Monitor Photo/Denise York
Tiffany Smith shares her experience in human trafficking with chamber members at the Gun Barrel City Chapter of the Cedar Creek Lake Area Chamber of Commerce breakfast June 15 at Chicken Express.

GUN BARREL CITY–The Gun Barrel City Chapter of the Cedar Creek Lake Chamber of Commerce heard from Tiffany Smith, a survivor of human trafficking. Smith uses her personal experience to educate the public, especially parents and teens. She also helps other survivors find hope and healing.
Smith was only 18 when she was sold in Miami, Fla., but her journey began in her hometown of Eustace. Like many others, Smith says, she was recruited by a female “friend” who told her she could have a glamorous life as an “escort” and painted a picture of days at the spa, modeling and photo shoots.
Smith shared sobering 2022 statistics on the $99 billion business yearly. The top three states for trafficking are California, Texas and Florida with Dallas/Fort Worth being a major hub. In 2022, there was a 125% increase in recruiting reported on Facebook, 95% increase in Instagram. The top three social media applications used by traffickers are Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, Smith told the group. And children as young as 12 years old are recruited from these sites. “One of the other recruiting means are video games, online gaming. A player starts chatting with who they think is another kid their age, sharing information with a virtual stranger,” Smith said.
She told the group traffickers prey on kids who are vulnerable, may not have the best family life or are financially challenged. They tell kids, “I’ll take care of you or I’ll protect you,” and they do anything but. 
When asked what parents can do, Smith answered, “Be open, be someone they can talk to about anything. As far as social media, make everything private. Lock down their information from the public.” Smith said offers often come through messenger or messages on games. “Know who is messaging them. Teach them not to give out any personal infor-
mation,” she added.
When asked why when she figured out what was going on, she didn’t leave. “Fear. They take everything from you, your phone, your clothes. They control everything, every aspect of your life. You are watched. They threaten your life and the life of those you love, those you left behind,” she said. Smith had a child as a teenager that was left with her parents, and she said her captor told her she would never see her child again. Many times, drugs are also involved keeping victims compliant and making them feel as if they can’t go home because nobody would want them.
Smith credits God with providing her means of escape. “I told my pimp I was tired, that I couldn’t do this anymore. I wanted to go home. And to this day, I don’t know why he let me go,” she said. She said she feared for a long time that he would come after her. That was 14 years ago.
Smith is now a mother and an advocate for survivors. She is currently working with a woman who was “sold” when she was only six years old. Smith says resources for survivors are available but overtaxed. He dream is to create an organization in the community for survivors, for help and healing. Smith is available to speak to organizations, groups and schools. She can be reached at tiffany.smith822@yahoo.com. See also The Monitor Jan. 22 issue “Raising awareness for human trafficking.”