AGAINST
Rochester Regional Coalition
HUMAN
TRAFFICKING
Educate • Advocate • Liberate
Trafficking Red Flags
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:
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Is not free to leave or come and go as he/she wishes
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Is under 18 and is providing commercial sex acts
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Is in the commercial sex industry and has a pimp / manager
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Is unpaid, paid very little, or paid only through tips
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Works excessively long and/or unusual hours
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Is not allowed breaks or suffers under unusual restrictions at work
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Owes a large debt and is unable to pay it off
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Was recruited through false promises concerning the nature and conditions of his/her work
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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:
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Is fearful, anxious, depressed, submissive, tense, or nervous/paranoid
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Exhibits unusually fearful or anxious behavior when law enforcement is brought up
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Avoids eye contact
Poor Physical Health
The individual in question:
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Lacks health care
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Appears malnourished
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Shows signs of physical and/or sexual abuse, physical restraint, confinement, or torture
Lack of Control
The individual in question:
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Has few or no personal possessions
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Is not in control of his/her own money or identification documents (ID or passport), Has no financial records or bank account
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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:
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Claims to be just visiting and is unable to clarify where he/she is staying/address
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Lacks knowledge of whereabouts and/or does not know what city he/she is in
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Has a loss of sense of time
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Has numerous inconsistencies in his/her story
*The Polaris Project: www.polarisproject.org