What is human trafficking?
• Human trafficking involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act.
What is sex trafficking?
• Sex trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery in which individuals perform commercial sex through the use of force, fraud, or coercion.
• Children under the age of 18 are considered victims regardless if force, fraud, or coercion is present.
• Sex trafficking can occur in the commercial sex industry, massage parlors, escort services, in the streets, truck stops and many other avenues.
Signs of sex trafficking:
• A person under the age of 18 selling sex
• Branding
• Clothes are inappropriate for the weather
• Signs of unusual wealth without any explanation
• Another person is speaking for the victim
• Fearful or nervous when officials get brought up
What is forced labor, or labor trafficking?
• Forced labor occurs when individuals are compelled to provide work or service through the use of force, fraud or coercion.
• Can be found in the agriculture business, construction sites, domestic servitude, restaurants and other avenues.
Signs of labor trafficking:
• Important documents are withheld
• Living and working in the same place
• Not given proper safety equipment
• Working long or unusual hours with no or little breaks
• High security measures in place of employment or place of residence
Sources: Department of Homeland Security
To report suspected human trafficking, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline Center at 1-888-373-7888 or go to http://humantraffickinghotline.org.
If you think you or someone you know is being trafficked, please call the 24-hour crisis hotline at 1-800-828-7233 (SAFE).