Human trafficking and sex trafficking are happening far more often, and closer to home, than most people realize. Over the last 15 years, these crimes have impacted countless individuals in communities of every size, race, and socioeconomic background. Recognizing the signs of human trafficking isn’t just helpful, it’s crucial.
Educators, parents, health care professionals, and community members all play a vital role in identifying victims and helping them find a way out. Awareness leads to action, and action leads to safety.
If you believe someone you know may be a victim of sexual abuse or sex trafficking, or if you’re looking for guidance on what steps to take, Andreozzi + Foote is here to help. Our trauma-informed attorneys offer confidential and compassionate legal support to survivors and their families nationwide.
What Is Sex Trafficking?
Sex trafficking is a form of human trafficking that involves the enticement, recruitment, harboring, transportation, or solicitation of a person for a commercial sex act. Commercial sex acts are any sex act for which anything of value is given to or received by any person.
Sex trafficking typically occurs through force, fraud, or coercion for sexual purposes. However, any minor engaged in commercial sex, regardless of circumstances, is legally considered a victim of sex trafficking.
Victims can be anyone: children, teenagers, or adults. Many are manipulated or threatened into staying silent, making it difficult for others to recognize what’s happening.
There is no universal form of sex trafficking. For example, a teen may be groomed by someone posing as a boyfriend, only to be pressured into sexual acts in exchange for money, shelter, or safety. Others may be threatened with violence, blackmail, or emotional control to engage in commercial sex.
Understanding these patterns and recognizing the signs of sex trafficking is the first step toward protecting vulnerable individuals and stopping the cycle of abuse.
What Are the Signs of Sex Trafficking?
Knowing what to look for can make the difference between continued abuse and someone finally getting help. The signs of sex trafficking are often subtle, but patterns can emerge with careful observation.
Here are some common warning signs of sex trafficking:
- Sudden changes in behavior, including fearfulness, anxiety, or depression
- A controlling older “partner,” “manager,” or a new group of friends
- Signs of physical abuse, including bruises, burns, or cuts
- Unexplained access to expensive items, money, or hotel keys
- Reluctance to explain their whereabouts or who they’ve been with
- Evidence of being coached on what to say
- Lack of control over personal identification documents
- Excessive secrecy or fear of law enforcement or authority figures
- Appearing malnourished, exhausted, or constantly monitored by someone else
Where Does Human and Sex Trafficking Commonly Happen?
Sex trafficking can occur anywhere. Traffickers exploit victims in plain sight, and no community is immune. Some of the most common locations where sex trafficking takes place include the following:
- Hotels and motels
- Short-term rental homes
- Truck stops and rest areas
- Massage parlors, spas, or illicit businesses
- Private homes or apartments
- Group homes or foster care settings
- Homeless shelters or transitional housing
- Schools, malls, or parks where traffickers recruit
- Large public events or entertainment venues
The Role of the Internet in Sex Trafficking
The internet plays a major role in how traffickers find, groom, and exploit victims. Social media platforms, gaming apps, chat rooms, and classified ad websites are frequently used to recruit individuals under the pretense of love, safety, or financial opportunity.
Traffickers may create fake profiles to establish trust and utilize online forums and dark web marketplaces to advertise or sell victims to buyers.
How to Respond If You Suspect Human Trafficking or Sex Trafficking
If you believe someone may be a victim of sex trafficking, it’s important to act carefully. Your safety and the victim’s safety must always come first. Never try to confront a suspected trafficker directly. Instead, take the following steps:
- Trust Your Instincts: If something feels wrong, don’t ignore it. Trafficking situations often hide in plain sight.
- Document What You See: Record dates, times, descriptions, and locations. This information can be helpful for authorities.
- Do Not Intervene Directly: Attempting to rescue someone on your own can increase danger for both of you.
- Call the National Human Trafficking Hotline: Call or text “BEFREE” or 233733 to (888) 373-7888. This hotline is confidential, available 24/7, and trained professionals handle the calls.
- Contact Local Law Enforcement: Reach out if you suspect someone is in immediate danger.
- Report Suspicious Online Activity: Contact the appropriate social media platform or submit your concern to cybertipline.org.
- Speak With a Trauma-Informed Legal Team: Getting in touch with a compassionate and knowledgeable attorney can help survivors and preserve necessary evidence in sexual abuse cases.
Even if you are unsure, reporting your concerns can be the first step toward helping someone in danger. When it comes to human trafficking, taking action saves lives.
How Andreozzi + Foote Can Support Survivors of Human and Sex Trafficking
Recognizing the signs of human trafficking and sex trafficking is the first step toward protecting lives and ending abuse. Your awareness matters, and so does your response.
At Andreozzi + Foote, we are here to help survivors and their families understand their legal options, protect their rights, and hold the responsible parties accountable. Our trauma-informed attorneys handle each case with compassion, professionalism, and a deep commitment to justice. Every consultation is confidential, and there are no fees unless we win.
If you suspect trafficking or need guidance, don’t wait. Call (866) 311-8640 or contact us online to request a free confidential consultation.
