Young girls are preyed upon by pimps who promise to love and take care of them, often deceiving the girls into believing they are actually their boyfriend. Girls with low self-esteem or who come from broken homes are more apt to respond to this type of love and attention and are duped into thinking the pimp cares about them. The pimp starts with physical abuse and psychological conditioning – then he tells the young girl she owes him money, and demands payment. Her only recourse is to sell (prostitute) herself, and he tells her she would do it if she really cared for him. Victims are subjected to starvation, being locked in rooms, forced to sleep outside in the middle of winter, inadequate clothing, severe beatings and emotional abuse.