Concerning Messages Spotted on Google Earth in Los Angeles Spark Online Frenzy
Unusual messages spelling out “help” and other alarming words using building materials on a vacant lot in Los Angeles have caused a stir on the internet.
These messages, visible at coordinates 34°03’18’N 118°13’30’W on Google Earth, were discovered in a lot near the San Bernardino Freeway and were captured in November 2023, as reported by ABC 7.
The signs, which started circulating on social media recently, included words like “HELP,” “TRAFICO,” which is Spanish for “traffic,” “FEDERAL,” “FBI,” “L-A-P-D,” and “TERRORISMO.”
These messages immediately raised concerns that the location might be linked to human trafficking victims.
California ranks eighth in the US in terms of the most human trafficking victims per 100,000 people, according to the Joslyn Law Firm.
However, the Los Angeles Police Department clarified that there was no evidence of human trafficking.
The LAPD Central Division stated, “We’ve had several interactions with the individual in question. He has declined housing or a mental health evaluation. There is no evidence of Human Trafficking. He has been at the location for a few years.”
It is yet to be determined if authorities are investigating the site or if the pleas for “help” are genuine.
The department responded to a video shared by @LAGuy310, where a woman near the lot discussed the concerning messages.
The unidentified woman mentioned that a man named “Jose” was behind the messages and had been doing it for years.
While she didn’t explain the reason behind the messages, @LAGuy310 updated his followers on efforts to track down “Jose” through interactions with other homeless individuals.
Meanwhile, Josette Caruso, with a large following on X, expressed concerns about the ongoing construction in the area, displacing both homeless and non-homeless individuals and small businesses.
She speculated that the situation could be a form of protest or expression of frustration by locals against the construction activities.
Caruso emphasized that the messages were unlikely related to human trafficking, suggesting they were more likely a form of protest or outcry from inhabitants of the area.
