Predators Seduce Girls into Deceptive Romantic Entanglements
Blinded by affection: The Loverboy tactic thrives on this sensation. Girls tend to believe in deep emotions. However, their presumed lover is only after their money.
These men manipulate the feelings of young women shamelessly, pretending love and making them submissive. It can lead to prostitution. They find their targets online and often near schools. The topic is seldom known to the public; this is partly because the victims are reluctant to speak up in front of teachers or peers.
Certain young men purposely seek out vulnerable young women during challenging phases in their lives, such as family problems or school troubles. They isolate the girls from their social circle, leaving them emotionally dependent. In the end, the supposed lover turns out to be a pimp, organizing encounters with clients.
The Loverboy approach isn't classified as a separate criminal offense in police statistics. It falls under human trafficking and exploitation. In 2022, there were 171 cases in Germany involving underage victims, with 156 of those due to commercial sexual exploitation. Of the victims identified, 152 were between 14 and 17 years old, and 24 were under 14. The ages of nine victims remained unknown.
The SPD in the Baden-Württemberg state parliament calls for increased mandatory awareness-raising at schools to protect victims. The topic should be integrated into educational plans, allowing teachers to address it without fear of sensitivity. There's a demand for potential contact persons among school social workers to be sensitized as well.
Signs of vulnerability
The women's rights organization Terre des Femmes advocates for increased awareness-raising at schools as well. Department head Themes and Projects, Gesa Birkmann, notes that understanding the Loverboy tactic's strategy is crucial for recognizing signs of dependency in girls. However, the interest in this topic remains low among teachers. A webinar on this subject was requested from only a few schools this year. "This is not what we had hoped for."
The Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Culture suggests that the sexual exploitation of minors is not included in the educational plans, but provides contacts in subjects such as Ethics and Community or the mandatory basic course Media Education for all fifth-graders.
Clues through possessions
Expensive clothing and jewelry can serve as indicators of the Loverboy method. If a girl suddenly starts dressing luxuriously or wearing expensive accessories, it may be a sign of exploitation. Discussing this with the girl and offering help and support is essential. The same applies if she starts spending a lot of time with an older man or if she becomes secretive about her contacts with him. Changes in behavior, such as a loss of interest in school or a decline in grades, should also be monitored. If Loverboy exploitation is suspected, it should be reported to the school social worker or child protection authority.
The SPD calls for the Loverboy method to be recognized as a statistical assessment parameter. Birkmann also stresses the importance of data for understanding the perpetrators' long-planned strategy and taking preventative measures. " alert signs should ring for classmates and teachers when girls withdraw, no longer meet with friends, or suddenly start wearing expensive new clothing or jewelry."
In Baden-Württemberg, there's no standardized statewide prevention program for the Loverboy method. The ministry refers to cooperation with the police, whose youth social workers and prevention officers address the topic at information events for teachers, students, and parents. In North Rhine-Westphalia, a different approach is being taken: Since March 2022, schools have been required to create protective concepts against violence and sexual abuse. The Loverboy approach is part of this.
Internet approach
In cybergrooming, or attracting the later victim through the internet, young men connect with girls in the virtual world. One in four victims of human trafficking has their first contact on the internet, often through classified ads, dating apps, social media, or games with chat functions. Terre de Femmes observes a growing trend towards Instagram. In North Rhine-Westphalia, they're addressing youth with a new prevention concept at the end of the year through apps, QR codes, social media, and video clips.
After a solid relationship foundation, there's an encounter. These so-called Loverboys pretend to deeply love, offering a fantastic joint future. They shower girls with praises, fancy vehicles, and presents. As Josephine Paul, Minister for Children and Youth of North Rhine-Westphalia's Greens, states, Loverboys exploit girls' strong desire for affection, understanding, and companionship in a deceitful manner.
The Loverboy manipulates his target, cutting them off from their social circle and becoming their mainly significant connection. "Then comes the grand act," reveals Birkmann. The girl is told that her supposed friendly associate is experiencing financial difficulties, and only she can help him out. A tight deadline is given for this contribution towards their shared future. The love-trap snaps shut: The girl thinks she only needs to aid him for a short while. From the guys' money, the young woman sees nothing and funds the Loverboy's indulgent lifestyle further. The girl becomes entangled in his fate and frequently falls victim to violence, threats, and drug usage in compulsory prostitution.
A Düsseldorf Loverboy was sentenced to six years and nine months in prison for human trafficking and coercion. He had maneuvered several girls into prostitution, often utilizing the internet. The victims were between 16 and 21 years old. The court also fined him 10,000 euros. The victims were compensated.
This case is not uncommon. A judge claims that a young woman was promised a future with a 28-year-old guy and then coerced into prostitution. He was given an 18-month probation period in Frankfurt in 2022 for bodily harm, pimping, and human trafficking. At the time of the trial, the 21-year-old woman was answering to her prostitution to secure a future with the man in Frankfurt Bahnhofsviertel. When she discovered he was already in a relationship with another woman and had a child with her, she managed to break free with the help of a women's rights organization.
In the same year, a hip-hop artist was given a more severe sentence: The Landgericht Düsseldorf sentenced him to five years and ten months in prison for attempted aggravated coercion into prostitution, pimping, and bodily harm. Unlike adult prostitution, which predominantly affects 80% of foreign women, the victims of "Loverboys" are, according to the BKA, over 70% German citizens. The perpetrators, as reported, are typically 20 to 30 years old and originate from crime circles.
The total number of victims is astronomically high, according to Birkmann. The girls take the blame for their situation upon themselves and/or are prevented from escaping and reporting their pimps due to violence. They fear emotional pressure from the Loverboys and public shaming if they try to step back into normality. The expert: "The girls require therapy following their traumatic experiences; their self-confidence is completely shattered." Nationwide points of contact include helplines for "Violence against Women," the "Help Line for Sexual Abuse," or the "Number against Sadness."
Read also:
- Despite the growing concern about sexual exploitation and prostitution among girls, the issue remains largely unaddressed in schools, with many teachers being unaware of the tactics used by predators such as the Loverboy method.
- The Loverboy approach is not only a problem in Germany; it's an international concern, with women's rights organizations advocating for increased awareness-raising in schools around the world to help identify and protect vulnerable girls from this form of coercion and sexual abuse.
- The repercussions of sexual exploitation and prostitution can have long-lasting effects on young women, often leading to emotional and psychological trauma, child protection interventions, and the need for therapeutic support, making it crucial for schools to educate students on this issue and provide resources for those in need.
