Illicit massage businesses (IMBs) operate in plain sight across the United States, yet the women inside them remain largely unheard. They are rarely asked what they need, what they fear, or what they hope for. This Survivor Outreach Project is an effort to change that.
It’s everywhere. It’s extremely profitable. And it’s exploiting women with vulnerabilities. As of 2023, there are over 13,000 illicit massage businesses (IMBs) in all 50 states. Whether in big cities or small towns, this criminal industry is thriving in plain sight.
“Why don’t the women just leave?” When answering this question, it is critical to understand the nuances of force, fraud, and coercion that traffickers use to exploit workers in the illicit massage industry.
