Oregon — The FBI is urging individuals who were victims of sex trafficking through online classified platforms Backpage and CityXGuide to apply for financial compensation before a March 31, 2026 deadline.
The Department of Justice launched the Backpage Remission Program in 2025 following the forfeiture of approximately $200 million in assets tied to the investigation and prosecution of the platforms’ operators. The funds are intended to help survivors recover financial losses related to their exploitation, including medical expenses, counseling costs, and lost income.
Backpage.com operated from 2004 until it was seized by federal authorities in April 2018. Prosecutors said the site knowingly facilitated commercial sex and sex trafficking, including exploitation of minors. Its successor site, CityXGuide, continued similar activity until 2020. Several individuals associated with the platforms have since been convicted and sentenced on federal charges, including conspiracy and money laundering.
Federal officials say eligible individuals include those trafficked through Backpage between January 1, 2004, and April 6, 2018, and through CityXGuide between April 8, 2018, and June 19, 2020.
Desirae Tolhurst, an FBI special agent involved in the Backpage investigation, said documentation is key to receiving compensation, though she acknowledged it can be difficult for survivors to obtain.
“Aliases, burner phones, and false identities were common, so it’s not always straightforward,” Tolhurst said, noting that medical records, receipts, emails, or archived advertisements can help support claims.
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children has partnered with law firms, clinicians, and advocacy organizations to assist survivors through its Backpage Survivor Remission Network. The group reports connecting hundreds of individuals with pro bono legal services to help complete applications.
Officials emphasized that survivors can apply on their own at no cost and encouraged anyone eligible to begin the process as soon as possible.
More information and application materials are available at BackpageRemission.com.
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