Human Trafficking. Torn pieces of paper with the words Human Trafficking. Concept Image. Black and White. Closeup.
Human Trafficking Is Closer Than Many Realize, Expert Says
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Asia Tabb
Human Trafficking. Torn pieces of paper with the words Human Trafficking. Concept Image. Black and White. Closeup.
AIRED; January 5, 2026
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Human trafficking is often misunderstood as a crime that happens somewhere else, involving kidnappings by strangers, but experts say the reality is far more complex—and far closer to home. In a recent conversation, Jamie Pizzi, a court consultant and content expert who works on human trafficking, protection from abuse orders, and domestic violence, explained that trafficking is “a serious crime that takes place all across the world,” adding that in her work she focuses largely on domestic sex trafficking. At its core, she said, trafficking involves “using force, fraud, and coercion to really manipulate persons into doing what a trafficker wants,” with profit as the ultimate goal.
One of the biggest challenges in addressing human trafficking is dismantling the myths shaped by popular culture. Pizzi noted that movies and media have long portrayed trafficking as dramatic kidnappings involving strangers, which can obscure how the crime actually operates. “A lot of popular media and movies… make for a really exciting action film but really don’t show the full picture about human trafficking,” she said. Instead, the most critical elements are often invisible: “The impetus is the manipulation—that force, fraud, and coercion—which is really hard for someone on the outside to see.” Traffickers, she explained, tailor their tactics to each victim’s specific circumstances, making exploitation deeply personal and difficult to recognize.
Vulnerability is a key factor in how traffickers identify and exploit victims. Pizzi emphasized that “anyone that has a vulnerability could potentially be trafficked,” pointing to minors who are unhoused, people with unstable immigration status, and parents whose children are used as leverage. She explained that under federal law, any minor who trades sex for something of value—“from a pair of shoes to a sandwich”—is automatically considered a trafficking victim, regardless of whether force or coercion is present. Adults, she added, may be exploited through labor trafficking schemes that involve withheld wages, confiscated documents, or threats against family members.
Contrary to common belief, traffickers often know their victims. “One of the bigger misconceptions about trafficking is that persons are kidnapped out of a Walmart parking lot,” Pizzi said, noting that while kidnappings do happen, most trafficking cases involve some form of prior relationship. Traffickers may pose as romantic partners—sometimes referred to as “Romeo traffickers”—or build trust online through social media and dating platforms. In other cases, exploitation happens within families. “Another unfortunate reality… is familial trafficking,” she said, where abuse occurs within an existing family relationship.
Leaving a trafficking situation can be extraordinarily difficult, even when help is available. Pizzi described a combination of psychological manipulation, fear, and systemic barriers that keep victims trapped. “You have kind of the relationship dynamics of a domestic violence situation where you have a person that has fondness, but they’re also afraid of them,” she said. Many survivors may not even recognize what they experienced as trafficking, particularly if it occurred before laws and language existed to define it. Others face criminal records, gaps in employment, housing instability, or fear of law enforcement—especially if immigration status is precarious. “There’s all these different facets,” Pizzi said, “and again, it’s going to be very unique to that person’s situation that can be used to hang over someone’s head.”
