This article is the third in a series of reference aids to support the Anti-Human Trafficking Community and others interested in knowing the signs of human trafficking (HT). There are many useful resources on HT signs or red flag indicators, just as there are many types of indicators that vary based on the forms of exploitation, businesses, modes of transportation, stages of trafficking, roles, means of control, etc. However, knowing the signs is not enough.
Since HT is a hidden crime, in most situations, there are few, if any, visible “signs” or “indicators” that trafficking is occurring. This is one reason why most lists of indicators are caveated that the presence of one or more indicators does not necessary prove that someone is being trafficked or each indicator taken individually may not imply a trafficking situation or not all victims of human trafficking will exhibit these signs, etc. However, being aware of indicators in a HT context justifies the need for reporting, referral, and further assessment. You must understand how HT works to analyze the situation and put the circumstances into context. Asking yourself the following questions may help:
- What am I looking at? Do I know what I’m looking at?
- Is HT a potential? Could this be something to report?
- Is someone in danger or is the situation time sensitive or not?
- Am I the only one with the ability or opportunity to report it?
- What are the consequences for the person if I do nothing?
Context is key to being able to help understand if what you are seeing is trafficking or something else. People who work in certain businesses, for example, may be more likely to spot signs of trafficking that are specific to the way that business operates. Below is a representative sampling of resources specific to either the type of trafficking or to how trafficking situations may intersect with certain kinds of systems and industries.
Recognizing and reporting the signs of HT is important for several reasons:
- You may save a life – information provided is often the first step in identifying, serving, and supporting victims of human trafficking in reclaiming their lives and obtaining self-sufficiency (inadequate victim identification is a problem for both law enforcement and for victim service providers and results in significant undercounting)
- Information may help identify the trafficker and/or his or her associates and bring them to justice, thus ensuring accountability
- Serve as a deterrence to prevent future occurrences of trafficking
- Reports of suspicious activities may prove to be the first or only available information on HT crimes which are grossly underreported nationally and globally
- Comply with Federal and state mandatory reporting requirements for health care providers, educators, social workers, and other professionals to help identify victims at risk of or exploited by HT (ideally laws also provide the resources and education necessary to make mandatory reporting effective)
- In sum, your information contributes to the “3P” paradigm – prevention, protection, and prosecution – the fundamental international framework to combat HT
Resources
4W STREETS (Social Transformations to End Exploitation and Trafficking for Sex)
- Healthcare Providers’ Perspectives on the Relevance and Utility of Recommended Sex Trafficking Indicators: A Qualitative Study https://4wstreets.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/1546/2021/12/2021-Healthcare-Providers-Perspectives-on-ST-Indicators-1.pdf
7 Red Flags of Human Trafficking That Trauma Nurses Should Know
7 Ways to Tell if a Job Posting is Actually a Human Sex Trafficker
A21 – Know the Signs
https://www.a21.org/content/human-trafficking/gqe0rc
American Academy of Pediatrics – Screening Tools for Child Trafficking
Anti-Human Trafficking Intelligence Initiative
- In-Person / Behavioral Red Flags https://followmoneyfightslavery.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Red-Flags-ATII.pdf
- Top Tips, Tricks to Detect Red Flags of Human Trafficking in Your FinCRIME Compliance Program, Including Inconsistent Income, Frequent CC, Booking Cancellations https://followmoneyfightslavery.org/new/red-flags-of-human-trafficking/
Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists
- Understanding and Identifying Labor Trafficking https://www.acamstoday.org/understanding-and-identifying-labor-trafficking/
- Understanding and Identifying Sex Trafficking https://www.acamstoday.org/understanding-and-identifying-sex-trafficking/
Association of Certified Financial Crime Specialists
- Top Five Ways to Detect, Counter Human Trafficking in Bank, Crypto Exchange Transactions https://www.acfcs.org/top-five-ways-to-detect-counter-human-trafficking-in-bank-crypto-exchange-transactions/
Top Tips, Tricks to Detect Red Flags of Human Trafficking in Your FinCRIME Compliance Program, Including Inconsistent Income, Frequent CC, Booking Cancellations https://www.acfcs.org/top-tips-tricks-to-detect-red-flags-of-human-trafficking-in-your-fincrime-compliance-program-including-inconsistent-income-frequent-cc-booking-cancellations/
CAPTAIN Community Human Services – Indicators of Youth Trafficking
Combating Human Trafficking at Casinos — Red Flags & Actions
https://www.biometrica.com/combating-human-trafficking-at-casinos-red-flags-actions
Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada
- FINTRAC-2016-OA003: Operational Alert: Indicators: The Laundering of Illicit Proceeds From Human Trafficking For Sexual Exploitation https://www.fintrac-canafe.gc.ca/intel/operation/oai-hts-eng.pdf
- FINTRAC-2021-OA001: Operational Alert: Updated Indicators: Laundering of Proceeds From Human Trafficking For Sexual Exploitation https://www.fintrac-canafe.gc.ca/intel/operation/oai-hts-2021-eng.pdf
Guardian Group
- Human Trafficking Indicators for Healthcare Providers https://guardiangroup.org/human-trafficking-indicators-for-healthcare-providers/
- Sex Trafficking Red Flags https://guardiangroup.org/sex-trafficking-red-flags/
Hope for Justice – Spot the Signs of Modern Slavery
Human Trafficking Capacity Building Center – Identifying Indicators of Human Trafficking
Human Trafficking Search – Know the Signs
Innovations Human Trafficking Collaborative – Top 10 Sex Trafficking Red Flags and Indicators
https://innovationshtc.org/red-flags-and-indicators-for-sex-trafficking
Institute to Combat Trafficking – Human Trafficking Banking Red Flags
https://justicestartsnow.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/ICT-Banking-Red-Flags_May-2020.pdf
International Labor Organization
- Indicators of Forced Labor https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/—ed_norm/—declaration/documents/publication/wcms_203832.pdf
- Operational Indicators of Trafficking in Human Beings https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/—ed_norm/—declaration/documents/publication/wcms_105023.pdf
Journal of Interpersonal Violence 36(11-12) – Examining Commonly Reported Sex Trafficking Indicators From Practitioners’ Perspectives: Findings From a Pilot Study
Meeting Professionals International – Training & Tips for Front-Line Staff – Indicators of Human Trafficking
Modern Slavery Prevention Hub – Signs of Modern Slavery
https://wm.hub.itsapenalty.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Signs-of-Modern-Slavery.pdf
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
- Child Sex Trafficking Identification Resource https://www.missingkids.org/content/dam/missingkids/pdfs/CST%20Risk%20Factors%20and%20Identification%20Fact%20Sheet%20May%202017.pdf
- Child Sex Trafficking Indicators https://www.missingkids.org/content/dam/missingkids/pdfs/NCMEC%20CST%20fact%20sheet_ParentGuardian.pdf
- Child Sex Trafficking Overview – Red Flags https://www.missingkids.org/content/dam/missingkids/pdfs/CST%20Identification%20Resource.pdf
National Domestic Workers Alliance
- Forced Labor Indicators https://www.domesticworkers.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/bs_report2017.pdf
Identifying Domestic Worker Survivors of Trafficking https://www.domesticworkers.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/bs_identifying_domestic_worker_trafficking.pdf
National Institute of Health – National Library of Medicine – Labor & Sex Trafficking Red Flags
New York State – Office of Children and Family Services
- Child Sex Trafficking Indicators Tool https://freedomnetworkusa.org/app/uploads/2018/04/OCFS-3920-Child-Sex-Trafficking-Idicators-Tool.pdf
- Rapid Indicator Tool https://freedomnetworkusa.org/app/uploads/2018/04/OCFS-3921-Rapid-Indicator-Tool-to-Identify-Children-who-may-be-Victims-or-at-Risk-of-Being-Sex-Trafficking-Victims.pdf
Phoenix Rising – Signs of Trafficking
https://phoenixrisingky.org/about-trafficking
Polaris
- Common Labor Trafficking Red Flags https://polarisproject.org/labor-trafficking/
- Common Sex Trafficking Red Flags https://polarisproject.org/sex-trafficking/
- National Human Trafficking Hotline (NHTH) (formerly NHTRC)
- Identifying Victims of Human Trafficking: What to Look for in a Healthcare Setting – Red Flags and Indicators https://humantraffickinghotline.org/sites/default/files/What%20to%20Look%20for%20during%20a%20Medical%20Exam%20-%20FINAL%20-%202-16-16_0.pdf
- Recognizing and Responding to Human Trafficking in a Healthcare Context https://humantraffickinghotline.org/sites/default/files/Recognizing%20and%20Responding%20to%20Human%20Trafficking%20in%20a%20Healthcare%20Context_pdf.pdf
- Recognizing the Signs https://humantraffickinghotline.org/en/human-trafficking/recognizing-signs
- On-Ramps, Intersections, and Exit Routes: A Roadmap for Systems and Industries to Prevent and Disrupt Human Trafficking https://polarisproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/A-Roadmap-for-Systems-and-Industries-to-Prevent-and-Disrupt-Human-Trafficking.pdf
- Recognizing Human Trafficking https://polarisproject.org/recognizing-human-trafficking/
RedCompass Labs
- RedFlag Accelerator – >350 Indicators (free for financial institutions) https://www.redcompasslabs.com/redflagsportal-registration
- How to Follow the Money of a Human Trafficker – 10 Scenario Infographics (each with 4 sample red flags) https://blog.redcompasslabs.com/tag/infographics
Sanction Scanner – Human Trafficking and Possible Red Flags
https://sanctionscanner.com/blog/human-trafficking-and-possible-red-flags-71
StopTheTraffik – Quiz: Can You #SPOTTHESIGNS?
Trends in Organized Crime – “Spotting the Signs” of Trafficking Recruitment Online: Exploring the Characteristics of Advertisements Targeted at Migrant Job-Seekers
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12117-019-09376-5
Truckers Against Trafficking
- Human Trafficking Red Flags https://truckersagainsttrafficking.org/red-flags/
- Labor Trafficking Red Flags https://truckersagainsttrafficking.org/labor-trafficking/
United Kingdom (UK) College of Policing – Modern Slavery – Risk and Identification
UK Home Office – Modern Slavery Awareness & Victim Identification Guidance
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/modern-slavery-awareness-booklet
UK National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children – Recognizing Child Trafficking
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
- Anti-Human Trafficking Manual for Criminal Justice Practitioners: Module 2: Indicators of Trafficking in Persons https://www.unodc.org/documents/human-trafficking/TIP_module2_Ebook.pdf
- Human Trafficking Indicators https://www.unodc.org/pdf/HT_indicators_E_LOWRES.pdf
- Key Indicators of Trafficking in Persons for the Purpose of Organ Removal https://www.unodc.org/res/human-trafficking/glo-act2/tip-for-or-toolkit/Tool_3.pdf
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
- Adult Human Trafficking Screening Tool and Guide https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/documents/otip/adult_human_trafficking_screening_tool_and_guide.pdf
- Fact Sheet: “Red Flags” That May Indicate Human Trafficking https://nhttac.acf.hhs.gov/resource/fact-sheet-red-flags-may-indicate-human-trafficking
Department of Homeland Security
- Blue Campaign – Indicators of Human Trafficking https://www.dhs.gov/blue-campaign/indicators-human-trafficking
- Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, Cornerstone
- November 2023 Issue #46: Child Sexual Exploitation in Financials – Red Flag Indicators https://content.govdelivery.com/bulletins/gd/USDHSICE-377fe91?wgt_ref=USDHSICE_WIDGET_217
August 2023 Issue #43: Indicators of HT | Financial Red Flag Indicators | Casino Related Red Flag Indicators
- https://content.govdelivery.com/bulletins/gd/USDHSICE-367ca7f?wgt_ref=USDHSICE_WIDGET_217
- April 2023 Issue #40: Pig Butchering https://www.ice.gov/doclib/cornerstone/pdf/cornerstoneACAMS_SpecialIssue40_Apr21_2023.pdf
U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office for Victims of Crime – Identifying Indicators of Human Trafficking
U.S. Department of State – Identify and Assist a Trafficking Victim
https://www.state.gov/identify-and-assist-a-trafficking-victim
U.S. Department of Transportation
- Combatting Human Trafficking in the Transportation Sector – Appendix 7.4. Indicators of Human Trafficking https://www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/docs/mission/administrations/office-policy/343931/acht-final-report-section-508-compliant.pdf
- Compendium of Human Trafficking Awareness State and Territory Laws: A Resource Guide https://www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/2022-07/USDOT%20TLAHT%20HT%20Laws%20Compendium%20-%202022%20Edition.pdf; Quick Access Chart version: https://www.transportation.gov/international-policy-and-trade/against-human-trafficking/transport-specific-human-trafficking-state
- Human Trafficking Response Guide for the Transportation Industry https://www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/2023-06/Human%20Trafficking%20Response%20Guide%20for%20the%20Transportation%20Industry%20508.pdf
- Indicators of Human Trafficking in the Transportation Industry
- Manual on a Comprehensive Strategy for Combating Human Trafficking in the Aviation Sector – Appendix B – Indicators of Human Trafficking in the Aviation Sector https://www.icao.int/Security/FAL/ANNEX9/Documents/10171_cons_en.pdf
- Project Final Report: A Comprehensive Strategy for Combating Human Trafficking in the Transportation Sector Within APEC Economies – 5.2 Modal Indicators http://mddb.apec.org/Documents/2021/TPTWG/WKSP4/21_tptwg_wksp4_011.pdf
U.S. Department of the Treasury – Financial Crimes Enforcement Network
- FIN-2023-Alert005: FinCEN Alert on Prevalent Virtual Currency Investment Scam Commonly Known as “Pig Butchering” https://www.fincen.gov/sites/default/files/shared/FinCEN_Alert_Pig_Butchering_FINAL_508c.pdf
- FIN-2023-Alert001: FinCEN Alert on Human Smuggling along the Southwest Border of the United States https://www.fincen.gov/sites/default/files/shared/FinCEN%20Alert%20Human%20Smuggling%20FINAL_508.pdf
- FIN-2014-A008: Guidance on Recognizing Activity that May be Associated with Human Smuggling and Human Trafficking – Financial Red Flags https://www.fincen.gov/sites/default/files/advisory/FIN-2014-A008.pdf
Verité – Research on Indicators of Forced Labor in the Supply Chain of Sugar in the Dominican Republic
Actions
As noted above, none of the indicators in isolation or combination are conclusive, however you do not need to be certain to report concerns, suspicions, or a sense that something is wrong in a potential HT situation. If there is cause for concern and reasons to start asking questions and trying to obtain more information, do so without putting yourself or the person you are concerned about in danger. If you believe you may have information about a trafficking situation:
- Call 911 and provide all available details to law enforcement if someone is in immediate danger
- Call 1-866-347-2423 to report suspected HT to Federal law enforcement (HSI)
- National Human Trafficking Hotline
- Toll-free: 1-888-373-7888
- Text HELP: 233733
- Chat: humantraffickinghotline.org/chat
- Email: help@humantraffickinghotline.org
- Online report (if situation is not urgent or occurred within the last 24 hours): https://humantraffickinghotline.org/en/report-trafficking
- National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (Child Sexual Exploitation)
- Toll free: 1-800-843-5678
- Online report: https://report.cybertip.org/
Previous Articles in Series
In Search of Human Trafficking – Terms, 21 Sep 2023
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/search-human-trafficking-terms-john-caulfield
In Search of Human Trafficking – Online News, 27 Oct 2023
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/search-human-trafficking-online-news-john-caulfield-dlwtc
