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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:
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Is the person free to leave or come and go as he/she wishes
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Is He/ SHE under 18 and is providing commercial sex acts
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Is in the commercial sex industry and has a pimp / manager
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Is unpaid, paid very little, or paid only through tips
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Works excessively long and/or unusual hours
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Is not allowed breaks or suffers under unusual restrictions at work
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Owes a large debt and is unable to pay it off
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Was recruited through false promises concerning the nature and conditions of his/her work
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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
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Is fearful, anxious, depressed, submissive, tense, or nervous/paranoid
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Exhibits unusually fearful or anxious behavior after bringing up law enforcement
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Avoids eye contact
Poor Physical Health
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Lacks health care
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Appears malnourished
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Shows signs of physical and/or sexual abuse, physical restraint, confinement, or torture
Lack of Control
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Has few or no personal possessions
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Is not in control of his/her own money, no financial records, or bank account
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Is not in control of his/her own identification documents (ID or passport)
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Is not allowed or able to speak for themselves (a third party may insist on being present and/or translating)
Other
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Claims of just visiting and inability to clarify where he/she is staying/address
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Lack of knowledge of whereabouts and/or do not know what city he/she is in
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Loss of sense of time
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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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