Recognizing &

Reporting Human
Trafficking

Work and Living Conditions

Some potential indicators are if the person:
Is not free to leave or come and go as he/she wishes
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.)
Crowded living conditions
Is in the commercial sex industry and has a pimp / manager or is under 18

Abnormal Behavior and Poor

Health
The person:

Is fearful, anxious, depressed, submissive, tense, or nervous/paranoid

Exhibits unusually fearful or anxious behavior after bringing up law enforcement
Avoids eye contact
Answers with responses that seem scripted and rehearsed
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)

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

- These are just potential red flags, not all may be present in every case and
they may be present in cases that are not trafficking.
- Federal law stipulates that any minor (under the age of 18) is a victim of
sex trafficking if he/she is engaging in commercial sex, even if there is no
evidence of coercion or deception.

Questions to Ask
If you can speak to the victim privately, ask:
Can you leave your job if you want to?
Can you come and go as you please?
Have you been hurt or threatened if you tried to leave?
Has your family been threatened?
Do you live with your employer?
Where do you sleep and eat?
Are you in debt to your employer?

Appropriate Responses
Call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline at: 1-888-373-7888
The line is open 24/7 and services are available in 200 languages. Tips are kept
as confidential as possible.
You can also submit a tip online at www.traffickingresourcecenter.org
It is better to get law enforcement involved than to try to help someone alone.
6000 cases were reported in 2015, 24% more than the year before.

Text 233733 (BEFREE)

This textline offers confidential crisis assistance and support, referrals, tip reporting,
and general information about human trafficking through SMS text message.
Textline advocates are available Monday-Sunday 3 to 11pm.
You will first receive an automated message advising you to call 911 if you are in
immediate danger. You will then receive a response from an advocate who will
check in on your safety. Once they know its safe to text, the advocate will ask you
some questions in order to determine how to help.
You may also text INFO to the textline to receive an auto-response with links to
resources and opportunities to get involved in your community.

Additional Resources
Domestic

Violence: National Domestic Violence Hotline, 24 hour Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)

Sexual Abuse: Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN), 24 hour Hotline: 1-800-656-4673
Suicide: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 24 hour Hotline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
Dating Violence: National Dating Abuse Helpline, 24 hour Hotline: 1-866-331-9474
Runaway and Homeless Youth: National Runaway Safeline, 24 hour Hotline: 1-800-RUNAWAY (7862929)
Missing Children and Child Pornography: National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, 24 hour
Hotline: 1-800-THE-LOST (843-5678)

Staying Safe
Trust your judgment. If a situation/individual makes you uncomfortable, trust that feeling.
Keep all important documents and identification in your possession at all times.
Keep important numbers on your person at all times, including the number of someone you feel safe contacting if you
are in trouble.
Make sure that you have a means of communication (cell phone, phone card), access to your bank account, and any
medication that you might need with you at all times. Have an extra phone charger on you.
Document any unwanted contact by your trafficker (calls, texts, emails, showing up at your work/home) and save any
voicemails/texts/emails that are threatening in nature.
Have a special signal (lights flicking on and off, code word, code text message, etc.) to use with a trusted
friend/relative/neighbor to notify them that you are in danger or a person/situation is suspicious.
If you are ever in immediate danger, the quickest way to access help is to call 911.

http://www.traffickingresourcecenter.org/sites/default/files/Safety%20Pl
anning%20At%20A%20Glance.pdf

Further Resources
- National Human Trafficking Resource Center (
www.traffickingresourcecenter.org)
- All info from this powerpoint came from the NHTRC/Polaris Project and
the US Department of State:
https://traffickingresourcecenter.org/what-human-trafficking/recognizingsigns
- http://hopeforjustice.org/spot-the-signs/
- http://www.state.gov/j/tip/id/