Human Trafficking 101
Steps to Take When Identifying Human Trafficking Victims
If you believe you have identified someone still in the trafficking situation, alert law enforcement immediately at the numbers provided below. It may be unsafe to attempt to rescue a trafficking victim. You have no way of knowing how the trafficker may react and retaliate against the victim and you. If, however, you identify a victim who has escaped the trafficking situation, there are a number of organizations to whom the victim could be referred for help with shelter, medical care, legal assistance, and other critical services. In this case, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline.
National Human Trafficking Hotline
Call the National Human Trafficking Hotline, a national 24-hour, toll-free, multilingual anti-trafficking hotline. Call 1-888-373-7888 to report a tip; connect with anti-trafficking services in your area; or request training and technical assistance, general information, or anti-trafficking resources
Human Trafficking Indicators
While not an exhaustive list, these are some key red flags that could alert you to a potential trafficking situation that should be reported:
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Living with employer
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Poor living conditions
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Multiple people in cramped space
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Inability to speak to individual alone
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Answers appear to be scripted and rehearsed
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Employer is holding identity documents
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Signs of physical abuse
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Submissive or fearful
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Unpaid or paid very little
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Under 18 and in prostitution
Resources for Parents
As a parent or guardian, it's important to recognize the warning signs of grooming and exploitation to protect your children. We've prepared a printable guide to help you identify red flags and take proactive steps to safeguard your child.
What’s Inside:
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Common indicators your child might be targeted, such as sudden changes in behavior, unexplained gifts, or new relationships with older individuals.
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Key information about the dangers and consequences of sexting.
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Practical tips for promoting online safety, like supervising device usage and encouraging open communication.
Download and Print:
Your involvement and awareness can make a significant difference. Let’s work together to create a safer future for all children.
What is Human Trafficking?
U.S. law defines human trafficking as the use of force, fraud, or coercion to compel a person into commercial sex acts or labor against their will. The Action-Means-Purpose (AMP) Model can be helpful in understanding the federal law. Human trafficking occurs when a perpetrator, often referred to as a trafficker, takes an Action (induces, recruits, harbors, transports, provides), and then employs the Means of force, fraud or coercion for the Purpose of compelling the victim to provide commercial sex acts (sex trafficking) or labor/services (labor trafficking). At a minimum, one element from each column must be present to establish a potential situation of human trafficking.
How does it begin?
People in sex trafficking situations almost always know and even trust or love their traffickers. Traffickers target vulnerable people who have needs that the traffickers can fill. Sometimes they offer material support – a place to live, clothing, a chance to “get rich quick.” Other times they offer love, emotional support or a sense of belonging. Kidnapping victims and forcing them into the sex trade through violence is rare.
Recognizing Human Trafficking
Human trafficking is the business of stealing freedom for profit. In some cases, traffickers trick, defraud or physically force victims into selling sex. In others, victims are lied to, assaulted, threatened or manipulated into working under inhumane, illegal or otherwise unacceptable conditions.
Sex Trafficking
Sex trafficking is not something you can see happening across a crowded room. It is not a crime that occurs in an instant, like a kidnapping or carjacking, that a bystander can witness and report. In fact, many people in active sex trafficking situations do not recognize themselves as being victims because they have been expertly groomed by a trafficker to believe they have chosen to participate in commercial sex. Understanding how sex trafficking really works can help families and communities to recognize vulnerable people before they become victims and provide survivors with the support they need to break free, heal and move on with their lives.
Educational Programs
We have given presentations, community and professional trainings, spoken at churches, and set up other events throughout the Triad. The Human Trafficking Resource Center has been a privately funded organization with our funding coming from individuals, faith-based groups, churches, and one grant from a local organization. Without our Heavenly Father we could not have accomplished what we have accomplished. It’s all because of Him.
