The loverboy method is a calculated, multi-stage process designed to break down a victim's defenses and create intense emotional dependency.
The term "loverboy" (or "Romeo pimp") refers to a specific, psychologically manipulative method of recruitment used by human traffickers. While the term originated in Europe (notably the Netherlands), the tactic is well-documented across the United States. It is a form of domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST) and adult trafficking that relies on feigned romance and emotional manipulation rather than overt force or kidnapping. loverboys usa