Stop Human Trafficking

How do you recognize human trafficking? There are a number of situations that raise suspicion of this. Sometimes people being trafficked are hidden behind closed doors and sometimes they are in places that are frequently visited by others. Victims of trafficking are often physically and emotionally abused, and are fearful due to threats made to themselves and to their friends and family members, including deportation. Traffickers should be assumed to be armed and dangerous.

Signs of trafficking include:

• People living in bad living conditions, or many people crowded into a small space. The person might live with their employer, and the victim is often kept from talking to others alone.

• There are signs of physical abuse and the victim is often submissive and fearful. The victim is often paid nothing or very little.

• If the victim is allowed to speak, what they say may appear to be scripted or rehearsed.

• If you believe that an individual is in immediate danger, consider calling 911.  Also, contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 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 specific anti-trafficking resources.