How To Identify Trafficking In Others
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If you have reasonable suspicion based on the information below that someone around you is a victim of the human trafficking system, call the National Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888 for assistance and advice on next steps. For urgent assistance regarding someone's safety, call the police. You are not equipped to handle a trafficking situation on your own.
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Asking a potential victim direct questions to try and figure out if they are in fact being trafficked or exploited could endanger the victim's safety as well as your own. Only use context clues to attempt to identify trafficking victims, and if these clues make you suspicious, contact a professional.
High Risk Factors
High risk factors for trafficking include:
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Poverty
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Undocumented immigration
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Lack of formal identifying papers e.g. passport, drivers license, Social Security
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Lack of safety net/trusted loved ones
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History of abusive relationships
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Preexisting mental health/physical health issues
All of these factors increase a person's risk to be targeted by at least one common trafficking scheme through limiting non-exploitative working options, causing lack of external support, or increasing need for immediate money.
Signs of Trafficking In Others
There are many signs, both physical and verbal, that point to someone being a current trafficking victim. If any of the signs listed to the right are present, it is cause for concern, and to investigate further.
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Physical signs of injuries, abuse, or branding
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Seeming to use scripted or rehearsed responses when interacting with others
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Appearing tense, submissive, very anxious, or paranoid.
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Poor physical health
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Heavy avoidance of eye contact or interaction with other people
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Inability to state logical travel plans or answer basic questions
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Resistance to talking alone without their travel companion
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Someone speaks for them or refuses for them to allowed to talk to you alone.
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Seeming not to have control of their travel ID, money, luggage, or other documents
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Seeming under the influence of a substance or unaware of their surroundings
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Their movement or social interaction is restricted by a co-traveler
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Flying last minute on a one-way flight
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They are with a non-genuine parent or guardian
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Seeming as they've been without basic necessities like food, water, sleep, hygiene, or medical care.
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Seeming submissive, disassociated, or "checked out"
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Tattoos – these are used like brands by some traffickers to “mark” their victims so other traffickers know they are taken. The tattoo may be of a crown, a rose, the trafficker’s name, a dollar sign or have some indication that they are in fact for sale. Often these tattoos are placed on the neck, wrist, or collarbone area but not always.
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Having physical signs of self-harm, like scars, cut marks, or burns.
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Having bruises or injuries in different stages of healing
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Having signs of severe malnourishment
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Traveling with very few or no personal items, like purses or wallets
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Exhibiting evidence of verbal threats, emotional abuse, or demeaning treatment.
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Traveling with a much older "boyfriend" or "girlfriend" .
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A group of girls traveling with an older male or female
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Dressing inappropriately for their age, e.g. explicitly sexual attire or for the weather
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A young person that is not dressed appropriately for their age or the weather. This can be a strong indicator of trafficking especially in larger cities. However, do not write a potential situation off if the young person is dressed appropriately, they may have their other clothing in a bag.
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Referencing someone in their group as a "sugar daddy/sugar momma" or to themselves as a "sugar baby"
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Discussing frequent or constant travel.
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Discussing being paid very little or not at all for their work
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Not knowing what is in their checked baggage.
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If based on this list of signs, you feel a person is a victim of or is at risk of being a victim of trafficking, call the National Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888
A sudden change in behavior or appearance. While this may not indicate trafficking it often indicates something such as abuse, depression or bullying and should be addressed.
Dropping out of sports or other school activities the young person previously enjoyed.
Unexplained cash, jewelry, nice clothing, or other expensive gifts.
Alienating friends and family.
Possession of a fake ID.
Uncharacteristic promiscuous behavior or references in-person or on social media to sexual situations.
References to modeling jobs, a role in a music video or an older boyfriend.
Sudden or frequent missed school days or a drastic drop in grades.
Signs Of Trafficking For Parents/Loved Ones
While the presence of one of these is not absolute proof of trafficking, it may be reason for concern or attention.
A sudden change in behavior or appearance. While this may not indicate trafficking it often indicates something such as abuse, depression or bullying and should be addressed.
Dropping out of sports or other school activities the young person previously enjoyed.
Unexplained cash, jewelry, nice clothing, or other expensive gifts.
Alienating friends and family.
Possession of a fake ID.
Uncharacteristic promiscuous behavior or references in-person or on social media to sexual situations.
References to modeling jobs, a role in a music video or an older boyfriend.
Sudden or frequent missed school days or a drastic drop in grades.
Signs Of Trafficking For Parents/Loved Ones
While the presence of one of these is not absolute proof of trafficking, it may be reason for concern or attention.
Language to Listen For
There is a lot of language associated with trafficking that is good to know and listen for. Here is just a handful of terms to start:
The Life or The Game – what victims of trafficking and traffickers refer to what is happening, respectively.
Daddy or Boyfriend – A young person referring to an older person that is clearly not their parent by either of these two terms can be a good indicator of the nature of their relationship.
John, Trick, Date – these all reference the buyer.
Bottom, Bottom Bitch or Bottom Girl – The most trusted girl by the trafficker, often responsible for helping recruit and control the other victims.
Trap or Stack – the amount of money she/he needs to make that day.
This crime includes a lot royalty and familial sounding language. Words such as king, queen, sister-wives, cousin-in-laws are common ways that those in the life reference each other.