Signs of illicit massage parlors, and what you can do - The Boston Globe

[massage]

■ Primarily male clientele

■ Discreet back- or side-door entrance, or a locked front door thatthrough which a customer must be buzzed in

■ Security cameras positioned at entrance

■ Windows covered with blinds, signs, or curtains

■ Signs of women living in the establishment

■ No signs of employees leaving

■ Steady flow of clients at all hours of day and night

■ The spas show up on websites where men review masseuses and establishments for sex acts

■ Reviews on websites such as www.rubmaps.com, where men review masseuses and establishments for sex acts performed at spas.

What to do


■ If you see an actual emergency, call 911

■ Otherwise, report suspicions to police or contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline (888-373-7888)

■ Learn what other concerned groups, such as Citizen Mead, are doing and help with their research.

What not to do


■ Don’t investigate a suspicious massage parlor on your own. Intervening can be dangerous, since the business owner may have connections to an organized crime network and you may be threatening his livelihood.

■ Don’t try to talk a worker into leaving. Intervening can be dangerous for workers, too. Women who work at illicit massage businesses are often monitored on camera and her boss may suspect she reached out for help. Victims may be threatened with violence to themselves or family members if they speak out.

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