Rumors regarding human trafficking have spread fast via social network services and portal sites in recent months.
They state that some people witnessed cases of human trafficking; someone managed to escape from kidnappers; and someone returned the dismembered body of a missing woman.
A man recently received a text message from an acquaintance. According to the message, a primary school student was kidnapped from a youth training facility in Daedeok-gu, Daejeon.
The message said, “In CCTV footage, a child helps an old woman as she calls for help. But two men get out of a white-colored van and take the child away.” The message surprised the recipient. He then sent it to acquaintances, asking them to be alert.
Another man had a similar experience. He received a text message via SNS which read, “If someone approaches you and asks you to taste or smell marine products, leave the spot immediately. If you do it, you will lose your senses as they contain ethyl ether, a drug, and then will be the target of organ trafficking.” He also sent the message to others via SNS, advising them to be careful.
Apart from these, there were a string of rumors on SNS regarding human trafficking. For instance, a news report said a kidnapping could have taken place on a bus.
The report said, “In a bus, an old woman tried to pick a fight with a female student. The aged woman used coarse words and insulted the student in public. Asserting that the student needs to undergo education programs on etiquette, the old woman told the student to get off the bus.”
As the student got off the bus, the driver closed the door and left. A black van carrying accomplices, who are members of a human trafficking ring, followed to kidnap the student, it said.