivers critical warnings and information to wireless phone users. The FCC updates are intended to enhance the information state and local authorities are able to send into communities. The changes include requiring wireless providers to support inclusion of embedded phone numbers and URLs in all WEA alerts, including allowing users to link to pictures and phone numbers in AMBER Alert urgent child-abduction bulletins. The new FCC rules are planned to be implemented within the next 30 months.

Did you receive an AMBER Alert on your phone? Learn more about the Wireless Emergency Alert program.

As of January 1, 2013, AMBER Alerts™ are being automatically sent through the https://www.missingkids.org/AMBER/WEA.

Any questions or concerns on the AMBER Alert message received on your phone should be directed to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), who manages the secondary distribution of AMBER Alerts.
Contact: NCMEC, 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678).

For more information on the AMBER Alert Program, view the Frequently Asked Questions.

Find AMBER Alerts on missingkids.org/AMBERSignUp for additional ways to receive AMBER Alerts.

The AMBER Alert™ Program is a voluntary partnership between law-enforcement agencies, broadcasters, transportation agencies, and the wireless industry, to activate an urgent bulletin in the most serious child-abduction cases. The goal of an AMBER Alert is to instantly galvanize the entire community to assist in the search for and the safe recovery of the child.

See Active AMBER Alerts

The information and statements contained on this official Department of Justice AMBER Alert website shall not be used for the purposes of advertising, nor to imply the endorsement or recommendation of the United States Government. Use of the AMBER Alert™ logo is subject to the Department of Justice legal policies and disclaimers regarding the use of DOJ seals and logos.

Reference herein (including any document posted hereon or linked hereto) to any specific AMBER or AMBER-related commercial products, processes, or services by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government.

Trinity Mount Ministries - Please Join Us In Making This World A Safer Place For Our Children

Child abuse, child sex trafficking rings, child pornography rings, child abductions, family pedophile groups, corrupt child protective services, corrupt foster care systems, corrupt adoption agencies, abusive child placement organizations...

Not long ago, these topics were hardly discussed and hardly believed by the general public. It's being talked about now and believed by many, that these things are happening and - slowly but surely, there's an increase of news reports and arrests being made, while still a huge part of the population would lable these topics as conspiracy theories, being invented by conspiracy nuts.

The tables are turning, more people are believing these crimes do exist and are demanding transparency and accountability from agencies that are in charge of child placements, more investigations into reports of child abuse with more follow-up visits taking place.

So, finally, the time of unchecked child abuse will come to an end, the 'elite' pedophiles and their child trafficking and pornography rings are being shut down, while arrests and convictions are taking place. Soon, the people who don't believe these child abuse cases even exist will have to change their minds, with so much coverage and people getting involved in revealing what's been happening to children around the world for decades. 

Thank you for caring,

Brett Fletcher of Trinity Mount Ministries

www.TrinityMount.Info

FBI - Community Outreach Home Run

Sports Memorabilia Fraud Case Yields Unexpected Benefit for Chicago Youth Baseball Leagues 

At a July 10, 2018 event organized by the FBI and the Chicago White Sox, hundreds of baseballs and bats seized during a sports memorabilia fraud case were donated to inner-city youth baseball leagues.

Transcript | Download

John Rogers was a prolific forger of sports memorabilia who fleeced banks and individual investors out of millions of dollars. And although his victims are unlikely to be repaid, Rogers’ fraud has provided an unexpected benefit for a group of inner-city teen baseball players in Chicago.

Earlier this week on the city’s South Side—an area known for gang violence and homicides—Special Agent Brian Brusokas and nearly 20 other FBI employees from the Bureau’s Chicago Division delivered 125 Louisville Slugger bats and dozens of baseballs to young players whose leagues are sponsored by the Chicago White Sox organization.

The equipment was seized during the Rogers fraud case, and after the forged signatures of Mickey Mantle, Babe Ruth, Albert Pujols, and other famous players were chemically removed or blacked out, the bats and balls found a new home among youngsters who have embraced baseball as a way to stay out of trouble and to possibly earn a college scholarship.

“These kids are doing the right thing and trying to live the right path in life,” said Brusokas, who led the Rogers investigation as part of the FBI’s Art Crime Team. “We wanted to give them something that they needed.”

“If we took one of these bats and put it in the hands of one of these kids,” said Jeffrey Sallet, special agent in charge of the Chicago Division, “could that bat make a difference for that kid?”

Sallet, who was on hand for the equipment donation and spoke to the players and coaches, explained that engaging with the community is fundamental to the FBI’s mission and to its success as an organization.

“These kids are doing the right thing and trying to live the right path in life. We wanted to give them something that they needed.”

Brian Brusokas, special agent, FBI Chicago

“We as the FBI earn the American people’s trust every single day,” he said. “The best way for us to keep that trust is to be out there showing everybody that we are human beings, that we are part of the community.”

“We are very thankful for the donation they gave us,” said Kenny Fullman, who manages the White Sox Amateur City Elite (ACE) program. “And we are thankful to all the agents who came out today to spend time with our kids, to play catch with them, and talk with our kids. Any time we can get someone to come out and be positive around our kids and talk to them about their careers, we are very thankful for that.”

The ACE program—and a similar Major League Baseball initiative, Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI)—aims to keep Chicago teens away from gangs and, through baseball, offer them skills and opportunities to help them succeed on and off the field. “We use baseball as a stepping stone to further their education,” Fullman said, “so they will be successful people in the future.”

FBI Chicago Special Agent Brian Brusokas (right) hands out baseball bats to Special Agent in Charge Jeffery Sallet (left) and other Chicago Division employees for distribution to young, inner-city players whose leagues are sponsored by the Chicago White Sox. The equipment had been seized during a sports memorabilia fraud case.

“Our ACE kids have to perform academically and athletically,” noted Anthony Olivo, manager of youth baseball initiatives for the White Sox. “We offer a safe environment to get them off the streets and on a narrow path and provide them an opportunity they might otherwise never have.”

The program has been successful. Since it began in 2007, ACE participants have received nearly 170 college scholarships—nearly 70 of them at the Division 1 level, Olivo said. And 24 players have been chosen in the Major League Baseball draft.

FBI Perspective - Impact of Positive Stories Through Social Media

by Benjamin Bliven, M.A.

Negativity spreads like wildfire. When a police officer conducts even slightly questionable actions, any video footage almost instantly can go viral on social media. Most of us can recall recent officer-related incidents that represented law enforcement in a negative light. How do we move forward and build trust within our communities? Today more than ever, we must share stories of police having a positive impact on the lives of others. Such accounts can help the public understand the great work officers perform daily and offset the negativity from isolated events.

Important Issue

An insurgence of anti-law enforcement groups has evolved that encourages the public to resist police or possibly lure them into certain actions while recording them. Such groups intend on antagonizing officers. Some elected officials have shown a lack of support for law enforcement by speaking openly about the need for police reform. Further, some legislators have begun to call for increased examinations of SWAT and police teams.

To continue doing our jobs effectively, we need to build trust with the communities we serve. Our agencies do not have marketing departments to help us shine in a positive light. Unfortunately, many media reports depict officers negatively, which not only has added to the antipolice rhetoric around the country but also has resulted in safety concerns for law enforcement. Such negative stories can empower people to resist officers and even act aggressively toward them.

Chief Bliven serves with the Wausau, Wisconsin, Police Department.

Social Media Influence

Law enforcement agencies are relatively new to social media platforms. Many have developed this online presence only within the last 5 years and typically use such services to share daily arrest reports, weather warnings, mug shots, surveillance videos, traffic issues, legal updates, photos of lost dogs, drug-take-back days, and even donut jokes. The tremendous work our officers do every day seems missing. We must share the heartwarming stories abundant in law enforcement to advocate for our profession and our officers.

• Police giving a tour of the department to a cub scout troop
• Officers stopping in at a children’s school performance to say hello
• A diabetic officer meeting with young children suffering from the disease who fear they cannot accomplish their dreams
• Troopers volunteering their time to build a ramp for a man who lost a leg
• A deputy hugging a young child on Superhero Day
• An officer explaining the job of a K9 to a child
• A trooper playing ice hockey with a group of kids
• Sheriff’s office employees volunteering their time on ski patrol

Police leaders should share positive stories proactively with their communities, which will garner support and trust from the people they serve. When we sit idly by while letting negative reports swirl and accusations of misconduct go unanswered, we lose support. Some agencies already effectively share stories, while others say that they do not have the time to do so or that such actions are not necessary. Many departments simply let their actions speak for themselves.

An agency can communicate its message to the public more quickly and powerfully when using social media. We must inform people in our communities and country of the positive work police officers do every day.

One Department’s Experience

As a result of its efforts in sharing positive stories, the Wausau, Wisconsin, Police Department (WPD) has received tremendous support from the community. Despite a population of only 40,000, many of the agency’s social media shares have had over 200,000 views. In fact, one story almost reached 1 million. The positive response from the community has proven significant, but the appreciation from WPD’s staff has been overwhelming. Employees enjoy seeing accounts about themselves and their friends. WPD even shared excerpts from an officer’s body-camera video after he slipped on ice twice in one day, each time making good-natured fun of himself.

Publishing positive stories has increased department morale and loyalty. Officers’ wellness and view of their job has improved. They must believe that their work matters. We hold them accountable when they do things wrong; therefore, we need to be accountable to them when they do things right. When more people appreciate law enforcement and advocate outwardly for the profession, officers also become safer.

Conclusion

Police organizations should share the positive stories that occur every day, minimizing the possible impact of negative messages and attitudes toward our profession. Leaders must manage their department's image and ensure that the crisis of the day does not take precedence. We must identify ways to become more purposeful in finding and sharing uplifting accounts.

Each of us should take steps to stand behind law enforcement and establish positive momentum within our communities, profession, and country. The best part about serving as a police officer is the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others on a daily basis. When we recognize and share these stories, we build community, increase support for law enforcement, and decrease the negativity surrounding this honorable profession.

Commentary by Brett Fletcher:

Whenever you read, watch or hear reports of corruption and negativity concerning the FBI and other law enforcement agencies, please keep in mind - the vast majority of law enforcement officers and personnel are dedicated, professional individuals, who are much like the civilians they serve.

They are family people, parents, neighbors and friends. Please do not disregard entire departments, agencies and administrations as corrupt and lawless. These are the few who make headlines of a negative nature, not the bulk of the officers and agents - who risk their lives daily, protecting the citizens they are called to serve.

Brett Fletcher, MHRS, MS.Psy, Th.G

Trinity Mount Ministries

Chief Bliven can be contacted atBenjamin.Bliven@ci.wausau.wi.us.

UK - Underfunding to blame for child protection 'crisis', says report

Often only option is to remove them from families, says ex-Tory children’s minister

Patrick Butler - Social policy editor

A former Tory children’s minister has blamed the government’s “woeful underfunding” of local authorities for a crisis in child protection that is putting the safety of vulnerable young people at risk.

The MP Tim Loughton, who served as children’s minister in David Cameron’s coalition government, said pressure on safeguarding services in some areas was so severe that often the only way to guarantee safety for children was to take them into care.

In some places, the pressure on children’s services is so acute it is leaving social workers feeling that the only tool available to them to keep a child safe is to remove them from their family,” said Loughton, who is the co-chair of the all-party parliamentary group (APPG) for children. 

Millions of children in England growing up in high risk environments

“As a result, families may look at these skilled and caring professionals with mistrust. But this is wrong. It is the woeful underfunding by government of a proper breadth of social care interventions that is to blame.”

This meant safeguarding interventions were becoming more invasive, rather than supportive, leading to families being broken up unnecessarily, the report said. “Social workers often feel that removing a child from their family is the only tool available to them to keep children safe.”

Social workers told the inquiry that the shift to a more invasive approach was driven by a risk-averse approach born out of fear of media scandal, by professionals’ lack of experience in supporting families, and a lack of resources.

The UK child protection system is laudable. Why risk it with reform? | Ray Jones

One social work team manager told the inquiry: “Local support services such as family centres, family support units, [and] parenting classes are no longer available ... social workers feel unable to manage and work with risk without those services and therefore seek to remove children from home.”

The report comes amid concern that growing pressure on children’s services, fuelled by increasing numbers of youngsters being taken into care, is overwhelming the family justice system and threatening the financial stability of councils already struggling with shrinking budgets.

The group said in 2016-17 local authorities in England overspent by £430m on children in care and by £172m on safeguarding. Funding for children’s services fell by 24% in real terms between 2010 and 2015, while a £2bn budget shortfall was predicted to open up by 2020.

“It is unacceptable that children’s safety is potentially being undermined by a lack of sufficient resources,” the report concluded.

Austerity will have cast an extra 1.5m children into poverty by 2021 

The inquiry called on ministers to tackle the funding shortfall for children’s social care and to consider introducing a legal duty on local authorities to provide early help services for children.

Loughton was under-secretary of state for children and families between 2010 and 2012. He led a previous AAPG inquiry on child protection in 2017 which concluded that nine out of 10 local authorities were struggling to meet their legal duties.

Anna Feuchtwang, the director of the National Children’s Bureau, which provides administrative support for the APPG, said: “It makes no moral sense that families are left to face crisis and children are put at risk of serious harm because services are chronically underfunded.”

Roy Perry, the vice-chairman of the Local Government Association’s children and young people board, said: “This report is yet further evidence that children’s services are being pushed to the brink."

The Blue Campaign, DHS Raises Public Awareness About Human Trafficking,

The Blue Campaign is the unified voice for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) efforts to combat human trafficking. Working in collaboration with law enforcement, government, non-governmental and private organizations, the Blue Campaign strives to protect the basic right of freedom and to bring those who exploit human lives to justice.

Through the Blue Campaign, DHS raises public awareness about human trafficking, leveraging partnerships to educate the public to recognize human trafficking and report suspected instances. The Blue Campaign also offers training to law enforcement and others to increase detection and investigation of human trafficking, and to protect victims and bring suspected traffickers to justice. To view all available Blue Campaign resources, please visit our resources page.

DHS is responsible for investigating human trafficking, arresting traffickers, and protecting victims. DHS also provides immigration relief to non-U.S. citizen victims of human trafficking. DHS utilizes a victim-centered approach to combat human trafficking, which places equal value on identifying and stabilizing victims and on investigating and prosecuting traffickers. Victims are crucial to investigations and prosecutions; each case and every conviction changes lives. DHS understands how difficult it can be for victims to come forward and work with law enforcement due to their trauma. DHS is committed to helping victims feel stable, safe, and secure.

Social Media Shareables

Each month we will share Twitter and Facebook content you can distribute on your own channels to raise awareness of human trafficking in your communities. Remember to tag us on Facebook using @BlueCampaign and on Twitter with @DHSBlueCampaign.

Twitter:

• ICYMI: @DHSBlueCampaign hosted a Facebook Live panel discussion on #humantrafficking and summer travel. Check it out here: http://bit.ly/2tsXJlU
• Did you know @DHSBlueCampaign has dozens of free human trafficking resources? Check out what is available and join the fight to #endtrafficking: http://bit.ly/2tGD91c
• What is human trafficking? Follow @DHSBlueCampaign to stay informed and see what you can do to #endtrafficking. Visit Blue Campaign’s website to learn more. http://bit.ly/2K7ATvb
• FACT: #Humantrafficking is not just sex trafficking. Learn more about the other types of trafficking from @DHSBlueCampaign:http://bit.ly/2KjLItd

Facebook:

• @BlueCampaign hosted a Facebook Live on how to recognize and report human trafficking while traveling. Check out the entire discussion here: http://bit.ly/2tsXJlU   
• Human trafficking involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act. Learn more with @BlueCampaign at http://bit.ly/2Ixf6HK  
• @BlueCampaign offers dozens of free human trafficking awareness resources – check out what is available and join the fight to #endtrafficking: http://bit.ly/2Mst2VR  
• @BlueCampaign has debunked some of the common myths and misconceptions about human trafficking. Visit Blue Campaign’s website to stay informed: http://bit.ly/2KcAozZ

    To report suspected human trafficking:

1-866-347-2423

To get help from the National Human Trafficking Hotline:

1-888-373-7888

or text HELP or INFO to

BeFree (233733)

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