How a Social Media Job Ad Led to Human Trafficking: Grace’s Brave Fight for Freedom
At 17, a TikTok job offer should have been harmless. Instead, it led Grace into trafficking.
Grace grew up in a loving family in Thailand. During a school break, she saw a job advertisement on TikTok. It sounded easy. Just reply to messages, earn quick money, no experience needed. With her family’s blessing, Grace and her best friend decided to take the job offer.
But it was a lie. The ad had been posted by a trafficking ring.
The Betrayal
When the girls showed up for their first day of work, their phones and ID cards were confiscated and then they were smuggled across the border into Cambodia.
Once in Cambodia, they were locked inside a scam compound with high fences and barbed wire. They were forced to trick strangers online into sending money.
When Grace resisted, the threats turned brutal.
In the dark, Grace prayed to go home. She missed her parents and the safety of everything she had known.
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Rescue and Recovery
Miraculously, her prayer was answered. Grace’s parents contacted Hagar’s partner in Thailand, and together with the Anti-Trafficking Police and the Thai Embassy in Cambodia, the girls were rescued and brought home safely.
But rescue was just the beginning.
Through Hagar’s Survivor Care programs, Grace received:
- Trauma-informed counseling
- Legal support
- Long-term care and support
With help from our legal team, her trafficker was prosecuted and sentenced to 12 years in prison. Grace also received financial compensation from the justice system—a small but meaningful step toward rebuilding her life.
Grace’s Healing Journey
Today, the fear that once haunted her is fading. She no longer flinches at tall buildings or passing cars. With courage and steady support, Grace is beginning to dream again.
“I’ve learned to find my worth. Thank you for helping me build a new future in my own way.”
– Grace
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