What is Human Trafficking?

Victims of human trafficking are subjected to force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of commercial sex or forced labor. They are young children, teenagers, men and women. Trafficking in persons occurs throughout the world, including in the United States.

Many victims of human trafficking are forced to work in prostitution or the sex entertainment industry, but trafficking also occurs in forms of labor exploitation in urban, suburban, and rural areas. Victims of labor trafficking who have been identified in the United States include domestic servants, restaurant staff, hotel employees, factory workers and agricultural laborers.

Traffickers use various techniques to control their victims and keep them enslaved. Some traffickers hold their victims under lock and key. However, the more frequent practice is to use less obvious techniques including:

• • Debt bondage – enormous financial obligations or undefined/increasing debt

  • Isolation from the public - limiting contact with outsiders and making sure that any contact is monitored or superficial in nature

  • Isolation from family members and members of their ethnic and religious community

  • Confiscation of passports, visas and/or identification documents

  • Use or threat of violence toward victims and/or family members

  • The threat of shaming victims by exposing circumstances to family

  • Telling victims they will be imprisoned or deported for immigration violations if they contact authorities

  • Control of the victims' money - e.g., holding their money for "safe-keeping."

Indicators of Human Trafficking

Recognizing key indicators of human trafficking is the first step in identifying victims and can help save a life. Here are some common indicators to help recognize human trafficking. You can also download or order the Blue Campaign indicator card, which is a small plastic card that lists common signs of trafficking and how to report the crime.

• Does the person appear disconnected from family, friends, community organizations, or houses of worship?

• Has a child stopped attending school?

• Has the person had a sudden or dramatic change in behavior?

• Is a juvenile engaged in commercial sex acts?

• Is the person disoriented or confused, or showing signs of mental or physical abuse?

• Does the person have bruises in various stages of healing?

• Is the person fearful, timid, or submissive?

• Does the person show signs of having been denied food, water, sleep, or medical care?

• Is the person often in the company of someone to whom he or she defers? Or someone who seems to be in control of the situation, e.g., where they go or who they talk to?

• Does the person appear to be coached on what to say?

• Is the person living in unsuitable conditions?

• Does the person lack personal possessions and appear not to have a stable living situation?

• Does the person have freedom of movement? Can the person freely leave where they live? Are there unreasonable security measures?

Not all indicators listed above are present in every human trafficking situation, and the presence or absence of any of the indicators is not necessarily proof of human trafficking.

Retrieved from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Rescue & Restore website on July 17, 2013.

For more information visit the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Rescue & Restore website.

Learn more: U.S. Advisory Council on Human Trafficking's 2016 Annual Report: www.state.gov/documents/organization/263434.pdf