The very Best of the Internet happened just 5 days ago on MetaFilter. A user named “fake” posts a thread asking for help for two girls from Russia:
A Russian friend of mine may be in a dangerous situation in Washington, DC.
My friend and former student K arrived in DC yesterday, along with a friend. She came over on some kind of travel exchange program put together by a Russian travel agency called ‘XXXXX’. They paid about 3K for this program.
The program promised a job offer in advance, but didn’t deliver. They said they would send one via email, but failed there, too.
Her contact in the USA barely speaks English, doesn’t answer her calls but does answer mine. He has asked her and her friend to meet in NYC tonight around midnight, with promises of hostess work in a lounge. Yes, I know how horrific that sounds- that’s why I am working all possible angles here.
A dramatic story of what could have become sex trafficking plays out in a single internet thread. It’s an adventure to read, and I won’t spoil it for you. I just have to say: This is what the internet can do.This is what people can do.
Check out the exciting MetaFilter thread and its counterpart MetaTalk discussion which has more story details and resources for how to help. The Newsweek Blog also spoke to one of the key players.
Meghan on 
LeetheGirl on 
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Amazing story! Thanks for the link.
I really like your website!
Just a side note, I just found you via lovingdoubt’s twitter.
Thanks for coming over to read! This story made me feel hopeful for humanity.
“They paid about 3K for this program. The program promised a job offer in advance, but didn’t deliver. ”
This is a common crime in my country. Ingenuous people also buy non-existent lands, rent vacation homes that don’t belong to the supposed landlord and so on…
I hate that this is such a rampant problem all over the world. Terrible.