1. Human Trafficking
Overview
Sex Trafficking in the U.S.
Fake Massage Businesses
Internet Based
Residential Brothels
Street Prostitution
Hostess & Strip Clubs
Escort Services
Truck Stops
Labor Trafficking in the U.S.
Recognizing the Signs
International Trafficking
Trafficking FAQs
State-by-State Resources
Calendar of Events
The NHTRC Human Trafficking Report a Tip Access Training Resources Map Get Involved Contact
This is a photo of one of the massage rooms
in a fake massage business. It is estimated
that a woman in a brothel has to have sex
with an average of 6 -10 men daily.
It is estimated there are more than 5,000 fake
massage businesses nationwide.
“We worked on a case of multiple fake massage businesses that were raided by
the federal authorities. The women were often offered legal jobs, but then were
forced into prostitution. Most of the women did not go outdoors for weeks at a
time. Several were threatened with gang violence, and others were threatened
with harm to their family members if they tried to leave. Some women were in
debt bondage, and most had some type of sexual violence or coercion from
customers frequenting the brothels. All of them wanted to escape."
– Bradley Myles, Executive Director and CEO, Polaris Project
Womenfoundinbrothels disguisedas massage businesses typically
live on-site where they are confinedandcoercedinto providing
commercial sex to 6 to 10 menaday, 7 days aweek. These locations
operate as commercial-front brothels that claimto offer legal
services suchas massage, but they actually primarily provide
commercial sex. The victims are most oftenAsianwomen, both
documentedandundocumented. These brothels frequently operate
instripmalls, office buildings, andsometimes, residential homes, in
urban, suburbanandrural areas inalmost all 50 U.S. states.
*Basedoncalls receivedby the National HumanTrafficking
Resource Center. Identifyingdetails have beenchangedto protect confidentiality.AyoungKorean
womanwas brought into the U.S. whenshe was inherlate twenties. She was toldthat she hadto
workat afake massage business andprovide commercial sex inorderto pay off anexorbitant
smugglingdebt. The youngwomanandthree otherKoreanwomenlivedonthe premises of the
brothel andwere closely monitoredby anolderKoreanwomaninherlate fifties. The youngwomen
were advertisedonline forcommercial sexual services. The youngwomanwantedto leave the
brothel anddidnot want to provide commercial sex, but because of herdebt to the business's owner,
she felt she couldnot leave.*
When does it become trafficking?
Fake massage businesses use force, fraud, and/or coercionto
maintaincontrol over the womenandto cause themto believe that
they have no other choice but to provide commercial sex. These
are oftenthe definingfeatures of asex traffickingsituation.
Commonmeans of control usedinthese types of brothels also
include:
Force–Isolationandconfinement to the brothel;regular and
frequent transportationto other locations or other cities by drivers
workingfor the traffickingnetwork;occasional physical or sexual
abuse.
Fraud –False promises of abetter life;false promises that ajob inmassage will be better thantheir
current job;misrepresentationof the work, workingconditions, andimmigrationbenefits of the job;
visafraud.
Coercion –Victims oftenenter fake massage business networks withheavy debts whichare increased
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HumanTrafficking
National HumanTraffickingResource
Center
Sex TraffickingintheU.S.
RecognizingtheSigns
TheVictims
Client Quotes
throughexorbitant fees for food, personal items, transportation, “security,” andinterest –to pay off
this debt, victims are pressuredto “do whatever it takes to please the customer” to earntips;
exploitationof aforeignnational domestic worker’s unfamiliarity withthe language, laws andcustoms
of the U.S.;restrictions oncommunicationto family or others outside the network;threats of
deportationandarrest;confiscationof passports andvisas;culture of loyalty;exploitationof victims’
shame;rumors of or witnessedviolence at the hands of traffickers or police.
*The above list is not comprehensive or cumulative. One element of force, fraud, or coercion may be present,
or many.
Vulnerabilities of the Individuals Involved
Existingdebt -Financial needor indebtedness play animportant role inmost women’s entry into an
AMP. Credit carddebt, immigrationdebt, or smugglingfees, or financial need, leave the women
vulnerable to recruiters, who appear to be offeringlegal jobs.
ImmigrationStatus –Most of the womentraffickedinto brothels posingas massage businesses are not
U.S. citizens, andmany do not have documentedstatus. Traffickers use the threat of deportationas
well as document confiscationto maintaincontrol of immigrant women. Without legal status, the
womenfrequently fear anddistrust police or government authorities. Immigrant womenare
vulnerable due to language barriers, unfamiliarity withtheir legal rights inthe US, and/or the lack of a
local support network.
Statistic Snapshot
"Johns" who frequent fake massage businesses make it a"hobby" to buy sex andto track all such
brothels nationwide. There are more than5,000 brothels disguisedas massage businesses
nationwide.
Standardpricingstructure:Johns pay ahouse fee of $60 -$90 per half hour or hour plus they
occassionally pay tips;the womenare pressuredto "please the customer" inorder to receive tips.
These unpredictable tips are the women's sole source of income to pay the numerous fees and
interest rates they are chargedby the network.
Standardday for awomaninafake massage business:10am–2 or 3am, 7 days aweek
Estimatedaverage number of menawomanmust have sex withdaily:6 -10
For resources onhumantraffickinginfake massage businesses, click here
Contact
Polaris Project
P.O. Box 53315
Washington, D.C. 20009
Tel: 202-745-1001
Fax: 202-745-1119
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