Human trafficking is a serious yet sadly often unnoticed crime. Oftentimes, the signs are hidden in plain sight. Whether it’s happening in cities, suburbs, or rural communities, trafficking can affect anyone, anywhere, at any time. Recognizing the signs of trafficking within your community is essential for those who want to play an active role in prevention. Awareness can help expose these situations and protect vulnerable individuals before it’s too late.

At Safe House Project, we are helping lead the fight against human trafficking. With a focus on raising awareness and educating communities about the realities of this issue, we seek to combat this pervasive crime by teaching people how to spot and respond to signs of trafficking in their everyday lives. In this blog, we’ll provide readers with practical insights into recognizing the often-overlooked indicators of trafficking. Our goal is to arm you with the knowledge needed to identify these signs in a variety of environments and to take steps toward helping those in need.

The Scope of Human Trafficking

The Many Faces of Human Trafficking

Trafficking manifests in various forms, making it harder to detect. It is not limited to one type of exploitation. Beyond the widely known issue of sex trafficking, labor trafficking is equally prevalent and often misunderstood. Victims of labor trafficking might be forced to work under inhumane conditions, receiving little to no compensation, while their traffickers exert control through threats or deception. These forms of trafficking are not exclusive to certain areas or populations—they can occur in affluent neighborhoods just as easily as in urban settings. Misconceptions about trafficking often lead people to think it’s something that happens far away, in different countries, or under extreme circumstances. In reality, trafficking can occur in any community, and victims can be men, women, or children from any socioeconomic background. Labor trafficking, in particular, is frequently overlooked. Domestic workers, construction laborers, and agricultural workers can all fall victim to this form of exploitation. Traffickers often use manipulation, fear, and financial control to keep victims from seeking help.

Common Myths vs. Reality

Another myth is that trafficking only happens in certain types of areas, like impoverished neighborhoods or overseas. The truth is, trafficking can be found in upscale suburban homes, small rural towns, and online spaces. Many people also believe trafficking is always visible or dramatic. However, traffickers are skilled at concealing their activities, and victims may not always show outward signs of distress. It’s vital to dispel these myths so that individuals are more attuned to the subtle, everyday indicators of trafficking, regardless of where they are. For a deeper understanding of the common misconceptions surrounding human trafficking, visit the DHS Blue Campaign’s Myths and Misconceptions page.

Key Indicators of Human Trafficking

Recognizing Behavioral Red Flags

One of the most critical aspects of recognizing trafficking is paying attention to behavior. Trafficking victims often exhibit specific behaviors that can raise red flags if you know what to look for. Victims may seem unusually fearful, anxious, or submissive, especially around certain people. They might avoid eye contact, seem unable to speak for themselves, or appear to have no control over their own decisions, movements, or money. Another behavioral sign is someone being overly deferential or withdrawn. These individuals might seem disoriented, unsure of their surroundings, or confused about where they are or what day it is. In some cases, traffickers accompany their victims in public spaces and prevent them from interacting with others, further controlling their movements and communication.

Physical and Environmental Clues

Beyond behavior, there are also physical and environmental signs that can point to trafficking situations. These clues may include physical appearance or the conditions in which a person is found. Victims of trafficking may show signs of physical abuse, malnutrition, or exhaustion. They might lack access to basic necessities like proper clothing or hygiene products, even if they are employed in industries where such neglect would seem out of place. In environments where trafficking occurs, you might notice overcrowded living conditions, restricted access to outdoor spaces, or evidence that individuals are being moved frequently. Unusual travel patterns, such as people being dropped off and picked up at odd hours, or the presence of barred windows, can also signal that something is wrong.

Specific Signs in Different Contexts

Trafficking can occur in various settings, and the signs may differ depending on the environment. In workplaces, employees may not have access to their identification documents or may be forced to live on-site under restrictive conditions. In residential areas, you might notice individuals who seem isolated, rarely leaving the property, or who work excessively long hours without breaks. In public spaces, victims may appear out of place, unsure of their surroundings, or accompanied by someone who controls their interactions. Being attuned to these signs in different contexts can help expose trafficking where it might otherwise go unnoticed.

Common Trafficking Environments

Recognizing Behavioral Red Flags

Identifying human trafficking often requires careful observation of behavioral patterns. Victims of trafficking may display signs of fear, anxiety, or extreme deference, particularly in the presence of certain individuals. They might avoid interaction with others or appear hesitant to speak freely, as if under instruction or control. 

In some cases, victims may seem overly submissive, disconnected, or unsure about their surroundings. They may struggle to answer basic questions about their daily lives, such as where they live or work, or appear unaware of their exact location. Traffickers often control their victims’ movements and communication, which can be evident in public interactions where victims are closely monitored or prevented from engaging with others independently. 

Vulnerabilities in Suburban and Rural Areas

While trafficking is often associated with urban areas, it is just as prevalent in suburban and rural settings. Trafficking in rural or suburban environments can be harder to detect because it often happens behind closed doors. In these areas, traffickers may exploit farm laborers, domestic workers, or even factory employees, hiding their operations in seemingly quiet communities. Since rural areas often lack the resources or awareness needed to spot trafficking, it can flourish undetected. Residents in these communities should be aware that trafficking doesn’t only happen in faraway places—it can happen right next door.

Online Spaces as Trafficking Hotspots

The digital age has made it easier for traffickers to exploit individuals online. Trafficking often begins or is facilitated through online platforms. Predators use social media, job boards, or messaging apps to lure victims. They may promise employment or relationships, only to trap individuals in exploitative situations. In online environments, signs of trafficking can include secretive or deceptive behavior, such as being forced to respond to messages while under surveillance. Understanding how trafficking operates in digital spaces is crucial for prevention.

What to do if You Suspect Trafficking

Immediate Steps to Take

If you suspect someone is a victim of trafficking, there are steps you can take to help without putting the victim or yourself at risk. The first and most important step is to report your suspicions to the proper authorities. Contact local law enforcement or a human trafficking hotline. If you witness trafficking in a public space, try to note key details like the location, the physical appearance of the trafficker and victim, and any license plate numbers if vehicles are involved. Avoid confronting the trafficker directly, as this could put both you and the victim in greater danger. Instead, provide as much information as possible to the authorities, who are trained to handle these situations safely.

Supporting Victims Without Compromising Their Safety

Offering help to a victim of trafficking must be done carefully to avoid putting them at further risk. If you believe someone is being trafficked, ensure that any help you offer prioritizes their safety. Traffickers often exert control through fear, and victims may be too afraid to seek help on their own. If it’s safe to do so, discreetly offer information on resources such as the National Human Trafficking Hotline. However, never pressure a potential victim to leave a situation abruptly, as this could escalate the danger. Empower them with options, but let professionals take the lead in extracting them from the situation.

Our Role in Raising Awareness

Educational Programs and Resources

Safe House Project is committed to educating the public on how to identify and respond to trafficking. Safe House Project offers a range of educational programs, including workshops, online courses, and community outreach initiatives, aimed at raising awareness about the signs of human trafficking. These programs are designed to equip everyday citizens with the tools they need to identify potential trafficking situations and take appropriate action. By focusing on education, Safe House Project empowers individuals to become part of the solution.

How to Get Involved

There are numerous ways to support the fight against trafficking through Safe House Project. Safe House Project offers several opportunities for involvement, from fundraising to getting training, to signing petitions. Become part of Safe House Project’s mission by donating or participating in training, helping expand the reach of safe homes and survivor services nationwide. By spreading the word in your community and sharing educational resources, you can help increase awareness and contribute to the fight against trafficking.

Final Thoughts

Recognizing the hidden signs of human trafficking is the first step toward prevention. By becoming more aware of the behavioral, physical, and environmental indicators of trafficking, you can help expose these crimes and protect those in danger. Safe House Project’s educational initiatives are a vital resource for individuals looking to make a difference. Through continued awareness and action, we can work together to create a world where trafficking no longer thrives in the shadows.

Safe House Project

Safe House Project invites you to join the fight against human trafficking. Action begins with education, and you can make a difference. Visit our website to access educational resources and find out how you can contribute to our mission. Together, we can help end human trafficking and provide survivors with the support they need. Help provide survivors with transformative care by donating today—$0.87 of every dollar goes directly to services that assist survivors in building new lives. Donate today.

Sex trafficking is widely placed into a category as being a “women’s issue.” In addition to being simply untrue, this categorization is harmful to male survivors of sex trafficking. It exacerbates the shame some survivors may feel. It drives an already low identification rate lower, because people are not looking for males to exhibit signs of trafficking. It places a road block for those survivors seeking support, as they risk not being believed and not being able to find placement in a restorative care home because beds available for men and boys are slim to none.

But the reality of the matter is that 13% of sex trafficking survivors are men and 1 in 3 child trafficking victims are boys. This leaves a staggering number of male survivors left to fend for themselves when seeking restorative care in a country where trafficking is viewed as a women’s issue.

We must do better as communities seeking to support survivors and help them overcome their pasts.

The mission to eradicate child sex trafficking in America includes boys.

The drive to ensure hope, freedom, and a future for survivors of human trafficking involves boys and men.

The call to be a safe house and build safe houses includes a refuge for boys and men.

Safe House Project is proud to support organizations who offer restorative care to men and boys while upholding industry best-practices. Our mission to educate communities includes educating them on how to spot, report, and prevent the trafficking of men and boys. Our drive for survivor empowerment is all-encompassing, with the understanding that male survivor leaders are valid and have something unique to bring to the table, just as each female survivor we work with does.

Sex trafficking is not a women’s issue. It is a community issue. It is a human rights issue. It is an issue that impacts small rural towns and widespread metropolises, from the West Coast to the East Coast, and everywhere in between.

If you are a male survivor, your story is valid. Your healing is important. You matter. We believe you.

When financial institutions are found to be entangled in criminal activities like human trafficking, whether knowingly or unwittingly, it deeply undermines public trust and raises pressing questions about their responsibilities. What can we (or should we) expect from these organizations when it comes to preventing criminal behavior like sex trafficking?

On a fundamental level, corporate social responsibility (CSR) refers to a company’s commitment to operating in a socially responsible and sustainable manner and taking responsibility for its impact on society and the environment. According to Harvard Business School, 70% of Americans believe it is important for companies to practice CSR, and 55% believe companies should take a stand on key issues. These beliefs are often followed up by American consumers’ purchasing practices, with 77% of consumers feeling motivated to buy from or support companies that are publicly committed to making the world a better place.

In the context of recent lawsuits, many of the financial institutions implicated in the Epstein scandal have faced public backlash and calls for accountability, which raises the question of whether CSR can play a role in preventing or addressing such situations. Many Americans believe that these companies should hold some responsibility for the impact and damage caused by Epstein’s sex trafficking ring. These beliefs raise the question: What is reasonable to expect financial institutions to do to prevent and report sex trafficking as a part of their corporate social responsibility efforts?

The following points cover practices that financial institutions should adopt to prevent their services from being used for criminal purposes, including sex trafficking:

• Proactive vetting processes for business partners and associates — While it is excessive to expect an organization to conduct extensive background checks on every individual they interact with, financial organizations can establish policies and procedures that ensure that they do not knowingly engage with individuals or entities involved in illegal or unethical activities.
• Customer due diligence (CDD) policies — Financial institutions conduct CDD procedures to verify the identity of their customers and ensure that they are legitimate. Given the high numbers of traffickers that force survivors to open bank accounts or apply for credit cards to launder money (Forbes), there is an opportunity for financial institutions to notice suspicious activity.
• Trafficking awareness training — Many criminal activities utilize financial services, and most institutions have training in place to help employees recognize the illicit activity. However, sex trafficking transactions can often appear legitimate and specific training for recognizing the signs of trafficking can provide these companies with the knowledge and procedures for reporting the activity to the appropriate authorities. These signs include unusual patterns of cash withdrawals, frequent international wire transfers, or large deposits from unknown sources.
• Partnerships and collaborations — Financial institutions can collaborate with law enforcement agencies and government representatives to share information and best practices related to sex trafficking prevention. This includes participating in public or private partnerships to combat trafficking.
• Enhanced due diligence (EDD) procedures — EDD policies are triggered by customers or transactions that pose a higher risk of being related to sex trafficking. These policies involve performing additional checks, gathering information about specific transactions, and tracking deposits and withdrawals. Financial institutions can use EDD policies to gather evidence about potential sex trafficking activities.
• Artificial intelligence and machine learning technology — Modern technology can be utilized to detect suspicious or illicit activity in real time, simplifying the process for financial institutions to flag transactions that may be related to sex trafficking and preventing further crimes.

By implementing these practices, financial institutions can play an active part in reporting activities and gathering evidence that can lead to the prosecution of traffickers and the freedom of trafficking survivors. Adopting and embracing these policies should be an integral piece of the corporate social responsibility efforts of financial institutions in the United States. While there is no single solution to the complex issues of human trafficking and corporate responsibility, companies can take steps to be more proactive, transparent, and accountable in their actions. By doing so, they can help prevent situations similar to the Epstein scandal and contribute to a more just and ethical business environment.

Every 2 minutes a child is sold into trafficking. 4.8 Million people are victims of sex trafficking today. 300,000 American children are victims of commercial sexual exploitation each year. The Average age of entry into the commercial sex market is 12 years old. The average victim is held captive for 23.4 months before escaping, dying, or being set free. In the U.S., 1 in 6 reported endangered runaways are believed to be victims of child sex trafficking. Pimps in America earn up to $200,000 per year per girl. An estimated 30,000 victims of sex trafficking die each year from abuse, disease, torture, and neglect. Over 40% of minor victims of trafficking are first sold by a family member. 1% of victims are ever identified. There are less than 100 beds for child victims in the United States.

We are equipping everyONE to provide refuge for those exiting a trafficking situation and provide them pathways to freedom.

Join the Safe House Project Movement. Today there are more people in slavery than any other point in history. Our mission is to work collaboratively to provide more places of hope and freedom to those escaping sex slavery. You are part of providing refuge for survivors.

OUR MISSION

Safe House Project’s mission is to increase survivor identification beyond one percent through education, provide emergency services and placement to survivors, and ensure every survivor has access to safe housing and holistic care by accelerating safe house capacity and development across America.

Our vision is to unite communities to end domestic sex trafficking and restore hope, freedom, and a future to every survivor.

“I really cannot imagine where I’d be without you, honestly. Thank you for everything. You’ve made such a difference in my life. You’re the embodiment of the things I strive to be, the things I think I will be when I’m more healed. You’re brave and strong and passionate, but also kind and gentle and warm. Thank you for seeing me, for believing in my dreams.” – Jessica

Child sex trafficking is hard to imagine because each person’s story is different. The best way for you to understand the multiple facets of child sex trafficking is to hear the stories of survivors. Here are a few book recommendations for understanding more deeply child sex trafficking in America told by a few Survivor Leaders.

Kristi Wells, CEO and co-founder of Safe House Project is joined by Kristen Jenson. Kristen is the founder of Defend Young Minds, formerly protect young minds and the number one best-selling author of Good Pictures Bad Pictures.

Defend Young Minds gives you the tools to raise empowered, resilient, screen-smart kids.

Defend Young Minds encourages and equips parents and professionals with tools to raise empowered, resilient and screen-smart kids who know how to reject pornography. Led by Kristen A. Jenson, author of the #1 best-selling Good Pictures Bad Pictures series of read-aloud books and executive producer of Brain Defense: Digital Safety, a ground breaking curriculum for kids ages 8-12.

Good Pictures Bad Pictures

Good Pictures Bad Pictures Jr.

Books: https://defendyoungminds.com/books Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DefendYM Instagram: @defendyoungminds Twitter: @defendYM

Kristen A. Jenson, MA

Bridges Out of the Past: A Survivor’s Lessons on Resilience | Ria Story

In this captivating TEDx talk on resilience, Ria walks you through her own horrific story of more than seven years of sexual abuse by her father. She then shares the lessons on resilience she learned as she learned to not just survive, but thrive in spite of her past. Overcome challenges, obstacles, and adversity in your own life by building a bridge out of the past and into the future. Like many, Ria faced adversity in life. Raised on an isolated farm in Alabama, she was sexually abused by her father from age 12 – 19. Desperate to escape, she left home at 19 without a job, a car, or even a high school diploma.

Ria learned to be resilient, not only surviving but thriving. She worked her way through college, earning her MBA with a cumulative 4.0 GPA, and had a successful career in the corporate world of administrative healthcare.

Today, Ria is a motivational leadership speaker and author of 9 books. Ria and her husband, Mack Story, co-founded Top Story Leadership which offers motivational speaking, leadership training, coaching, and consulting.

As many of us take our children to pick out pumpkins, enjoy fall hayrides, and participate in trick-or-treating, some parents reflect on the normalcy that is parenting outside of exploitation.

One of the big gaps we see is resources and programs that are able to serve women with their children after they leave their trafficking situation. We know that there are a lot of other parents who are not female-identifying or men who are survivors who have their children. But specific for this webinar, just because that was the services that are usually available, we are speaking primarily about mothers who have been exploited and their children.

One of our large partner programs recently reported that 60% of the women in their 8 aftercare homes are mothers, and yet, finding placement for a woman with her child remains difficult. While housing options for women who have experienced trafficking with their children are scarce, we are honored to partner with many different organizations that have committed themselves to filling this gap. We facilitated a conversation among these organizations about the importance of serving this population and how they have addressed the challenges that come with it.

About the Panelists:

Angelica Zuniga

Angelica is a survivor leader, contracted through the Department of Human Services. She provides supportive services to high risk and adjudicated youth. Angela sits on the CEC Advisory Board with the National Center for Youth Law. She’s a member of the steering committee of the Coalition Against Human Trafficking, Curry County. She facilitates, she co-facilitate awareness trainings with Common Spirit, dignity.

Angelica believes in recovery with the collaboration of other organizations that victims can turn into victors. She’s collaborated with other organizations, safe houses and recovery programs since 2013. She’s overseen Twilight Treasures whose focus is to reach individuals still active in the commercial sex industry.

And in 2021, Angelica became CEO of Redeemed Home, a local safe house in Kern County where they house women 18 and older, coming out of the commercial sex industry.

McKenzie Huska

McKenzie currently serves as the Marissa’s Housing Project manager for Call to Freedom in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. She advocates for women and their children, and that comes from her previous experience as a senior parole agent and field training officer in South Dakota, directly supervising adult women and men released from prison and in the correction systems that had slipped through.

After becoming a mother of two, that passion grew into an intense calling to directly impact women and children suffering at the hands of our systems. I absolutely adore the program that McKenzie oversees, and they are just an incredible incredible people.

Suzanne Baker Brown

Suzanne co-founded and is currently serving as CEO of Stepping Stones Network. Her passion is to help people find wholeness in life, health, spirit, body and soul so that they can step into the life they were created to live. Her background includes corporate leadership, management consulting, not for profit board experience, and extensive work in women’s ministry.Suzanne has also been an advocate for women and women’s issues in all of those con contexts.