The ‘lover boy’ technique is widely used by criminals to recruit victims facing economic and social hardship into forced prostitution. The suspects prey on their victims’ vulnerabilities, enticing them with expensive gifts or promises of a better life. The scam starts with the perpetrators approaching potential victims under the false pretence of wanting to build a relationship with them. Eventually, perpetrators convince victims to move away from or cut ties with their family. Once isolated, the victims are forced into prostitution to earn money for their handler. They are often kept in this situation through a combination of affection, violence, and threats against them and their families.
Operation MOTLEY was a crackdown on criminals using the lover boy scam to traffic victims from Bulgaria to the United Kingdom for the purpose of sexual exploitation.
How does the scam work?
Perpetrators use a variety of techniques to identify and isolate their victims. Victims are generally approached under false pretences. The perpetrator also follows up on the initial contact, overwhelming the victim with compliments, gifts or grandiose declarations of love or affection.
Online targeting
In some situations, the lover boy scam starts on the internet and social media sites. Perpetrators look up personal information about potential victims on their social media accounts. This includes their level of education, family ties, indications of economic status and network of friends.
Personal targeting
In other situations, the perpetrator approaches potential victims in nightclubs or via their own social network. They then begin to use grooming techniques, such as showing empathy, gaining trust, providing advice or showering them with gifts or affection.
Anyone can become a victim of this scam, but it typically targets women in economically, socially or psychologically vulnerable situations. Victims are often people in a particularly fragile period of their lives or who are easily persuaded by facilitators.
Warning signs
From the victims’ perspective, perpetrators are initially caring, kind and charming. They seem to offer the victim authentic love and compassion. This allows them to earn the victims’ trust. The warning signs start when the perpetrator demands the victim to engage in prostitution, either temporarily or exceptionally. The perpetrator promises that the victim’s earnings will be used for joint future plans or ventures.
How can you protect yourself or someone you know?
If you or someone you know is in a relationship where the partner begins to show controlling or exploitative behaviour, confide in trusted friends or family members for help. Additional warning signs:
- The perpetrator starts to question the victim’s confidence or independence;
- The perpetrator isolates the victim from friends or family;
- The perpetrator begins to act aggressively or violently towards the victim;
- The perpetrator forces the victim to perform activities he/she does not consent to.
Victim who are being forced to perform non-consensual acts or are being subjected to abusive behaviour should contact the national police or national THB hotline.
Tags
- How-to guide
- Public awareness and prevention