News

Actions

Modeling ad serves as PSA for human trafficking

Posted at 10:03 PM, Jun 15, 2016
and last updated 2016-06-16 06:47:10-04

What looks like an advertising calling for models is actually a public service announcement for human trafficking.

You click the link on the ad, and it asks to use your Facebook photo, then shows you a video with your own Facebook pictures on missing persons photos, Facebook posts from friends and family pleading for help, and news stories.

The Florida Coalition for Human Trafficking put together the video hoping to show women how easy it is to fall prey to traffickers.

It's based on actual human trafficking cases here in Florida.

"That is scary," Jennie Hunter said.

"I've got goosebumps," Yolanda Therrien said after watching the video.

The Outreach Coordinator of the Florida Coalition Against Human Trafficking said that's the point of the ad.  "I think once they see this and they see their own face in the 'news report,' I think that's going to bring it really close to home and make them pay a little bit more attention," Giselle Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez said the video is based off real cases in Florida.

Lt. Brad Hamilton with the Lee County Sheriff's Office attests to that. He told Four in Your Corner's Lisa Greenberg about a girl who answered a modeling advertisement in Miami.  "He says 'Yeah, come on down. We're going to go to a party, get you some exposure, so dress to the nines, make yourself look sexy," Lt. Hamilton said.

It was never about the girl becoming a model. It was about making money off of her. "Put something in her drink and boom, she's out. She doesn't really have any real knowledge of what happened for the next 24 hours, except when she woke up and her body was trashed. It didn't take long to figure out what happened," Lt. Hamilton said.

The Florida Coalition Against Human Trafficking hopes the video will make you think twice about answering any ads like that.

The PSA was donated to the Coalition by a company called MARCA Hispanic and took two years to make.

To see the PSA, click here.