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Human trafficking involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act. Every year, millions of men, women, and children are trafficked worldwide - including right here in the United States. It can happen in any community and victims can be any age, race, gender, or nationality. Traffickers might use the following methods to lure victims into trafficking situations:

Violence

Manipulation

False promises of well-paying jobs

Romantic relationships

Language barriers, fear of their traffickers, and/or fear of law enforcement frequently keep victims from seeking help, making human trafficking a hidden crime.

Traffickers look for people who are easy targets for a variety of reasons, including:

Psychological or emotional vulnerability

Economic hardship

Lack of a social safety net

Natural disasters

Political instability

The trauma caused by the traffickers can be so great that many may not identify themselves as victims or ask for help, even in highly public settings.

Many myths and misconceptions exist. Recognizing key indicators of human trafficking is the first step in identifying victims and can help save a life. Not all indicators listed are present in every human trafficking situation, and the presence or absence of any of the indicators is not necessarily proof of human trafficking.

The safety of the public as well as the victim is important. Do not attempt to confront a suspected trafficker directly or alert a victim to any suspicions. It is up to law enforcement to investigate suspected cases of human trafficking.

Visit the links below to learn more about human trafficking and how you can protect yourself and others.

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Human trafficking is modern-day slavery and involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act.

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Recognizing the signs (Human Trafficking)

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Recognizing the signs (Human Trafficking)

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As the U.S. anti-trafficking movement has grown in our understanding of this diverse and complex crime, we are learning more about how specific people, such as medical professionals, teachers, truck drivers, and restaurant personnel, in addition to friends and family members, can help identify and report possible trafficking. Everyone can help by learning the types of trafficking and paying attention to the people around us.

Who is Most Vulnerable?

Anyone can experience trafficking in any community, just as anyone can be the victim of any kind of crime. While it can happen to anyone, evidence suggests that people of color and LGBTQ+ people are more likely to experience trafficking than other demographic groups. Generational trauma, historic oppression, discrimination, and other societal factors and inequities create community-wide vulnerabilities. Traffickers recognize and take advantage of people who are vulnerable.
People may be vulnerable to trafficking if they:

Have an unstable living situation

Have previously experienced other forms of violence such as sexual abuse or domestic violence

Have run away or are involved in the juvenile justice or child welfare system

Are undocumented immigrants

Are facing poverty or economic need

Have a caregiver or family member who has a substance use issue

Are addicted to drugs or alcohol

Who Are the Traffickers

There is no evidence that traffickers are more likely to be of a particular race, nationality, gender, or sexual orientation. They may be family members, romantic partners, acquaintances, or strangers.

How Traffickers Lure People In

Stories become weapons in the hands of human traffickers - tales of romantic love everlasting or about good jobs and fair wages just over the horizon. Sometimes, the stories themselves raise red flags. Other times, traffickers or potential traffickers may raise red flags during recruitment.
Here are a few situations that might raise concerns:

A would-be employer refuses to give workers a signed contract or asks them to sign a contract in a language they can't read.

A would-be employer collects fees from a potential worker for the "opportunity" to work in a particular job.

A friend, family member, co-worker, or student is newly showered with gifts or money or otherwise becomes involved in an overwhelming, fast-moving, and asymmetric (e.g., large difference in age or financial status) romantic relationship.

A friend, family member, or student is a frequent runaway and may be staying with someone who is not their parent or guardian.

A family member, friend, co-worker, or student is developing a relationship that seems too close with someone they know solely on social media.

A family member, friend, or student lives with a parent or guardian and shows signs of abuse.

A family member, friend, or co-worker is offered a job opportunity that seems too good to be true.

A family member, friend, or co-worker is recruited for an opportunity that requires them to move far away, but their recruiter or prospective employer avoids answering their questions or is reluctant to provide detailed information about the job.

Recognizing Labor Trafficking

Labor trafficking includes situations where men, women, and children are forced to work because of debt, immigration status, threats and violence. Keeping victims isolated - physically or emotionally - is a key method of control in most labor trafficking situations. But that does not mean you never cross paths with someone who is experiencing trafficking.
Someone may be experiencing labor trafficking or exploitation if they:

Feel pressured by their employer to stay in a job or situation they want to leave

Owe money to an employer or recruiter or are not being paid what they were promised or are owed

Do not have control of their passport or other identity documents

Are living and working in isolated conditions, largely cut off from interaction with others or support systems

Appear to be monitored by another person when talking or interacting with others

Are being threatened by their boss with deportation or other harm

Are working in dangerous conditions without proper safety gear, training, adequate breaks, or other protections

Are living in dangerous, overcrowded, or inhumane conditions provided by an employer

Recognizing Sex Trafficking

Sex trafficking occurs when individuals are made to perform commercial sex through the use of force, fraud, or coercion. Any child under 18 who is involved in commercial sex is legally a victim of trafficking, regardless of whether there is a third party involved.
Someone may be experiencing sex trafficking if they:

Want to stop participating in commercial sex but feel scared or unable to leave the situation.

Disclose that they were reluctant to engage in commercial sex but that someone pressured them into it.

Live where they work or are transported by guards between home and workplace.

Are children who live with or are dependent on a family member with a substance use problem or who is abusive.

Have a "pimp" or "manager" in the commercial sex industry.

Work in an industry where it may be common to be pressured into performing sex acts for money, such as a strip club, illicit cantina, go-go bar, or illicit massage business.

Have a controlling parent, guardian, romantic partner, or "sponsor" who will not allow them to meet or speak with anyone alone or who monitors their movements, spending, or communications.

If you believe you are a victim of human trafficking or may have information about a potential trafficking situation, please contact the U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, please call 911.

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As the U.S. anti-trafficking movement has grown in our understanding of this diverse and complex crime, we are learning more about how specific people, such as medical professionals, teachers, truck drivers, and restaurant personnel, in addition to friends and family members, can help identify and report possible trafficking.

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Why are women more likely to be impacted by human trafficking?

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Why are women more likely to be impacted by human trafficking?

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On any given day, 40.3 million people live as victims of modern slavery. Of those 40.3 million, a whopping 28.7 million are female-that's 71 percent.

These statistics come from a 2016 International Labour Organization (ILO) report on the global estimates of modern slavery. The report also states that 51 percent of victims are adult women, while 20 percent are girls under the age of eighteen.

Why are these numbers so disproportionate?

Trafficking recruiters often target those in vulnerable positions - the more vulnerable, the easier to exploit. Poverty, illiteracy, lack of education, gender discrimination and lack of job opportunities affect many women around the world. According to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), "The inequalities women face in status and opportunity worldwide make women particularly vulnerable to trafficking."

These issues will often lead women to migrate, becoming especially susceptible to trafficking. The U.S. Department of State estimates that 14,500-17,500 people are smuggled into the U.S. each year.

Who else is vulnerable?

Vulnerable communities such as homeless youth, runaways, youth in the welfare or justice systems, or those with addictions to drugs are also susceptible to human trafficking.

How do traffickers prey on these vulnerabilities?

Traffickers can sweet-talk victims with false promises of decent wages and better lives. While some victims are coerced to work in the sex trade, others are promised better opportunities, only to be forced to perform other types of labor, like factory, sweatshop, agricultural or domestic work.

Traffickers also use different tactics to coerce victims to stay. Victims can be isolated from the outside world and cut off from their friends and family. 24% of victims said their employers would often withhold or threaten to withhold due payment. 17% of victims reported threats of violence, 16% cited acts of physical violence, and 12% were forced into staying because of threats against family members or loved ones. 7% of female victims also reported acts of sexual violence.

What should I do if I see something suspicious?

No one deserves to have their freedom taken away. Those in vulnerable positions should be protected and uplifted, not exploited. If you suspect an occurrence of human trafficking, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or visit their website. This organization and many others work tirelessly to protect survivors and prevent human trafficking from occurring. By partnering with Dressember, you are joining the movement and making a difference in the lives of many.

Further Reading:
Noy Thrupkaew's TED Talk: Human Trafficking is all around you. Here is how it works. Global Estimates of Modern Slavery Breaking the myth that human trafficking does not impact us

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Why are women more likely to be impacted by human trafficking?

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On any given day, 40.3 million people live as victims of modern slavery. Of those 40.3 million, a whopping 28.7 million are female-that's 71 percent. These statistics come from a 2016 International Labour Organization (ILO) report on the global estimates of modern slavery.

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Rebecca Bender's Story - Human Trafficking Survivor

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Rebecca Bender's Story - Human Trafficking Survivor

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Rebecca Bender's Story - Human Trafficking Survivor

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Case study: Maisie’s story | Hope for Justice

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Case study: Maisie’s story | Hope for Justice

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Hope for Justice | Bringing freedom from modern slavery

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Case study: Maisie’s story | Hope for Justice

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Our investigation showed that the ’14-year-old boy’ talking to Maisie was in fact a 44-year-old adult man with a conviction for kidnapping and other crimes.

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Signals

The Human Trafficking Hotline has received 399,494 signals since its inception.

Cases

Since its inception, the Human Trafficking Hotline has identified 82,301 cases of human trafficking. 164,839 victims were identified in these cases.

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The National Human Trafficking Hotline maintains one of the most extensive data sets on the issue of human trafficking in the United States. The statistics contained on this website are based on aggregated information learned through signals -- phone calls, texts, online chats, emails, and online tip reports -- received by the Trafficking Hotline.

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Sound of Freedom - Official Trailer (2023)

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Sound of Freedom - Official Trailer (2023)

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Sound of Freedom - Official Trailer (2023)

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Secrets Of The Multi-Billion Dollar Human Trafficking Industry - Sex Slaves - Crime Documentary

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Secrets Of The Multi-Billion Dollar Human Trafficking Industry - Sex Slaves - Crime Documentary

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Secrets Of The Multi-Billion Dollar Human Trafficking Industry - Sex Slaves - Crime Documentary

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RaeLynn - It's Happening Right Here (Official Video)

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RaeLynn - It's Happening Right Here (Official Video)

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RaeLynn - It's Happening Right Here (Official Video)

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Understand how human trafficking effects people of color

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Understand how human trafficking effects people of color