RED FLAGS OR WARNING SIGNS
Human Trafficking “Red Flags” for the General Public If you come in contact with anyone exhibiting one or more of the following indicators, they may be a victim of human trafficking.
- Chronic runaway/truant/homeless youth
- Have goods or services they cannot afford (expensive shoes, manicure, etc.)
- Excessive amounts of cash
- Carries multiple hotel keys, cell phones, and/or poker chips (tokens)
- Someone else has control over their I.D.; lying about age, false identification, and/or inconsistencies
- Signs of branding (tattoo, jewelry)
- Restricted and/or scripted communication
- Physical injuries/signs of abuse
- Appear scared or nervous, may not make eye contact
- Lack of knowledge about where they are and why
- Signs of psychological trauma and abuse: anxiety, depression, thoughts of suicide, panic attacks, or lack of emotion (flat effect), dissociation, unexplained memory loss
- Typically has someone with them at all times, this person may seem controlling
- Traffickers use social media to recruit and solicit