Human trafficking involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act. (Note: Force, fraud and coercion do not have to be proven with minors under the age of 18!)
- Traffickers recognize and exploit their victim’s vulnerabilities.
- Human trafficking affects both adults and children, men and women, and people from all parts of Texas, the United States, and around the world.
- There are four major types of trafficking: Adult Sex Trafficking,
- Adult Labor Trafficking, Child Sex Trafficking & Child Labor Trafficking
Some of the red flags include:
- Third-party control of schedule and social interaction
- Unexplained injuries and evidence of violence
- Works excessively long or unusual hours with very little pay
- Living where the individual works
- Malnutrition, dehydration, exhaustion
- Not speaking for themselves
- Sexually provocative clothing
- Refillable gift cards
- High-end clothing or items recently purchased
Some red flags for minors include:
- Changes in school attendance, habits, friend groups, vocabulary, demeanor, and attitude
- Sudden appearance of luxury items — e.g., manicures, designer clothes, purses
- Multiple phones or social media accounts
- Isolation from family, friends, and community