Human Trafficking

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