In viral ad, police see darker signs

AUSTIN -- To bloggers statewide, it looked like hilarious clickbait: A person claiming to be an oil field worker posted an advertisement on Craigslist seeking a "homeless girl" as a roommate. She could live rent-free, the ad said, in exchange for cooking, cleaning and "bedroom fun."

To investigators faced with a wave of sex trafficking, though, it looked more like a potential lead. Jason Lewis, a spokesman for the police department in Lubbock, said detectives are "aware of the post and have multiple investigations in progress."

In the end, the ad could turn out to be little more than a prank. The person who placed it anonymously through an encrypted email address did not respond to interview requests.

But as Texas law enforcement agencies grapple with organized gangs operating compulsory prostitution rings with sophisticated online operations, experts say the story of the "Homeless female wanted" ad reveals the dangers of a poorly understood criminal phenomenon. Traffickers target young women, particularly runaways, who have little recourse when false promises of romance or shelter turn to sexual servitude.

The ad "does seem like a tactic that a pimp or trafficker would use to lure young vulnerable women," said Claudia San Miguel, director of the Criminal Justice Program at Texas A&M International University in Laredo. "In fact, based on my research, homelessness is one of the key factors that makes young women prime targets for prostitution and/or trafficking."

On Nov. 11, the ad appeared in the housing section of Craigslist in Lubbock, a city on the northern end of the booming oil fields of the Permian Basin, where countless workers live in the temporary accommodations known as man camps. The advertiser attached four photographs, showing a neatly furnished living room, kitchen, bathroom and bedroom. No person appeared in the images.

"I work in the oil field (mid 20s) and have no time to date so I'm looking for a homeless girl that wants a place to stay," the ad said. Promising a comfortable bed and bubble baths, it expressed a preference for women drug-free and under 25. Making a vulgar reference to oral sex, the advertiser added, "I have a high sex drive and love to cuddle."

On Nov. 29, the ad appeared again in the same forum, with the title altered from "Homeless female apply" to "Homeless female wanted." The new version subbed in different photographs of a living room and bedroom. In the bedroom photo, the image of a man in a white shirt was visible in a mirror.

Craigslist, which maintains separate web sites for scores of cities, typically displays both local and "nearby" search results for its classified ads, so "Homeless female wanted" appeared on screens across West Texas.

Along with a similar advertising site, Backpage, Craigslist has weathered scrutiny for its role in facilitating prostitution and other crimes. Four years ago, the company shut down its adult services forum. It has fought in court to establish immunity from liability for the words and actions of its users, but the full extent of its legal responsibility remains unresolved.

Read this article:
In viral ad, police see darker signs