Event Safety - The Lantern

Every year, major sporting events draw huge crowds and with them, hidden dangers.

Predators use the excitement, anonymity, and chaos of large events to recruit vulnerable youth and exploit victims brought in from other places. What looks like a celebration for many can become a nightmare for those targeted. By knowing the signs and speaking up, you can help protect young girls and boys from being abused or exploited.

Potential Issues at Large Sporting Events

Increased demand for commercial sex during and around the event
Traffickers bringing victims into the cityspecifically to exploit the large crowds
Recruitment of minorsby predators posing as friends, mentors, or romantic partners
Exploitation of runaways or vulnerable youth who may be drawn to the excitement of the event
Online exploitation tied to event hashtags, dating apps, and social media platforms
Hotel/motel exploitation where victims are taken to nearby rooms for commercial sex
Transportation hubs targeted (airports, bus stations, rideshare apps) for moving victims
Alcohol and drug use increasing vulnerability to exploitation
Overcrowded environments making it easier for traffickers to control, isolate, or move victims unnoticed

If you are ever offered a job by someone at a sporting event PLEASE do thorough research before communicating with anyone!

Potential Indicators / Red Flags

Minors with much older “companions” who control their movement, speak for them, or hold their documents/money
Individuals who appear fearful, submissive, anxious, or rehearsed in what they say
Someone who cannot move freely or avoids eye contact while another person speaks for them
Signs of branding or tattoos (crowns, barcodes, names) indicating ownership
Unaccompanied minors hanging around stadiums, hotels, malls, or transport hubs without a clear plan
People wearing inappropriate clothing for the weather or overly sexualized attire in a setting where it stands out
Groups of youth with little personal belongings or who don’t know details about where they are
Frequent presence of the same vehicle at hotels, parking lots, or pickup points
Hotel staff noticing frequent male visitors to the same room
Excessive use of multiple phones by one individual (often traffickers or victims under watch)
Someone coached on what to say when approached, or looking to someone else for permission before answering
Individuals showing signs of physical abuse, neglect, or exhaustion