Johannesburg - It took a lot for this stall to stand out at the Sexpo 2015. But Robyn Phillips and Nicole van Wyk were lured there by the prospect of a dream job, round-the-world travel and a R50 000 salary.
The professionally dressed people manning the stall were promoting a new energy drink, Whipped, and they were searching for willing staff, who would do the same at venues around the world.
The successful candidates’ job would include posting selfies of themselves with the energy drink on social media from exclusive world events and all their travel and accommodation would be paid for.
Sold by what seemed like the perfect job, Phillips, 23, and Van Wyk, 20, filled in their personal details on Ipads placed at the trendy stand with the hopes of being selected.
Within minutes of registering, the young women from Pretoria received texts on their phones which read: “You have just become one of 21 million people to be lured into human trafficking through false job promises. Salvation Army set up Whipped to show people how easy it is to became victims of human trafficking. Share your experience and help create awareness.”
Almost in tears at the realisation of nearly being a victim, Van Wyk was scared when she read the message. “I couldn’t believe how easy it was to be trafficked. The people who offered us the ‘job’ were… so clued up about the ‘energy drink’.
“I will be vigilant about giving my personal details and accepting opportunities that seem too good to be true.
“This is an elaborate plan; we are the target market because all the bells and whistles thrown at us appeal to our age group. Who wouldn’t want to travel overseas for free and stay at top hotels while getting paid lots of money,” said Phillips.
“As an advertising student, I am aware that in the marketing industry similar concepts are used, so I thought to myself; what are the chances that this isn’t real.”
Van Wyk and Phillips were among about 300 people who had signed up for the “trendy job” by 3pm Friday.
Major Carin Holmes, PR secretary of the Southern African Territory of the Salvation Army, said people didn’t think human trafficking was real. “We set up a fake job by dividing our stall at Sexpo into two. One cubicle for our church and one for the fake energy drink, where we spun a wonderful story of this glamorous job.”
“Instead of telling people about the dangers of human trafficking like we have been doing at Sexpo over the past few years, we decided to do this social experiment to shock people into realising the dangers,” said Holmes.
“After all their reactions, we explain to them how easy it is to become victims of human trafficking and tell them of many other ruses, such as fake modelling agencies, soccer contracts and others.”
Holmes said people are vulnerable to exploitation as a result of motivation by money, poverty, desperation or even lack of education.
Of the 2 million people trafficked each year, Africa accounts for about 450 000. There are up to 10 000 child prostitutes in Joburg.
Saturday Star