For years, Backpage operated as one of the largest online platforms facilitating commercial sex and sex trafficking, profiting from the exploitation of countless women, children, and other vulnerable people. Now, following criminal convictions and the forfeiture of over $200 million in assets, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has established a compensation program designed to return those funds to the people who were harmed. If you were trafficked through Backpage.com, you may be entitled to financial compensation through the federal remission process.
What Was Backpage.com?
Backpage.com launched in 2004 as an online classifieds website similar to Craigslist. It featured listings for jobs, housing, services, and personal ads across cities throughout the United States and internationally. Over time, however, its “adult” section became the dominant feature of the site—and the primary driver of its revenue.
While Backpage presented itself as a legitimate advertising platform, it quickly became one of the internet’s most notorious hubs for commercial sex ads. Many of these ads involved victims of sex trafficking. The site’s operators earned hundreds of millions of dollars while turning a blind eye to the exploitation happening on their platform.
How Was Backpage Used for Sex Trafficking?
Traffickers used Backpage.com as a tool to advertise and sell victims for commercial sex. The site’s structure made it easy for traffickers to post ads with photos, descriptions, and contact information, often featuring women and children who had no say in how they were being marketed.
In many cases, traffickers controlled every aspect of the process, from creating the ads to collecting payment. Victims were moved between cities and states, with new ads posted in each location. Internal company documents later revealed that Backpage employees were aware of the activity on the platform.
Rather than taking meaningful steps to stop it, the company provided guidelines to help users sanitize their ads so they could remain posted. This calculated approach allowed trafficking to flourish on the site for more than a decade.
The Federal Investigation and Shutdown of Backpage
On April 9, 2018, the Department of Justice announced the seizure of Backpage.com. Alongside the seizure, seven individuals connected to the site were charged in a 93-count federal indictment. The charges included conspiracy to facilitate prostitution, facilitation of prostitution using interstate commerce, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and multiple forms of money laundering.
The defendants included Backpage co-founders Michael Lacey and James Larkin, along with five other executives and employees. The investigation was led by the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona, the FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and IRS Criminal Investigation.
Federal officials described the site as a place where traffickers routinely advertised both children and adults, and where the company’s leadership prioritized profits over the safety of victims. In the years following the seizure, Backpage’s owners and key executives were found guilty of several criminal offenses and were sentenced to federal prison.
How the Backpage Victim Compensation Program Was Established
Following the criminal convictions, the DOJ moved to forfeit the profits Backpage had accumulated through its illegal activity. In December 2024, the government successfully forfeited over $200 million in assets traceable to Backpage’s operations. Those funds became the foundation for a victim compensation program.
On July 31, 2025, the DOJ officially announced the launch of the Backpage remission process, calling it the largest remission process to date to compensate victims of human trafficking. The department chose Epiq Global Inc. to serve as the Remission Administrator and oversee the claims process.
Who Is Eligible for Backpage Compensation?
If you are a survivor of sex trafficking that was facilitated through Backpage.com, you have the right to participate in the remission process established by the DOJ. You may be eligible for compensation if your sex trafficking was facilitated through advertisements posted on Backpage between January 1, 2004, and April 6, 2018, and you incurred financial losses related to that trafficking. The deadline to submit a petition form is March 31, 2026, so it is important to begin the process as soon as possible.
How to File a Claim for Backpage Compensation
Filing a claim for Backpage compensation involves several key steps:
- Visit the Official Portal: Go to backpageremission.com to access the application and review program details. This is the only official website for the Backpage remission process.
- Confirm Your Eligibility: The program covers individuals, or their legal representatives, who were trafficked through ads posted on Backpage.com or CityXGuide between January 1, 2004, and April 6, 2018.
- Complete the Petition Form: Fill out the required Remission Petition Form, which asks for information about your experience and the losses you suffered. You can complete and submit the form online or request that a paper copy be mailed to you.
- Gather Supporting Documentation: Collect evidence of financial losses or damages connected to your trafficking. This may include medical records, law enforcement reports, therapy records, or other relevant documentation.
- Submit Before the Deadline: All petitions must be filed by March 31, 2026. Starting early gives you time to gather the documentation you need and seek legal guidance.
The Remission Administrator and the DOJ will never ask you for any payment to participate in this process. If you need assistance, you can contact the Remission Administrator at 1-888-859-9206, visit backpageremission.com for frequently asked questions and updates, or speak with an attorney currently representing Backpage.com remission claims.
How a Backpage Compensation Attorney Can Help
Navigating a federal remission process on your own can feel overwhelming, especially when it involves revisiting painful experiences. An attorney who is familiar with this type of compensation program can guide you through every step, from determining your eligibility to gathering the right documentation and filing your petition before the deadline. A lawyer can also help you present your claim in the strongest possible way, ensuring that your losses are properly documented and that your petition meets all of the program’s requirements.
Contact Shapiro Legal Group, PLLC for a Free, Confidential Consultation
If you or someone you know was trafficked through Backpage, you deserve justice for what you endured. The attorneys at Shapiro Legal Group, PLLC can help you navigate the Backpage.com remission process and fight for the compensation you are entitled to. Your consultation is completely free and confidential.
The March 31, 2026 filing deadline is approaching, so do not hesitate to seek help. Contact Shapiro Legal Group, PLLC today at (800) 220-0984 to take the first step toward reclaiming what was taken from you.