13 year old forced to pretend she’s 18

13 year old forced to pretend she’s 18

The Oakland Police Department found Mya in a sweep and asked her her age. The predators had made Mya practice what she would say and do in this exact moment. When an officer approached her, she said, “I just turned 18,” and presented him with a fake ID. She knew to put on her best act, otherwise she’d be severely beaten or killed when she returned. The officer believed her and released her back into a horrible, illicit world that no child should ever be a part of.
But the community knew the truth. Private inquiries by non-law enforcement citizens led us to believe she was quite young. We knew there would be evidence on her cell phone, so one of our volunteers offered to trade a brand new white iphone for her old one, which she happily did. Because of that iphone trade, Mya has been placed with Child Protective Services and both the traffickers and buyers have been arrested. We continue to offer direct assistance and support to Mya.

Today, predators can reach vulnerable children through phones, social media, gaming platforms, and the internet, often before families realize something is wrong. Finding Kids responds through three core programs: Recover. Care. Target. We help locate missing and exploited children, support families during and after recovery, and work with law enforcement to identify and disrupt those who exploit youth. Our work continues after a child is found because recovery is only the beginning. By combining investigations, aftercare, and prevention, we help children return safely to their homes, schools, and communities while building a future where every vulnerable child receives help before crisis becomes exploitation. We are a 501(c)(3) charitable organization and 100% of your tax-deductible donation goes directly towards keeping kids safe. We cannot do this work without your support.

*Names has been changed to protect the victim’s identity.