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What is human trafficking?

HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS THE RECRUITMENT, HARBORING, TRANSPORTATION, PROVISION, OR OBTAINING OF A PERSON FOR..

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SEX TRAFFICKING:

COMMERCIAL SEX ACT INDUCED BY FORCE, FRAUD, OR COERCION OR IN WHICH THE PERSON INDUCED TO PERFORM SUCH ACT IS UNDER THE AGE OF EIGHTEEN

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LABOR TRAFFICKING:

LABOR OR SERVICES THROUGH THE USE OF FORCE, FRAUD, OR COERCION FOR THE PURPOSE OF INVOLUNTARY SERVITUDE, PEONAGE, DEBT BONDAGE, OR SLAVERY

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Who Are Victims of Human Trafficking?

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Anyone can be victimized through force, fraud, or coercion to perform any kind of work or commercial sex act by another person and any minor engaged in a commercial sex act is a human trafficking victim.  Regardless of their walk of life, a victim can be anyone, however traffickers commonly prey on individuals who are vulnerable such as teen run a ways or LGBTQ, who are poor, needing money, or looking for a better life.  They deceived them with false promises of love or a good job, and lure them into situations where they are forced to work under conditions that are deplorable with little or no pay. 

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What are some of the Red Flags?

Knowing what to look for in trafficked victims can possibly help them with the assistance they need.  

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 Should you suspect that you or someone you know are being trafficked, please  call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888. Or text HELP to: BeFree (233733). 

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Red Flags

What are the Common Work and Living Conditions:

  • Is the person free to leave or come and go as he/she wishes

  • Is He/ SHE under 18 and is providing commercial sex acts

  • Is in the commercial sex industry and has a pimp / manager

  • Is unpaid, paid very little, or paid only through tips

  • Works excessively long and/or unusual hours

  • Is not allowed breaks or suffers under unusual restrictions at work

  • Owes a large debt and is unable to pay it off

  • Was recruited through false promises concerning the nature and conditions of his/her work

  • High security measures exist in the work and/or living locations (e.g. opaque windows, boarded up windows, bars on windows, barbed wire, security cameras, etc.)

Poor Mental Health or Abnormal Behavior

  • Is fearful, anxious, depressed, submissive, tense, or nervous/paranoid

  • Exhibits unusually fearful or anxious behavior after bringing up law enforcement

  • Avoids eye contact

Poor Physical Health

  • Lacks health care

  • Appears malnourished

  • Shows signs of physical and/or sexual abuse, physical restraint, confinement, or torture

Lack of Control

  • Has few or no personal possessions

  • Is not in control of his/her own money, no financial records, or bank account

  • Is not in control of his/her own identification documents (ID or passport)

  • Is not allowed or able to speak for themselves (a third party may insist on being present and/or translating)

Other

  • Claims of just visiting and inability to clarify where he/she is staying/address

  • Lack of knowledge of whereabouts and/or do not know what city he/she is in

  • Loss of sense of time

  • Has numerous inconsistencies in his/her story

This list is not exhaustive and represents only a selection of possible indicators. Also, the red flags in this list may not be present in all trafficking cases and are not cumulative. Learn more at www.humantraffickinghotline.org.

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