We are raising a generation of children in a world more connected and complex than before in an ever-evolving digital maze. From toddlers swiping tablets, tweens in group chats, and teens navigating TikTok trends, our kids are growing up in the new wild west. This digital frontier—rooted in smartphones, social…
In a quiet town in Central Thailand, a young boy was suffering in silence. He was just 15 years old — a student, a son, a child whose life should have been filled with friends, school, and the promise of the future. Instead, someone he trusted used their position of…
It wasn’t long after a fourteen-year-old Peruvian girl didn’t return home from the market that her family’s fears were confirmed: she had been kidnapped and trafficked. The Peruvian National Police began an investigation and identified her trafficker as a Peruvian national with a history of sexually abusing children. The abuser…
Authorities Dismantle Trafficking Operation in Eastern Europe, Rescue Two Survivors In Romania, a 57-year-old man allegedly spent five years trafficking two women in Eastern Europe and forcing them into being sexually exploited for his profit. According to Romanian authorities, in 2020 he began targeting women who came from at-risk situations,…
During a string of recent successful operations in Ecuador to arrest perpetrators of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), one of the most important partners was on scene to help secure justice. Along with provincial and national police, the State Attorney General and even U.S. Homeland Security Investigations, specially trained Our…
At Our Rescue, we know that the right tools can make all the difference in stopping child predators. That’s why we provide essential technology and training to law enforcement agencies around the world—including here in the U.S. In Carteret County, North Carolina, equipment donated by Our Rescue recently played a…
ESD K9 Heroes Help Bring Justice in Iowa Child Exploitation Case For over 20 years, a man named Carl Markley used fraud and coercion to get dozens of teens, mostly boys, to engage in sex acts. As a nurse practitioner and business owner in Ames, Iowa, Markley used his position…
In the early morning of April 17, 2024, Our Rescue Ghana joined Ghanaian authorities in one of the largest anti-trafficking and cybercrime operations in the nation’s history. Over 200 survivors—mostly young men and boys—were rescued from 22 locations across an 80-unit housing estate, many of whom had been lured from…
In March, Bulgarian law enforcement delivered a powerful blow to online child exploitationthrough a Europol-supported global crackdown on a major child sexual abuse material(CSAM) platform, Kidflix. With nearly two million users, Kidflix has become one of thelargest known platforms for CSAM. The General Directorate Combating Organized Crime’s (GDCOC) Cybercrime Directorateplayed…
A National Police Week Message from Our Rescue CEO Derek Benner All of us who are serving or have served in law enforcement have peered into some of the darkest corners of humanity—investigating human trafficking, child exploitation, gang violence, cartel crimes, narcotics smuggling, illicit financial schemes, and fraud and scams. …
Nearly ten years after a Thai man filmed child sexual abuse material (CSAM) involving a nine-year-old boy, he was still distributing the video online. CSAM has no expiration date—and neither did his crimes. Previously arrested, jailed, and then released after distributing similar material, he continued sharing the video of the…
In March 2025, member of the Our Rescue Training & Prevention team embarked on a transformative month-long journey to Western Australia, invited by Rotary District 5300 as part of Rotary International’s Vocational Training Team (VTT) program. This initiative, backed by a Rotary Foundation grant, allows professionals from around the world…
A Q&A with two detectives on the frontlines of this growing crime ARLINGTON, Texas — The crime of online sextortion is surging across the nation, increasingly targeting teenage boys and in some tragic cases, the young victims have taken their own lives after being blackmailed with compromising…
For a 26-year-old man from Middletown, New York, TikTok wasn’t an entertainment site. It was a hunting ground and a place to meet girls under the age of 18. Even though he knew the explicit texts and FaceTime calls he instigated with a 15-year-old were illegal, that didn’t stop him…
Allow me to introduce myself. I am the SVP of Marketing at Our Rescue. It is my job to help share stories of the vital work Our Rescue is doing, alongside our partners. I recently read an article that kept me awake long after I shut…
**In this story, the survivor’s name has been changed to protect her identity. Two years ago, Our Rescue worked alongside authorities to help dismantle an international trafficking ring preying on vulnerable women from Latin America and Africa. The traffickers lured them to Greece with false promises…
**In this story, the survivor’s name has been changed to protect her identity. Tsehay thought the opportunity to go to Lebanon and become a domestic worker would be a good way to provide for herself and her family. Instead, Tsehay suffered traumatic abuse at the hands of her employers,…
The Dark Market Economics of Human Trafficking Beyond the Human Cost A $172.6 billion industry thrives in the shadows of our global economy, profiting from human suffering (International Labour Organization [ILO], Global Estimates Report, 2023). Human trafficking generates profits that rival some of the world’s largest…
A man in Latin America was wanted on charges of rape of minors and the production of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) since 2014. The suspected pedophile worked as a children’s music teacher, taking advantage of his trusted position with students to sexually exploit them. Despite his crimes and the…
Daily Wire Reporter Amanda Prestigiacomo Highlights Our Rescue CEO Tammy Lee in Coverage of Sextortion Crisis A devastating trend is quietly claiming the lives of young boys across the United States: online sextortion. A recent Daily Wire article and Morning Wire podcast…
Understanding CSAM: Definition and Terminology Child sexual abuse material (CSAM), commonly known as child pornography, refers to any form of media that depicts the sexual exploitation or sexual abuse of children. This can include images, videos, or even live streams that show minors being sexually abused or exploited. The term…
A 34-year-old Wyoming man faces 548 years in prison if he’s convicted of all the charges for the manufacturing, possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) following his arrest. The Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children,…
ARLINGTON, Texas — Sex crimes against children are surging online, creating a backlog of digital evidence piling up faster than police officers across the US can sort through. Cyber tips for child sexual abuse material (CSAM) cases have tripled nationwide since 2020. This leaves police departments facing a logjam of…
70 survivors identified and 7 suspects arrested in collaborative operation The Peruvian town of Llacuabamba, nestled in the rugged Andean mountains, is far from any typical tourist route. Located a grueling 15-hour drive from the coastal city of Trujillo, it is separated by miles of barren terrain and challenging mountain…
An informant for the Thailand Internet Crime Against Children (TICAC) program thought the group on the chat app seemed suspicious. His instincts were correct. For 150 Thai Baht, equivalent to $4.45, anyone could purchase a lifetime membership to the group and get access to a trove of Child Sexual Abuse…
In January 2024, a desperate father pleaded with authorities in Peru to help him find and rescue his 17-year-old daughter, who had been kidnapped by a Venezuelan Transnational Criminal Organization (TCO) and trafficked to a southern Peruvian coastal town for sexual exploitation. To help with this lifesaving mission, the Peruvian…
Thirteen women from Latin America and Eastern Europe arrived in Greece with dreams of a better future. They believed they had secured stable jobs, only to have their passports ripped from their hands and their identities stripped away. Trapped in a nightmare, their captors forced them into sex work under…
We are excited to announce the graduation of eight new Electronic Storage Detection (ESD) K9s from the Jordan Detection K9 training program! These incredible dogs completed their training on Friday, March 14, and are being placed in police departments across the country and Canada to help fight child exploitation. Our…
Lives on the Line: The Urgent Need for More Survivor Shelter Near Nepal and India Border Charimaya Tamang was just 16-years-old when her life and dreams were violently disrupted, as traffickers forced her across the border from Nepal to India. For nearly two years, she endured unimaginable abuse, suffering, and…
Earlier this month, a family in Thailand made a devastating discovery — a teacher was sexually abusing their nine-year-old son. The child revealed the teacher was coercing him into performing explicit acts, which the teacher filmed and uploaded online. His parents immediately reported the crime to the Cyber Crime Investigation…
International Women’s Day is a global movement fueled by collective action, celebrating women’s achievements since its start in 1911, while confronting the work still needed to achieve true gender equality. At Our Rescue, we are proud to be a women-led organization empowering female leaders. This day is…
On February 19, a coordinated effort between Our Rescue and Thailand’s Internet Crimes Against Children (TICAC) Task Force led to the successful rescue of a six-year-old girl and the arrest of the family member who was abusing her. The Thailand Internet Crimes Against Children (TICAC) Task Force, supported by the…
One year ago, I took on the opportunity of a lifetime as Our Rescue’s new CEO. I accepted this pivotal role with one goal: to transform the organization as a leading partner in the mission to end sex trafficking and child exploitation. I said ‘yes’ because I saw so much…
In February, Our Rescue’s Training & Prevention, Survivor Care, and Rescue Operations teams traveled to Malta—a beautiful island country on the Mediterranean Sea–with a shared mission: empower those on the front lines of justice. Malta is on the Tier 2 Watchlist of the U.S. Department of State’s Trafficking in Persons…
For over six years, Our Rescue has partnered with Shakti Samuha, a pioneering survivor-led organization established in 1996. Shakti Samuha is dedicated to providing comprehensive support for survivors of human trafficking, including shelter, education, vocational training, and legal aid. In addition, the organization works closely with law enforcement to combat…
A “Survivor-Centered Prosecutor” Helps Transform Justice System as Champion for Sex-Trafficking Survivors Assistant Criminal District Attorney Lindy Borchardt, of Tarrant County, Texas, sets the gold standard for what we champion at Our Rescue: to be the light in the darkness in the fight against human trafficking. Lindy, who serves on…
Learn how survivor-centered approaches are transforming justice systems, with groundbreaking results in Tarrant County, Texas. As the conversation around human trafficking gains urgency in the public eye, a transformative shift puts survivor care at the center of the process, from the first intervention on the streets all the way to…
In a significant step against sex trafficking, Greek authorities, with support from Our Rescue and nonprofit A21, dismantled a criminal trafficking organization in December of 2024. The Directorate for Combating Organized Crime led the investigation, uncovering a network that had been operating since 2019. The traffickers targeted vulnerable women abroad,…
Over the past day, disturbing markings such as “HELP” found on Google Maps in LA went viral, sparking fears of human trafficking in the area. While the Los Angeles Police Department has confirmed there is no legitimate threat, and the images are over a year old, the incident highlights a…
Jesse Blaine, 42, of Harlan, Iowa, has been sentenced to seven years in federal prison after Our Rescue-sponsored Electronic Storage Detection (ESD) K9 Cruzer and his handler helped search his home, finding hidden electronic devices containing child sexual abuse material. The investigation began with a CyberTip from the National Center…
Human trafficking is happening everywhere, including in all 50 U.S. states, and short-term rental properties are not immune. Our Rescue CEO Tammy Lee joined the “Short Term Rental Secrets” podcast to discuss how this pervasive issue can infiltrate communities in unexpected ways. Short-term rentals are typically homes and apartments rented through…
National Human Trafficking Awareness Day, observed on January 11, is a call to join our collective movement to protect vulnerable individuals from human trafficking around the globe. As an organization, we partnered with communities across the U.S. and asked them to take a stand and Join the Fight™ against sex trafficking…
In November of 2024, Our Rescue proudly collaborated with the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit of the Ghana Police Service to support a crucial rescue operation. The Anti-Human Trafficking Unit initiated the operation, following an investigation that found children had been trafficked from Nigeria into Ghana and then forced into illicit cyber…
January 11 is a call to action: join our fight to eradicate sex trafficking and child exploitation here and everywhere. To mark National Human Trafficking Awareness Day in the United States, we are shining a light on the global disgrace of human trafficking and inviting you to join as a…
There is a lot of confusion about the realities of human trafficking and sex trafficking. Many people have unrealistic ideas about sex trafficking based on sensationalized movies, the media, or assumptions. Dispelling myths helps to raise awareness about the true nature of sex trafficking. If you want to help people…
Several factors make children and adolescents more susceptible to sex trafficking. Most traffickers know their victims, either through family, friends, or online connections. Traffickers often present themselves as a love interest or trusted mentor/parental figure—gaining the victim’s adoration, affection, and trust, before eventually exposing them to sex trafficking. Having…
There are many signs of sex trafficking. While not every warning sign means someone is being trafficked, each additional warning sign leads to a greater possibility that human trafficking is taking place. Remember, traffickers can be of any age or gender; they can be a relative, romantic partner, neighbor, acquaintance,…
In today’s world, most teens and children are always looking at a screen—particularly online apps, games, or video-sharing platforms. But just because an app or platform is marketed to kids, it doesn’t mean it’s safe. Parents and guardians need to research apps, looking at factors such as: Data collection: Companies…
Alejandro is a 12-year-old boy in Latin America who was born with a severe disability and epilepsy, facing unimaginable challenges from the start. His condition from birth left him with limited mobility, and his early years were marked by both physical and emotional abuse. Devastatingly, Alejandro was also trafficked, which…
Sex trafficking is a worldwide crime against women and children. Predators often form sophisticated networks to transport unsuspecting victims across international borders and then trap them in a life of sexual servitude. Stopping these sex traffickers requires a coalition of organizations from different countries working together. That’s where Our Rescue…
As 2024 draws to a close, Our Rescue is deeply grateful for your contribution in the fight to end sex trafficking and child exploitation. Every milestone reflects the dedication of our team, partners, donors, and supporters worldwide. Together, we’ve made strides to protect the vulnerable, support survivors, and bring justice…
We are excited to announce that five new K9s have completed their specialized Electronic Storage Detection (ESD) training this month. These incredible dogs graduated from the program on November 15, bringing the total number of Our Rescue sponsored ESD K9s worldwide to 110. This milestone was made possible through the…
A Southeast Asian woman is believed to have sexually exploited her 17-year-old transgender niece for nearly a month, using her karaoke bar and massage parlor businesses as fronts to carry out the exploitation. The Thailand Royal Police’s Anti-Trafficking in Person’s Sub-Division 5 (ATPD) found out about the alleged exploitation first.
Hello all, We recently announced some exciting news: Our Rescue headquarters is moving to Minnesota. The Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul are recognized for supporting a vibrant nonprofit sector, backed by a very generous philanthropic community. Minnesota also has a strong existing ecosystem of nonprofits who share our…
Today, we proudly honor the extraordinary courage and sacrifice of our nation’s veterans. Their unwavering commitment to protect and serve inspires us every day, and we are especially grateful for the veterans who are part of our team at OUR Rescue. We’re privileged to have individuals like Lance Lueck, Director…
Child trafficking is a complex and deeply concerning issue that affects millions of children worldwide. The International Labour Organization (ILO) says trafficking is among “forms of slavery or practices similar to slavery.” Trafficking happens when someone forces a child to do involuntary labor—such as sex exploitation or servitude—and someone else…
Most people can’t imagine trafficking their family members. Familial trafficking happens when a family member forces another family member to do involuntary labor—such as sex exploitation or servitude—and someone else in the family controls the proceeds. There’s a heightened risk of familial trafficking for children, teens, people with disabilities, and…
Black, indigenous, and migrant populations are disproportionately affected by human trafficking. As a result, addressing human trafficking requires acknowledging racial disparities and addressing systemic issues that contribute to vulnerable people. Trafficking is often a story of poverty and systemic inequalities Poverty or economic vulnerability can lead people to trafficking. According…
Most of us take a safe and stable home for granted. People with housing insecurity risk of becoming victims of both sex and/or labor trafficking. The odds that an unhoused person will be trafficked are considerably higher than a person with a secure place to live. The overlap between homelessness…
Up to 40% of homeless youth identify as LGBTQ+ which can lead to increased vulnerability to traffickers. The Polaris Project found that LGBTQ+ people are at higher risk of trafficking and exploitation.1 LGBTQ+ youth have distinct challenges that lead to increased vulnerability to traffickers. An estimated…