The following is a list of potential red flags and indicators of human trafficking to help you recognize the signs.*

 

Common Work and Living Conditions

The individual in question:

• Is not free to leave or come and go as he/she wishes

• Is under 18 and is providing commercial sex acts

• Is in the commercial sex industry and has a pimp / manager

• Is unpaid, paid very little, or paid only through tips

• Works excessively long and/or unusual hours

• Is not allowed breaks or suffers under unusual restrictions at work

• Owes a large debt and is unable to pay it off

• Was recruited through false promises concerning the nature and conditions of his/her work

• Is in work and/or living locations with high security measures (e.g. opaque windows, boarded up windows, bars on window, barbed wire, security cameras, etc.)

 

Poor Mental Health or Abnormal Behavior

The individual in question:

• Is fearful, anxious, depressed, submissive, tense, or nervous/paranoid

• Exhibits unusually fearful or anxious behavior when law enforcement is brought up

• Avoids eye contact

 

Poor Physical Health

The individual in question:

• Lacks health care

• Appears malnourished

• Shows signs of physical and/or sexual abuse, physical restraint, confinement, or torture

 

Lack of Control

The individual in question:

• Has few or no personal possessions

• Is not in control of his/her own money or identification documents (ID or passport), Has no financial records or bank account

• Is not allowed or able to speak for himself/herself (a third party may insist on being present and/or translating)

 

Other

The individual in question:

• Claims to be just visiting and is unable to clarify where he/she is staying/address

• Lacks knowledge of whereabouts and/or does not know what city he/she is in

• Has a loss of sense of time

• Has numerous inconsistencies in his/her story

 

*The Polaris Project: www.polarisproject.org