South Station PSA

Submitted by [deleted] t3_10onnmm in boston

Just came through South Station and there is a very persistent middle aged man before the red line barricades who seems to be targeting lone women with a generic human trafficking pitch. Around 6ft tall, average build and a single gold hoop earring. He singled out younger women traveling alone with a pitch along the lines of “I am lost trying to get to xyz part of the city, I’m supposed to meet a wealthy client but do not know where to go. Where do you live? Can you help me get there?” Ignored every male walking by but would run after younger women. Could just be another south station crazy, but better be safe than sorry friends.

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Lumpymaximus t1_j6fs8rv wrote

Does the t have its own police? Let them know?

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bjanas t1_j6fvrtt wrote

Jesus, it sounds like the beginning of a Taken script. Scary.

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zsalv t1_j6fyg3r wrote

please report this so its not just reddit that sees it

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DarkMetroid567 t1_j6ghvwr wrote

Excuse the dumb question, but what makes it a human trafficking pitch?

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rodolphoteardrop t1_j6gq0la wrote

That doesn't even make any sense? Wouldn't the wealthy client send a car? And why can't he afford a cab with a client base like that?

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culture_war_criminal t1_j6gqbcg wrote

Great description 🙄. You posted the perps height, build and jewelry he was wearing. What color was he?

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9Z7EErh9Et0y0Yjt98A4 t1_j6hgxq2 wrote

Replying to [deleted] (#1,608,699)

Keep living in fear that a stranger is going to throw a potato sack over your head. "Taken" wasnt a documentary.

The vast majority of trafficking in this country do not involve violent kidnappings by strangers, it's exploitation of people in vulnerable positions often by people they know and trust.

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9Z7EErh9Et0y0Yjt98A4 t1_j6hq8kv wrote

Replying to golfcartskeletonkey (#1,609,777)

You know, your 60,000 comment had me curious, and the first hit on Google seems the likely source for your claim.

Ironically enough, the very next paragraph goes on to describe how your stranger danger panic is entirely misguided:

>...the reality is that nearly 60,000 people are trafficked into the country every year, and the majority of those are females, trafficked for sexual exploitation.

>Another common misconception is that human traffickers are kidnappers who drive large vans and swipe unassuming people from back alleys. Again, the reality, sadly, is far worse. Human traffickers operate in public, and will use all sorts of tools and tactics at their disposal to get what they want. These efforts often come in the form of psychological manipulation.

https://deliverfund.org/the-human-trafficking-problem-in-america/human-trafficking-statistics-and-resources/

I would simply not spread bullshit about the problem of human trafficking if it were something I actually cared about, but I suppose that's a matter of personal judgement. You're not doing anyone any favors getting all worked up about make-believe instead of the real thing.

That site has some useful info, might do you some good to come out of the extended Taken fictional universe and deal with reality going forward

>Human traffickers use any tool available to them to connect with potential victims. Contrary to popular belief, these predators rarely kidnap victims, but rather employ psychological manipulation to get what they want. The following are some of the signs of grooming for human trafficking employed by traffickers.

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9Z7EErh9Et0y0Yjt98A4 t1_j6hrf1z wrote

Replying to elizag19 (#1,602,513)

It's pretty odd that "human trafficking" is what jumps first to people's minds. As if trafficking is the most likely reason a creep or criminal would accost an unknown woman in public.

When you hear hoofbeats, it's more likely horses, not zebras.

This weirdo could any of many unsavory motives, but human trafficking is not anywhere near the top of the list. That's not how trafficking happens

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Born_Ad_4826 t1_j6hwsuj wrote

Skin/hair/eye color? This might help more than height

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TheSukis t1_j6i1rwz wrote

Replying to dyqik (#1,612,499)

Logical fallacies occur when someone is presenting an argument. Telling someone to call the police instead of posting on Reddit may imply the existence of a false dilemma in the speaker's mind, but we wouldn’t say that a fallacy is being committed because no argument is being presented.

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too-cute-by-half t1_j6i73y0 wrote

Skin tone is pretty essential information here for anyone who needs to recognize this threat and avoid.

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_Karagoez_ t1_j6i8akz wrote

Replying to muddymoose (#1,600,994)

As someone who needed the assistance of transit police last week when there was a fight on the platform, can confirm they are utterly worthless. They ignored the first guy that tried to get their attention and shushed him and went behind the corner until I went around and told them. They meandered their way to the fight where somebody could've easily fallen onto the tracks.

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Lurchie_ t1_j6ibcsy wrote

As a freakishly large male person, I would love to approach the guy and offer to help him find his destination.

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Skincare_Addict_ t1_j6iewzf wrote

Replying to [deleted] (#1,608,699)

Girl people do not just snatch up normal everyday women from parking lots and train stations bffr

Almost all human trafficking targets the super vulnerable: homeless, drug addicts, strippers, sex workers, etc

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elizag19 t1_j6j1dmc wrote

Replying to 9Z7EErh9Et0y0Yjt98A4 (#1,610,824)

Trafficking happens much closer to home than I think most people realize, or want to accept. It’s likely this was just another south station crazy person. It’s also likely that this person wanted to try and abduct someone without much of a plan afterwards. It’s also possible that this person is interested in trafficking a young woman.

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Skincare_Addict_ t1_j6jb0ek wrote

Replying to [deleted] (#1,622,029)

Because the level of fear that people have of this happening to them personally is not healthy or rational at the moment. If you go on social media every other mom or 20 something genuinely thinks because a man drove past her twice in the Walmart parking lot he was “targeting her for sex trafficing” and posts about it warning everyone that it’s “happening in front of our eyes” and to “stay vigilant”. I genuinely think it’s important for people to understand that while yes there are dangers out there, you as a wealthy suburban mother at Target are simply not likely to be sex trafficked in broad daylight— it’s truly not a rational thought process but it’s become super widespread right now via viral social media posts. Let’s take that concern and direct it somewhere productive, worry about the little girls in foster care or something.

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heather1999xyz t1_j6jm4hi wrote

Some people don’t get how this could be a human trafficking pitch which is understandable.

If you don’t get it:

Think about when you’ve genuinely been lost and asked for directions. What details do you include or ask for?

Directions. That’s it.

Something like “late for an appointment” maybe.

But people don’t:

  • ask where people live
  • ask for people to personally escort them there
  • mention terms like “wealthy client”
  • target young women traveling alone

I get asked for directions all the time, especially when the school year starts, because I work and commute near some major colleges. It’s always a question of how to get to a street or a building. They never ask where I live or ask me to walk them somewhere.

Never go to the secondary location.

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jamesland7 t1_j6kfixe wrote

And then OP deleted their account? Huh?

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