INDIANAPOLIS (WOWO): Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller says authorities are, once again, on guard for sex trafficking in the central part of the state.

The effort coincides with the Indianapolis 500, which could exceed attendance of 300,000 people, with many visiting from out of town. 

Last year in an analysis of Backpage.com ads in the Louisville area, researchers found the largest spike in adult services classified ads occurred during March Madness with more than 100 ads per day. 

When the Super Bowl was held in Indianapolis in 2012, the number of Indiana-specific “escort” ads on Backpage jumped from eight in December prior to the event to 129 the day before the Super Bowl. 

According to law enforcement, there were 18 commercial sex related arrests during the NCAA Final Four last month.