The STOPLight

Ploys of pimps: A warning to all

Editor's note: Mark is a former pimp. By way of warning, he reveals some of the tactics lie used to get girls and young women into prostitution -- and to keep them involved. Parents and concerned adults can use what they learn to help the youth they love recognize and avoid these traps. Knowledge is power.

I don't believe young women set out to be prostitutes. They are "set-up" on many levels. Maybe they need money because they aren't working; or they need a place to stay; or they aren't in school and have too much free time on their hands; or their parents aren't watching what they do outside of school.

People often think women who get into prostitution have low self-esteem or come from broken homes. I liked a bigger challenge and focused on girls from better backgrounds.

I believe the bondage of a spirit of rejection affects many young women. Since women are very sensitive to rejection, I would try to find out where the girl felt rejected and try to fill that void. Maybe her father had always wanted a son and she picked up on that rejection. Maybe she felt rejected after a failed relationship or there was some other tragedy in her life. Maybe her parents had just gotten divorced or someone she cared about wanted her to be someone she wasn't. I looked for these kinds of rejection.

I usually preyed on the younger minds, girls ages 13-17. I would find girls who were out late in places they shouldn't be. As I talked with them, I'd maybe find out that the relationship with her father was not what it should be or a father wasn't around. I would try to be a father figure, a "sugar-daddy."

I would wine and dine her; spend money on her and take her places she wanted to go. Gradually I would build her trust by doing things like giving her a check for ten thousand dollars, have her go to the bank, cash it, and bring me the money. She would see me working the other girls, but I wouldn't work her. She'd feel like I put her on a pedestal; like I was her father.

As time passed, I would make her believe times were getting rough. I'd complain that money wasn't coming in like it should be. I would act disappointed to make her think I wouldn't be able to take care of her. Sure enough, she would begin to feel obligated and want to help. Pretty soon, she was working the streets too.

If a young woman wanted to leave, she had to escape. If I found out she was thinking of working for someone else, or of leaving town, or was pocketing some of the money herself, the results were very bad for her. Prostitutes fear their pimps with good reason. They fear getting physically hurt; not doing a "good" job; and in a perverse way, not being "loved" by their pimp. Pimps also supply drugs. I would always have drugs to get people up or down or to keep them strung out. This was just part of doing business.

I am sharing this information because I believe God wants me to give this message to others. I want young people to know that hell is real. Youth need to know what goes on in prostitution. We need to be blunt with them: Get involved in this -- and you will die.

from an interview by A-STOP staff

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In 2002 our organization changed its name to Adults Saving Kids. Prior to that we were called A-STOP (Alliance for Speaking Truths On Prostitution), STOP (Speaking Truths On Prostitution), or Grassroots Ministry Alliance.