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What is human trafficking?

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

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

LABOR TRAFFICKING:

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

Who Are Victims of Human Trafficking?

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. 

What are some of the Red Flags?

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

 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). 

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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