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Watching For Traffickers
Traffickers can be anyone – business owners, members of a gang or network, parents or family members of victims, or intimate partners. Like victims, perpetrators of this crime can be of any race, ethnicity, or gender.
Traffickers use a variety of tactics to control their victims, such as:
- Physical and emotional abuse and threats
- Isolation from friends and family
- Economic abuse
- Monitor communications
- Withhold food, shelter, and transportation
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Why Victims Don’t Come Forward
There are many reasons a victim may be afraid to come forward and get help, including they:
- Don’t recognize they are a victim of human trafficking and/or don’t know their rights
- May not be in possession of or have control of their identification documents
- Have language barriers that make it difficult or feel impossible to reach out for help
- Fear law enforcement and/or lack of trust in organizations that could help
- Feel shame and embarrassment of their actions
- Have had food, shelter, and transportation withheld
- May have experienced threats made by their traffickers toward themselves and/or their loved ones
- Fear deportation or putting fellow workers at risk
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Recognize the Signs
Human trafficking is a hidden crime. Be aware of these signs.
Labor Trafficking Signs
- The individual is unpaid, paid very little, paid only through tips, or not paid directly
- They work excessive or unusual hours and/or are not allowed to take breaks
- They are unable to pay off a large debt that is owed
- They were recruited under false promises
- They live inside their place of work
- May not have access to documents/passports/identification
- Lacks knowledge of their location/area
- Not allowed to control communication devices
- Show signs of physical abuse
Sex Trafficking Signs
- Avoidance of eye contact and interaction with others
- The individual shows signs of distress, abuse, fear, anxiety, submission, despair, and/or nervousness
- They are evasive in sharing their name, address, or other personal information
- They have lack of knowledge about their whereabouts, such as city or state
- Their stories seem scripted or inconsistent
- They show signs of substance abuse or addiction, poor hygiene, malnourishment, or fatigue
- Their money, identification, or passport documents are controlled by another person
- Someone speaks for them and/or they are not free to come and go as they please
- Have tattoos/branding related to being property/owned by trafficker (depersonalization)
- Victims are trauma-bonded to their trafficker/feel they can’t live without their trafficker
- Show signs of physical abuse
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Who is Vulnerable
People may be particularly vulnerable to trafficking if they:
- Have an unstable living situation.
- Have a history of domestic violence.
- Have a caregiver or family member who has a substance abuse issue.
- Are undocumented immigrants.
- Are runaways or are involved in the juvenile justice or foster care system.
- Are facing poverty or economic need.
- Have a history of sexual abuse.
- Are addicted to drugs or alcohol.