Teen girls selling sex on Craigslist, police say

A Lower Mainland mother is coming forward after seeing a story CTV News broadcast Monday. Police are concerned that a growing number of teenagers are selling sex on the popular website Craigslist. This is the story of a mom's nightmare and why she feels powerless to stop it.

Canada AM: Benjamin Perrin, law professor at University of British Columbia, on the disturbing trend

Youth workers and police are sounding the alarm about something else that's for sale on the popular online classified service Craigslist -- teenagers selling their bodies online.

CTV British Columbia: Lisa Rossington with Craigslist report

The popular online classified service Craigslist is a clearing house for all kinds of products from tools to tickets. But on Monday, youth workers and police are sounding the alarm about something else for sale there, teens selling their bodies.

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CTV.ca News Staff

Date: Tue. Jun. 30 2009 10:42 AM ET

Girls under the age of 18 are selling sex on Craigslist, according to police in North Vancouver, and are likely forced into it after falling under the influence of a sex-trafficking ring.

North Vancouver RCMP are reporting a spike in underage sex trade workers on the North Shore, some as young as 13, who claim to be 18 or older in their online ads.

Benjamin Perrin, a University of British Columbia professor who is an expert on human trafficking for the sex trade, said police have identified a dozen victims so far in North Vancouver alone.

"Police believe there are many more victims, many of them are under the control of what we're being told is a sex- and drug-trafficking ring," Perrin said Tuesday on CTV's Canada AM.

According to North Vancouver RCMP Const. Shannon Kitchen, some girls, but not all, are working alone and not under the control of a pimp.

"In some cases we've been told about initially a relationship that's been considered maybe a boyfriend-girlfriend relationship. And then that relationship's turned into, 'now you're working for me, you owe me money,'" Kitchen told CTV Vancouver.

Many of the ads are explicit, Perrin said, and put the girls in a vulnerable position as they promise unprotected sex.

"These young girls are being exposed to very serious health risks," Perrin said.

He also points out that while some of the girls come from troubled homes and communities, which makes them particularly vulnerable to sex traffickers, others hail from stable families and well-off neighbourhoods.

"So parents really need to look out for warning signs too, like new friendships with people who are not just male but also possibly female, giving large gifts, (having) a new cellphone that's always being answered at any time of the day," Perrin said.

He also said that the problem is not relegated to young girls in North Vancouver. Teenagers across Canada are using online tools to sell sex, he said.

Perrin said young women are often recruited through social networking websites such as Facebook, which offer ample opportunities for sex traffickers to prey on vulnerable girls.

"We know that sex traffickers have used Facebook as well as a tactic to identify vulnerable individuals and once they're part of a school network, Facebook does the work for them," he said.

Perrin said he has also met with officials from both the RCMP and Craigslist to express concern about how easy it is for underage girls to pose as adults.

Craigslist has shut down its erotic services section in the U.S. and now has an adult section that requires users to identify themselves. This is not available yet on the Canadian site.

"We're really hoping Craigslist will step up," Perrin said.

Comments are now closed for this story

Mark Smith (Montreal, QC)
said
0 0

What this has to do with Craigslist is beyond me. Craigslist does not facilitate this kind of behaviour. It's being used as a scapegoat to cover up the inability of the police to cope with underage prostitution. An inability that is not necessarily their own fault, but a flaw in society in general.

People really need to stop picking on Craigslist as if it's somehow run by the Devil himself. If not Craigslist, then there is Kijiji, there is Yahoo, there is Google Groups, Facebook, MySpace, Orkut, email, regular mail, and the old classic of just standing out on a street looking for work. What are we going to do now? BAN SIDEWALKS because underage prostitutes stand on them to get work so somehow SIDEWALKS are facilitating the crime? Stop scapegoating the internet for all the world's problems. These problems existed long before the internet transmitted its first packet of data and isn't going to go away just because politicians and media conglomerates managed to somehow censor the internet.

TARDEV
said
0 0

I guess I had good parents but at a very young age, 8 maybe, I understood the difference between right and wrong, dangerous, vs. safe. It makes me laugh that they are referred to as "victims.� To me a victim of crime has no idea or choice in the matter and become victimized, not someone who chooses to be dirty and unsafe. (I�m sure CTV won�t let me say the slang word)

Michael (Ottawa)
said
0 0

What a sick sin filled society we live in... ARGH!!

I remember a time when people had morals and values. Now I'm not convinced they have much of either. This is a direct consequence of poor social choices and politicians without any backbone to stand up for what is right and good.

Jim Pearmain
said
0 0

Interesting debate!

I myself, am less inclined to blame the medium (internet) than I am the absent supervision of inadequate parents, or (gasp) the kids themselves! These same kids could easily have been "victimized" in the same way without the internet's help.

Perhaps the Luddites would have us put Craigslist in stocks in the town square.

If Craigslist can be found accountable for this, then so should the phone companies, ball point pen manufacturers, postal systems and newspapers of the world. They have each been used in the same way throughout history.

sansu
said
0 0

OMG. The endless hysteria about the sexuality of young females continues. As long as there have been teenaged girls there have been teenaged girls selling sex. Nothing has changed, just the sales venue.

I don't like it, I think it is sad, but it is nothing new. If these ads are banned from Craigslist they will just spring up somewhere else.

Phineas from Vernon
said
0 0

The biggest problem is that western countries put on their best face, and we are led to believe that we are free of the dark side to the world, that the rest of the world is shackled to.

Canada is not exempt from the evils of the world, and no this is not Disney Land. This is called reality.
We all need to get over the squeeky little images we have of our country. You have to believe in the darkness too.

B. Kelley, Ontario
said
0 0

People who denounce the idea of parents living up to their supervisory responsibilities amaze and sadden me. Okay, so kids can be sneaky and will try to subvert a parent's attempts to control them but that is absolutely no excuse for failing to do your best. By insisting that they choose the right path and assisting them to do so, you are saying "I love you and I care deeply about what happens to you". The opposite is also true. Leaving them to their own devices is a statement that says "I really don't give a damn what happens. Raise yourself". Those who try to dignify the sex trade have no idea what they're talking about. You have no concept of how hookers are treated by the pimps and the johns. They are demeaned, humiliated, de-humanized and made to feel less valuable than a slab of meat. There is no honour or dignity to the "profession" and anyone who would defend it obviously has a deep hatred for women. Most prostitutes die young as a result of disease, drug overdose, murder or suicide. And those who try to minimize the evil of child prostitutes being used as paid sex machines might want to get some professional help and quickly.

Advocat
said
0 0

Maybe we should ban phones and cars as well... and while we're at it, can we make lamp posts illegal, too? After all, don't people use these for soliciting prostitutes?!?

More evidence that we have fooled ourselves into a 'culture of no accountability'. "Craigslist is turning our kids into whores!!!" "McDonald's is making me fat!!!"

Enough blaming everything else for our problems. Craigslist or not, kids who are well raised and properly looked after do not usually turn into hookers.

Roger T
said
0 0

Perhaps WHEN & IF our Gov't imposes tougher laws and tougher punishments for criminals maybe this wouldn't happen!

Too lenient and too relaxed laws create outcast and criminals and corruptions in society from Gov't officials to the average person in today's society!

Mike
said
0 0

A lot of people want to legalize marijuana thinking that it will get rid of problems, why not prostitution too. If someone wants to pay someone for their companionship, it's not my place to say that it's evil or illegal.
The focus should be on underage girls selling themselves whether it be by choice or not.

Indelible Bonobo
said
0 0

This is not a problem with craigslist. Police should set up many similar ads and catch the criminals who purchase underage sex. Enough sting ads would drown the real ones and demand would vaporize.

CYL
said
0 0

People out there must be really financially strapped to get down so low. This is more encouragement for predators.

Jessica - Waterloo Region
said
0 0

Asking parents to be parents would require that they actually take the time to do so. It seems that everyone is so busy that no one takes to time to be parents.
Monitoring kids internet use will not stop this. Like many people said the internet is only the means not the problem. The real problem is is that young women are degrading themselves to the point of prostitution. The pyschosocial reasons behind that is what should be targeted.

If women choose to enter a sex trade, it should not be illegal. Its wasting Canadian tax dollars and is ensuring that people are at risk for diseases, which will cost us heavily too as Canadians pay for universal health care.

Wake up people, the internet is not the problem or even the degree to which people monitor their children (they are sneaky, they'd do it behind your back if they wanted)the problem is is that women need to feel empowered to make right decisions for themselves (which could include a sex worker) and a society that demonizes the sex profession!

GJ
said
0 0

So Craigslist makes it easy for police to monitor these issues and do something about them.

If Craigslist is forced to remove these ads, then these ads will be placed on other web sites, making it more difficult for police to find them.

Censorship is the best answer that people can come up with? Even when it's completely evident that that will make it harder to police?

Set up police stings, pick up these girls and drop them off with their parents. Set up a mandatory program that educates them about the risks they are taking. 2nd pickup by the police, and now they're in the court system. Stop them from throwing their lives away.

Isn't that a better idea instead of forcing them further underground where they are more difficult to find by police?

Of course, if craigslist is forced to ban these ads, the police won't know where to look, so we can all sleep well knowing that it's no longer a real problem, because we won't see it.

For once, can we put some effort into solving the real issues, instead of dealing only with the optics?

B. Kelley, Ontario
said
0 0

Parents need to educate their children to understand that our world is populated by adults who will exploit them and destroy their lives just to make a buck. They need to realize that their lives mean absolutely nothing to the child pornographers, pimps and pedophiles that our oh-so-enlightened liberal world is producing in ever increasing numbers. The internet is both a blessing and a curse and allowing children to surf unsupervised is a sure way to expose them to virtually every life-destroying pervert in the world who owns a computer. Parents and grandparents, you wouldn't let your children play in the middle of a freeway so why do you let them play without restriction on the information super-highway where they can be run down in an instant.

Rick
said
0 0

A previous comment suggested that we should make prostitution legal and tax it. Well actually prostitution is legal under Canadian federal law and there are some 'working girls' in Canada who do pay taxes. It is 'pimping' and running a brothel that is illegal. As I see it the problem is that, because under some circumstances prostitution is legal, most local authorities don't know how to monitor it or enforce existing laws. In Edmonton 'escorts' are licensed by the City and some have even been given courses which include how to pay their taxes. However because the licensing fees are high most don't bother and are therefore breaching local bylaws.
In short the system needs to recognize that prostitution can be legal and come up with an enforceable system, rather than just trying to brush it under the carpet.

Graeme
said
0 0

Another reason they should just legalize safe, regulated, adult prostitution. Whenever you make something illegal, you make it dangerous and dirty. It's going to happen one way or another, but at least if it's legal as it is in one Nevada county, you can regulate it and keep the girls much safer. There would be little purpose to this underground market if a legal one existed.

They're just emulating the models on soap operas.
said
0 0

Degeneracy is the in thing.

Stop being so prudish, you old fuddy duddies.

You don't want the kids to have fun after school . . . while waiting for mommy and daddy to stop cheating on each other.

Ruth
said
0 0

Well, if the perverts didnt know where to look before, they do now!

Patti
said
0 0

Any parent who allows unsupervised internet use by their kids is not looking out for them. Parents could stop a lot of this crap if they just tuned into their kids lives. Parents have to be more aware and learn how to check what their children are doing online and offline. Do not allow your teen to have a computer in their room where they can close the door and have private conversations. Check where your children are at various times during the day. Be suspicious of new friends until they can prove they are ok for your child to hang around. Spot check to make sure your child is where they say they are. Parents have to be more vigilant! I'd rather have my teen daughter mad at me for phoning to make sure she is where she is, then her possibly being hurt. Being a mom of teens I am appalled at some other parents who have no idea what their kids are up to! Many times I have made kids call home to say they are staying at our house and the parents don't even care. One didn't even know her son was out of the house! Come on parents, wake up and look after your kids.

MW in Thunder Bay
said
0 0

I'm not sure that there is a fool proof way for Craigslist to check the ages of posters. And even if Craigslist could prevent such ads, there are other sites like backpage.com who are essentially the same thing as Craigslist.

I think a solution here would be to take a book out of the page of European countries. Legalize prostitution and tax it, as it is done in Holland and Germany. That way only willing adults will get licenses to work in the sex industry.

Of course, that still will not prevent criminals from forcing under age kids into the black market sex trade. However, it may lessen the demand for sex-brokerage sites like Craigslist because Johns would have a way to legally buy a prostitute's services elsewhere.

MRC in Ontario
said
0 0

It is moments like these where one begins to think that the Internet should be policed...

Jason
said
0 0

Sure, in a perfect world the parents could solve this problem, but the reality is that some kids don't have good parents, and blaming them isn't doing much to solve the problem. As a member of society I'd like to contribute my share (at least) to government programs for prevention, rescue, and rehabilitation of underage sex workers, and aggressive prosecution of all human traffickers. There is an MSNBC documentary on human trafficking in the USA that will really opens eyes and still keeps me up at night. This problem is far more terrifying than people think.

From The East
said
0 0

Let's see. It's illegal to openly solicit, or sell sex, why is it so hard to make it illegal for Craig's List advertise the solicitation of sex on their site. Simple, hold the venue responsible for policing itself.

Parents, do your job. That's YOUR job.
said
0 0

The village is not your babysitter.

NIAGARA
said
0 0

World's oldest profession. You're not going to stop this. I for one enjoy the fact that the internet is still Wild West. There is no reason to demonize the internet... This stuff happens on Vancouver's streets SOOOO much... I think we should stop worrying about the internet and start finding out which human-trafficking ring is dumping severed human limbs into the Canadian pacific.

Sophia in Vancouver
said
0 0

This is profoundly disturbing. Kris ... being victimized (and eventually traumatized) is not an issue of SES. These are kids and kids up to the age of 18 years of age. They deserve to be protected by their communities. Part of it is parents not knowing the activities or technology of their children, their dependents. Part of it is education about the dangers of these social networking sites and the dangers of sexual exploitation. Part of it is communities realizing that these are OUR children and they are being victimized everyday ... we as adults have to become part of the solution of protecting our children.

Matt
said
0 0

The problem isn't craigslist.

It's that these girls are selling sex for money, and someone is buying.

Craigslist, text messages or whatever are just the tool that can be attacked in a convenient way.
There is a reason we don't blame streecorners for prostitution.

Christian, NL
said
0 0

Craiglist should be shut down. Just think, how long has this been going on now and it is just now we are finding out about this? If the site owners allowed this to be on the website in the first place,it shows they were not againist it, and of course they only said, "Well, how are we to know the age?"

Close the bloody site and let's step up againist perverts who are out to get young girls and guys.

Sorry to everyone named John
said
0 0

The solution, that is not new of course, is a one year jail sentence for the "John"
If their advertising on the internet, one would think it would be easier to catch them than the classic TV show sting!

laureen
said
0 0

Our immoral society now pays the price

Renee
said
0 0

This crap on craigslist has got to stop. Parents have got to be more vigilent in talking to their children. Kids often think their parents have no idea what faces them but we do and we know that it's more easily available thanks to so many advancements in technology. Parents should teach their kids to avoid certain sites and to put up privacy protections on facebook. I'm sure somebody out there will react and think that this is too harsh and that kids and teens need to be able to experience the real world but would you leave a red hot burner on the stove and simply tell your 3 year old not to touch it? No, you would turn it off to protect them. There are other dangers out there that are just as bad as the physical ones.

Dawna
said
0 0

The internet as it currently exists will continue to create opportunities for people seeking to exploit others.

It's up to parents to understand the risks posed by allowing their young children access to social networking sites, and to monitor internet use. Young girls don't understand the dangers and its up to the their parents and guardians to protect them.

If we leave internet safety up to the internet itself, then our kids are going to pay the consequences. Parents have to take responsibility here.

Kris
said
0 0

If some are working along and not for a pimp, then they're outlaws, not victims. This is particularly obvious if they are well-off.

Dan in Quebec
said
0 0

Craigslist should be closely self-regulated like ebay to avoid this sort of thing from happening.

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