National Human Trafficking Hotline
Call 1-888-373-7888 (TTY: 711) | Text 233733

Human Trafficking - The Signs & The Tools

Know the Signs

Some Signs from Hotline[1]
If you see any of these red flags, contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.
 
Common Work and Living Conditions:

• Is not free to leave or come and go
• Is unpaid or paid very little
• Works excessively or is not allowed breaks
• Owes a large debt and is unable to pay it off
• High security measures exist in the work and/or living locations (e.g. opaque windows, boarded up windows, bars on windows, barbed wire, security cameras, etc.)

 
Poor Mental Health or Abnormal Behavior:

• Is fearful, anxious, depressed, submissive, tense, or nervous/paranoid
• Exhibits unusually fearful or anxious behavior after bringing up law enforcement

 
Poor Physical Health:

• Lacks medical care; appears malnourished
• Shows signs of physical and/or sexual abuse, physical restraint, torture

 
Lack of Control:

• Has few or no personal possessions
• Is not in control of his/her own money, no financial records, or bank account
• Is not in control of his/her own identification documents (ID or passport)
• Is not allowed or able to speak for themselves (a third party may insist on being present and/or translating)

Other:

• Claims of just visiting and inability to clarify where he/she is staying/address
• Has numerous inconsistencies in his/her story

 
Additional Signs from USCCB[2]

• Tearfulness or signs of depression
• Unexplained bruises or cuts
• Appears to be in a relationship with someone who is dominating
• Never is alone
• Inability to leave their job or residence
• Says they cannot schedule appointments.

 
Screening Questions from USCCB
If you can find an opportunity to get he/she alone, ask him/her the following screening questions:

• Can you leave your job or house when you want?
• Where did you get those bruises or is anyone hurting you?
• Do you get paid for your employment?  Is it fair?  How many hours do you work?
• (If foreign national) How did you get to the U.S. and is it what you expected?  Are you being forced to do anything you don't want to do?
• Are you or your family being threatened?
• Do you live with or near your employer?  Does your employer provide you housing?  Are there locks on doors or windows from outside?
• Do you owe debt to anyone?

[1] https://humantraffickinghotline.org/human-trafficking/recognizing-signs
[2] http://www.usccb.org/about/anti-trafficking-program/identifying-trafficking-victims.cfm

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Take Action

• Learn how to identify human trafficking and how to provide assistance: http://www.usccb.org/about/anti-trafficking-program/identifying-trafficking-victims.cfm
  
• If you are in the United States and believe someone may be a victim of human trafficking, report your suspicions to law enforcement by calling 911 or the 24-hour National Human Trafficking Resource Center line at 1-888-373-7888.
  
• Trafficking victims, including undocumented individuals, are eligible for services and immigration assistance.
  
• Be a conscientious and informed consumer. Discover your slavery footprint (http://www.slaveryfootprint.org/), ask who picked your tomatoes (https://ciw-online.org/campaign-for-fair-food/) or made your clothes (http://fashionrevolution.org/), or check out the Department of Labor’s List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor (https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/our-work/child-forced-labor-trafficking).  And http://www.humanthreadcampaign.org/.www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/our-work/child-forced-labor-trafficking
  
• Fight sex tourism by asking travel agencies, hotels and tour operators to sign the Code of Conduct for the Protections of Children in Travel and Tourism: http://www.thecode.org
  
• Meet with and/or write to your local, state, and federal government representatives to let them know you care about combating human trafficking, and ask what they are doing to address it: https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials
  
• Support legislative action.  Sign up with the National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd for an easy way to engage Congress: http://bit.ly/nacsignup
  
• Encourage your local schools to partner with students and include modern slavery in their curricula. As a parent, educator, or school administrator, be aware of how traffickers target school-aged children: https://safesupportivelearning.ed.gov/human-trafficking-americas-schools
  
• Convene prayer gatherings with those in your faith community, with local interfaith organizations, and with the wider community for justice and healing for all those who have been affected by human trafficking.
• Raise awareness through email and social media.
• Hold workshops and informational meetings.