‘Anyone can fall victim:’ Rise in human trafficking reports highlights growing awareness in Central Virginia

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Central Virginia has recently seen an increase in reports of human trafficking, according to Safe Harbor, a local organization dedicated to supporting survivors.

Alexandria Wall, Director of Human Trafficking Services at Safe Harbor, said the rise reflects both a growing number of survivors coming forward and increased referrals from police, social workers and other frontline professionals.

Director of Human Trafficking Services at Safe Harbor, Alexandria Wall--photo courtesy of: 8News Sahara Sriramen

“Traffickers know how to target victims and their insecurities. If targeted correctly, anyone can fall victim,” Wall explained.

She emphasized that many victims do not recognize their situation until it’s too late.

Additionally Wall pointed out a common misconception about human trafficking fueled by Hollywood portrayals involving dramatic kidnappings.

“When a lot of society looks at human trafficking as Hollywood depicts it — white vans and kidnappings — shining some light on how it could look differently could provide education,” she said.

In the past two months, Safe Harbor has seen a significant rise in calls and court-ordered assessments for minors, a trend Wall believes is partially due to increased education and awareness efforts.

While Safe Harbor does not directly link the spike to the ongoing Sean “Diddy” Combs trial, Wall acknowledges the case may be helping spread awareness about how trafficking can affect anyone.

“People can realize this could happen to anyone, even famous, rich, beautiful people it does not matter. We all have vulnerabilities,” Wall said. “What made it worse was the power and money involved — the role he played in society was much stronger than most victims and traffickers we work with.”

Wall explains that victims often believe they are in genuine relationships, emotionally or financially dependent on their trafficker.

“If comments are made like, ‘I’m doing this for us’ or ‘I’m helping us make money so we can have a better life,’ these fake promises and dreams are huge red flags.”

Other signs to watch for include a sudden withdrawal from interests, lack of independent decision-making or constantly deferring to a partner.

“It’s never easy just leaving,” Wall shared. “You think you’re doing it for the right reasons... It’s hard to be a victim, it’s even harder to be a survivor.”

Wall hopes that as more survivors speak out and that others will feel empowered to seek help.

If you or someone you know needs assistance, the National Human Trafficking Hotline is available 24/7 at 888-373-7888. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is also running 24/7 at 800-799-7233.