WHAT IS SEX TRAFFICKING?
Sex trafficking is when someone uses force, fraud, or coercion to gain some kind of commercial sex act with an adult. Force, fraud, and coercion do not need to be proven for a minor. A commercial sex act includes pornography, prostitution, and sexual performance done in exchange for any item of value (such as money, drugs, shelter, food, clothes). Check out Shared Hope International for more information.
THE FOLLOWING ARE WARNING SIGNS THAT AN INDIVIDUAL IS BEING TRAFFICKED:
- Avoids eye contact, appears fearful, nervous anxious, depressed, withdrawn, submissive
- Not allowed to speak for themselves or someone else always answers for them
- Numerous inconsistencies in their story or seems coached on what to say
- Significantly older boyfriend/girlfriend or new boyfriend/girlfriend with different lifestyle
- Tattoos or “branding” marks (e.g. boyfriend’s name, initials, money symbol, barcode)
- Other physical signs of abuse such as bruising, burn marks, and cuts
- Appears malnourished, sleep deprived, or lacking medical care
- Suddenly has expensive items without a good explanation
- Multiple cell phones
- Wears inappropriate clothing for the situation
- Advanced sexual knowledge and sexualized behavior
- Uses terminology such as “the Life,” “Track,” “Daddy,” or “Tricks” (see a more extensive list from Rebecca Bender of commonly used terminology)
- Slowly becomes secluded and you begin to see increasingly less of her/him
- Sudden changes in behavior, appearance, or friend groups
- Works excessively long hours with little or no pay
- Not in control of their own money or ID
- Tired during class or in the daytime in general (from working at night)
- Running away or frequent absences from home or school
- Dancing or “working” in a bar or club when he/she is obviously not old enough
- Defensive or overly sensitive about their relationships
- Talks a lot about her boyfriend’s dreams and their future together
- Loss of sense of time
- Doesn’t know what city he/she is in; general lack of knowledge about whereabouts
- Substance misuse/abuse
- Shows signs of gang affiliation such as preferring specific colors or displaying gang symbols
Information was compiled from the following reliable resources: Polaris Project, Shared Hope International, and the Rebecca Bender Initiative
IF YOU SUSPECT TRAFFICKING OF AN INDIVIDUAL OR TO REPORT A TIP, CONTACT ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:
National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline
1-888-373-7888
The National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) is a national, toll-free hotline, available to answer calls from anywhere in the country, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year.
Simply Report is a simple, secure app to help you identify and report human trafficking. We strongly recommend downloading this app to your phone and utilizing this resource if you have even the slightest feeling that you believe an individual could be a victim of human trafficking.