Signs of human trafficking can be subtle survivors

Highways can be lonely places

Timea Nagy is an advocate, writer, human trafficking survivor and CEO of personal care products shop Timea’s Market. Timea’s Market products are now available for purchase at dedicated kiosks located within OnRoutes a across Ontario as part of the “OnRoute to Freedom” program.

Nagy  plays a central role in the Human Trafficking awareness campaign. “The signs of human trafficking are often subtle,” she said at the April 23 OnRoute to Freedom event. “People often think it involves kidnapping or physical confinement, but it often begins with manipulation, coercion, or someone taking advantage of a person’s trust.”

Born and raised in Budapest, Hungary, Nagy and her brother were strapped for cash as young adults after the production company they worked for fell through. Desperate for work, Nagy responded to a newspaper ad about a work opportunity in Canada offering $1,000 per month, English not necessary. She called the number, gave them her personal information, and flew to Canada two weeks later.

When she arrived, three men picked her up, told her she owed them about $3,500 for her flight, and brought her to a strip club where they expected her to work. Through manipulation and coercion tactics, Nagy’s captors kept her from fleeing.

“It’s nothing like what you see in the movies. The number one thing people ask us: ‘why didn’t you just leave?’ I wish people would understand the psychological damage and the mind-control traffickers have over [their victims]. It’s not easy to leave.” Nagy says. “It’s kind of like an invisible chain.” 

Eventually, she learned to communicate with the English-speaking staff members at the club, and they helped free her from the traffickers. Years later, Nagy spoke to the police about her situation, and though they weren’t able to prosecute her traffickers, Nagy received Canadian citizenship. She has been a champion of human trafficking awareness for many years ever since. 

“Highways connect communities, but they can also be the loneliest place if you’re a victim of human trafficking,” says Nagy.

Michelle Furgiuela is a human trafficking survivor and product developer with Timea’s Market. She says she was 15 and living with her parents in Oakville, Ont., when traffickers lured her through Facebook. During her teenage years, Furgiuele says she struggled to fit in, and upon meeting her captors, she thought she found friends. They later blackmailed her into performing sexual acts. 

She says that the lack of awareness at the time made it harder to receive assistance than it is today, but the crime has evolved, using the increase in social media as a means of seeking vulnerable people.

In most cases, victims will say they knew their trafficker, rather than them being a stranger, according to Furgiuele.

“If somebody is travelling along a 400-series corridor and they are in trouble in the car, and they had the opportunity to stop here to use the bathroom, they might find that this is a safe place to go and ask for help,’” says Furgiuele.

In cases of suspected human trafficking Furgiuele advises reporting it to the police or the Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline. “All these notes are digital footprints that will help someone who is being exploited. The court process isn’t easy on these victims, so the more reporting you can do, not only can you help someone exit exploitation, you can also make the court process a lot easier for them by providing information,” she says.

Ashley Franssen-Tingley  director of stakeholder relations for the Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking says that frequent movement allows captors to keep their victims unaware and unsure about where to get help. The ONroute to Freedom project allows information to be widespread around Ontario corridors, offering resources to victims that can save them.

“Anytime we see a public awareness campaign like this where we’re getting information about trafficking, indicators and the Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline number out in the public, I think it’s another way that victims and survivors are able to see that and hopefully exit their situation sooner,” says Frenssen-Tingley.

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More information about human trafficking around highways and the ONroute to Freedom campaign is available on the Timea’s Market website.

The 24/7 multilingual Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline can be reached at 1-833-900-1010.

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