SEX TRAFFICKING: Know The Signs

Learn to recognize certain “red flags” and clues that can help you better assess if someone in your community may be a victim of exploitation.

Someone may be a victim of sex trafficking if she/he:

• Checks into hotels/motels with older males, and refers to those males as boyfriend or “daddy,” which is often street slang for pimp.
• Loiters at truck stops, and gets into trucks with older males.
• Has a history of multiple runaways or homelessness.
• Does not attend school or is frequently absent.
• Demonstrates an unexplained change in lifestyle, such as having excessive amounts of cash.
• Appears malnourished, fatigued, or exhausted.
• Avoids eye contact, social interaction, and authority figures/ law enforcement.
• Seems to adhere to scripted or rehearsed responses in social interactions.
• Lacks official identification documents.
• Appears destitute/lacking personal possessions.
• Has poor physical or dental health.
• Is in a controlling relationship or has visible signs of physical abuse, such as bruising, scars, or hearing loss.
• Shows psychological effects, such as shame, humiliation, anxiety, submissiveness, or disorientation.
• Has tattoos/branding on the neck and/or lower back.
• Has untreated sexually transmitted diseases.
• Is not allowed to go into public alone, or speak for her/himself.

The presence or absence of any of these indicators is not necessarily proof of human trafficking, but may alert you to a potential human trafficking situation.

By identifying potential victims and reporting tips, you are doing your part to help law enforcement rescue victims. You may even save a life.

If you need help, or you think someone may be a victim of human trafficking, please call Orange County Safe Homes’ Confidential 24/7 Crisis Hotline at 845-562-5340 or the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888.

You can also submit a tip online through the anonymous online reporting form via www.humantraffickinghotline.org/.