The Two Primary Forms of Human Trafficking

1. Sex Trafficking

Sex trafficking occurs when a person is forced, manipulated, or coerced into commercial sex acts.

Victims may be exploited through:

• Escort services

• Online advertisements

• Pornography

• Strip clubs

• Massage businesses operating illegally

• Hotels and motels

• Street-based exploitation

• Private residences

Traffickers frequently use tactics such as:

• Pretending to be a romantic partner (“boyfriend trafficking”)

• Offering modeling, entertainment, or job opportunities

• Grooming children online

• Creating dependency through drugs, housing, or financial support

• Threatening harm to the victim or their family

According to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, sex trafficking is the largest category of trafficking cases reported to the Hotline. In 2024, the Hotline identified 6,647 sex trafficking cases nationally based on reported situations. 

2. Labor Trafficking

Labor trafficking occurs when people are forced to work or provide services through force, fraud, or coercion.

Industries where labor trafficking may occur include:

Agriculture

Workers may be:

• Paid little or nothing

• Trapped by debt

• Threatened with deportation

• Forced to work excessive hours

Construction

Examples include:

• Wage theft

• Unsafe working conditions

• Threats against workers who complain

Domestic Servitude

Victims may work inside private homes as:

• Housekeepers

• Caregivers

• Nannies

They may experience:

• Isolation

• Abuse

• Withheld wages

• Restrictions on leaving

Hospitality Industry

Trafficking can occur in:

• Hotels

• Restaurants

• Cleaning services

• Resorts

Other Labor Settings

Including:

• Landscaping

• Nail salons

• Factories

• Traveling sales crews

• Fishing industries 

Other Forms of Human Trafficking

Child Trafficking

Children are especially vulnerable because traffickers exploit their dependence, trust, and lack of resources.

Children may be trafficked for:

• Commercial sex

• Forced labor

• Domestic servitude

• Online sexual exploitation

• Forced criminal activity

A child does not need to prove force, fraud, or coercion in cases of commercial sex trafficking under U.S. law.

Online Human Trafficking and Exploitation

The internet has created new ways for traffickers to recruit and control victims.

Methods include:

• Social media grooming

• Fake job offers

• Fake modeling opportunities

• Dating manipulation

• Sextortion

• Exploitation through online advertisements

Traffickers increasingly use technology because it allows them to target victims, advertise exploitation, and communicate anonymously.

Forced Criminal Activity

Some victims are forced to participate in illegal activities such as:

• Drug transportation

• Theft

• Fraud schemes

• Gang-related activities

Although the victim may appear to be committing a crime, they may actually be under the control of a trafficker.

How Prevalent Is Human Trafficking in the United States?

Human trafficking occurs in every U.S. state and territory. It affects people in cities, suburbs, rural communities, and tourist destinations. 

The National Human Trafficking Hotline has received:

• More than 463,000 signals since its creation

• Identified more than 112,000 trafficking cases

• Identified more than 218,000 victims involved in those cases

These numbers represent only situations reported to the Hotline—they do not represent every victim because trafficking is a hidden crime and many victims never come forward. 

In 2024 alone, the Hotline identified:

• 11,999 trafficking cases

• 21,865 victims involved in those cases

The Hidden Reality: Victims Often Do Not Look Like Victims

Many people imagine trafficking victims as strangers kidnapped from distant places. The reality is often very different.

A victim may be:

• A teenager manipulated by someone they trust

• A person promised a legitimate job

• A worker trapped by debt

• Someone afraid to leave because of threats

• Someone who does not yet recognize they are being exploited

Trafficking survives because it remains hidden.

If someone is experiencing trafficking or you suspect trafficking:

National Human Trafficking Hotline
Call: 1-888-373-7888
Text: 233733 (BEFREE)
Online reporting is available through the National Human Trafficking Hotline. 

“Human trafficking thrives in silence. Awareness breaks the silence. Compassion creates a pathway to freedom. Together, we can help restore the voices, dignity, and futures stolen from survivors.”