What is Human Trafficking?
What human trafficking is, and isn’t
Human trafficking is the business of stealing freedom for profit. In some cases, traffickers trick, defraud or physically force victims into providing commercial sex. In others, victims are lied to, assaulted, threatened or manipulated into working under inhumane, illegal or otherwise unacceptable conditions. It is a multi-billion dollar criminal industry that denies freedom to 24.9 million people around the world. Please scroll down to learn more about what constitutes the crime of trafficking. We hope this information is useful to you. Please note that the staff of the National Hotline is focused on assisting victims and survivors and is not available to answer more general questions about their work or about human trafficking generally for research or other purposes.
Force, fraud, or coercion
U.S. law defines human trafficking as the use of force, fraud, or coercion to compel a person into commercial sex acts or labor or services against his or her will. The one exception involves minors and commercial sex. Inducing a minor into commercial sex is considered human trafficking regardless of the presence of force, fraud or coercion.
Action-Means-Purpose
The Action-Means-Purpose (AMP) Model can be helpful in understanding the federal law. Human trafficking occurs when a perpetrator, often referred to as a trafficker, takes an Action, and then employs the Means of force, fraud or coercion for the Purpose of compelling the victim to provide commercial sex acts or labor or services. At a minimum, one element from each column must be present to establish a potential situation of human trafficking.
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For immediate help call
911
so local law enforcement
can respond ASAP.
Indentifying Traffickers
place and does not match the weather/ season. Runs away from home or talks about doing so. (4+ runs= almost 100% likelihood of CSE) Recently started getting their nails done with fake acrylics and does not have access to legal employment/
allowance from guardians to cover cost. New boyfriend whose appearance in their life coincides with other changes on this list, often not someone
they go to school with, or knew previously. Is a female that uses gang signs, has a gang related tattoo, uses gang language, or glorifies gang lifestyle. Frequents casinos or associated hotels without plausible connection to legal gambling. Returns home after being unaccounted for or after running away and has cash on them beyond what guardians/ legal employment would provide. Displays adult / pornographic images on social media with sex industry references or links to escort sites. Uses sex-industry specific language. Has a male’s “street” name/ alias or references to “daddy” of “King” in tattoo on neck or breast. Has “property of” bar codes, dollar signs, or “100” tattooed anywhere on body. If already known to be posted in Backpage or similar site, shows inconsistency in age or other personal descriptions on multiple posts