A Safe Place spreads awareness about Human Trafficking Prevention Month

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, but one organization in the Cape Fear is devoted to spreading awareness year-round. 

Dawn Ferrer is the executive director of A Safe Place. She said there are a lot of misconceptions about human trafficking, the most common being that victims are targeted randomly. According to Ferrer, the majority of victims know their trafficker, are often involved with substance abuse, and are extorted into being trafficked. 

Additionally, she said are a number of signs you can look for if you think someone could be at risk. 

“Some main things to look at is if someone is with a controlling person,” Ferrer said. “If that person is controlling the conversation, might be controlling their documents, their license, their money, things like that.” 

Ferrer said that although human trafficking victims are sometimes afraid to seek help, planting “seeds” like directing them to local resources are the first step in getting them the help they need. 

If you or someone you know are at risk of being trafficked, local and national resources are available. You can contact A Safe Place’s hotline at 855-723-7529 or the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888.