A ‘loverboy’ is a pimp, usually a young man, who seduces young women, often minors, to force them into prostitution or other illegal activities.
Loverboys establish a romantic relationship with their victims that quickly turns into an emotionally, psychologically and physically abusive one. The victims’ situation is especially precarious, as the abuse takes place in their close or intimate relationship and in a state of complete emotional, psychological and financial dependency.
Sometimes also called Romeo pimps, teenage pimps or boyfriend pimps, loverboys tactics have become the most common modus operandi for the recruitment and exploitation of young women in the sex industry throughout Europe.
There is a common pattern in the way loverboys operate: gifts, love, drugs and, as a final step, initiation to prostitution. The exploiter knows that once a girl is emotionally involved, she will be ready to do anything to keep his affection. However, these past few years we have seen a significant change in the ‘grooming’ phase. The impact of social media on this issue is not to be underestimated. This results in the overall process of luring the girl in being significantly shorter than in the past, which makes the loverboy-method all the more worrying.
In 2019 Payoke has become the referral center for all victims of loverboys in Flanders, following the conferral of exclusive competences from the Flemish government and the allocation of dedicated funds. Payoke advocates for the establishment of a specialized reception center for victims of loverboys.
The number of victims is hard to estimate. Over the past few years, between 40 and 60 victims have been identified annually in the Flanders alone. However, anti-trafficking organizations in Belgium and the Netherlands put the number in the thousands, as the phenomenon is invisible and takes place in illegal circuits. Being the referral center, Payoke is in an ideal position to gather information on the number of victims. At present Payoke handles over one hundred cases of presumed victims.
Report
Do you know someone who might be a victim of a loverboy?
Are you a parent, educator, or caregiver who wants to know more about how to recognize and approach a potential victim and where to turn to for help in potentially dangerous situations?
Contact us:
Tel: +32 (0)3 201 16 90
Email: TraffickingLBTP@payoke.be
Suspicions?
Do you have doubts about your relationship? Check your score on our checklist here, and feel free to contact us if you have any questions:
Phone: +32 (0)3 201 16 90 (available on workdays between 9:00-17:00h)
Email: TraffickingLBTP@payoke.be
DM: Facebook Messenger
Are you a care worker and do you suspect to have come into contact with a victim of a loverboy or romeo pimp? Find more relevant information on what you can do; what information you are allowed to share; and how to contact us here.
Tools
How do you recognize a victim of a loverboy? A guide and checklist to keep yourself and your loved ones safe. Download PDF
Dossier: The stories behind the loverboy phenomenon. Download PDF
Child Focus offers additional resources and information about the loverboys phenomenon.Tel.: 116 000 stoptienerpooiers.be
See the 2020 Child Focus Report Les victimes de proxénètes d’adolescents à Bruxelles
The Report is also available in NL Slachtoffers van tienerpooiers in Brussel
The Samilia Foundation has recently launched an awareness-raising campaign about loverboy trafficking, “Not all fairy tales have a happy ending”. Download the dossier and watch the short movie La Boucle (in FR)
Child Protection Policy
Payoke believes that all children and young people have equal rights to protection from harm, abuse, and exploitation.
Our Child Protection Policy sets out our values, clarifies expected behaviors, outlines legal obligations and safe practices, and describes the steps to report concerns or alleged misconduct.
Read our Child Protection Policy
Report alleged misconduct or abuse
Je veilig voelen in Payoke – Feeling safe in Payoke / A child-friendly version of the Policy
