Signs & Indicators
of Sex Trafficking
- Signs of physical abuse or restraint (cigarette burns, wounds, bruising)
- Submissive (ex: keeping head down in public/ not making eye contact; especially with men)
- Does not have access to any of the following: ID, passport, Birth Certificate, Social Security Card, Insurance Information.
- Has multiple cell phones
- Has pre-paid credit cards with no name indicating who they belong to (paying for them with cash only)
- Is not in control of his/her own money, no financial records, or bank account
- Has few or no personal possessions
- Branding (scars or possibly man's name or birthday)
- Unexplained absences from work or school
- Lying about where they are / have been
- New crowd of people to hang out with
- Always traveling with an overnight bag
- “Modeling” or “Acting” job
- Fearful of police or any other type of law enforcement/ first responders
- Is not allowed or able to speak for themselves (a third party may insist on being present and/or translating)
- Claims of just visiting and inability to clarify where he/she is staying/address
- Lack of knowledge of whereabouts and/or do not know what city he/she is in
- Loss of sense of time
- Has numerous inconsistencies in his/her story
