There is a little talked about big business banking even bigger bucks across the United States and globally.

Estimates put the number of “workers” turning massive profits for their bosses at between 20 million and 40 million annually. These “workers” come from all walks of life across countless corners of the world — representing a wide range of ages, nationalities, and every end of the socioeconomic spectrum.

They are found in communities nationwide in the fields of agriculture, hospitality, restaurant work, domestic help and other businesses, including the therapeutic industry.

They also are found online.

Many signed up for the “work” with dreams of good pay, a better life — in some instances even love.

Sounds like a fairy tale, right? Wrong. And in some instances, deadly wrong.

The startling statistics above represent the estimated number of women, men and children annually who fall victims of human trafficking — both domestically and internationally. Traffickers glean $150 billion per year from selling victims into everything from slave labor to sex trades.

And don’t let anyone fool you — it’s a crime going on right here in Butler County.

According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the crime of human trafficking involves force, fraud or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act. Traffickers lure victims through a variety of means, forcing them into labor or commercial sexual exploitation.

They look for susceptible victims, including those with psychological or emotional vulnerability, economic hardship, a lack of a social safety net, natural disasters or political instability.

And they’re looking right here in Butler County — very often on social media.

On Wednesday, social workers, first responders, law enforcement personnel, court staff and parents got a crash course in human trafficking as Opal Singleton, an expert on the subject, brought her message here. Armed with a mission of helping communities develop effective anti-trafficking programs, Singleton’s approach was two-pronged.

On one hand, there were trainings with social workers, first responders and county officials.

On the other there were public education sessions for parents and teens at two local high schools — Butler and Seneca Valley.

We applaud officials for helping bring Singleton’s message to our corner of Western Pennsylvania. Too often the misconception is that human trafficking happens somewhere else.

But with a growing number of teens and children surfing their way along social media, it’s a problem cutting closer and closer to home each day.

In addition to limiting time online, Singleton urged parents to create confidence in their children, remind them how important they are and make sure they know people believe in them.

Otherwise, you can’t know for sure who is giving them that support and attention they crave on the other side of an anonymous app.