How to Spot Human Trafficking

Human trafficking is a form of slavery in which vulnerable individuals, often refugees or displaced people, are forced to perform labor or sex acts through force, fraud, or coercion. While most people have heard about sex trafficking, labor trafficking is more widespread. In both types of trafficking, the traffickers kidnap and enslave victims, then use physical abuse, deprivation, drugs, and rape to control and condition them. Because of this, many trafficking victims are not able to speak out or search for help. 

However, bystanders can help by looking for some of the common signs of human trafficking, asking questions, and contacting authorities if they suspect trafficking. Here’s how to spot human trafficking and what to do to help:

Signs of Human Trafficking

• Someone is living with their employer
• Someone is under 18 and involved in prostitution
• Someone has very poor living conditions and/or there are multiple people living in a very tight space
• You are unable to speak to the individual alone
• Someone’s employer is holding their passport or other identity documents
• There are signs of physical abuse, like bruising or other injuries
• The individual seems submissive or fearful
• The individual is unpaid or is paid very little money
• The individual’s responses seem to be rehearsed or scripted

These are some of the most common signs of human trafficking, but there are more specific signs depending on different industries and types of trafficking.

Questions to Ask Potential Victims

Only ask questions if you are able to talk privately with the individual you suspect is being trafficked. You don’t want to escalate the situation.

• If you want to, can you leave your job?
• Can you come and go as you please?
• Has anyone ever hurt or threatened you for trying to leave?
• Has anyone ever threatened your family?
• Are you living with your employer?
• Where are you eating and sleeping?
• Are you in debt to your employer?
• Where is your passport or other identification documents? Do you have access to them? If not, who has them?

What to Do if You Spot Human Trafficking

If you suspect that you’ve come across human trafficking, you should seek help immediately. If you are in the United States, call (1-888-373-7888) or text (233733) the National Human Trafficking Hotline and explain the situation. If the situation is urgent and you think someone is in immediate danger, call 911. If you are in another country, contact the authorities there right away.

The International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC) advocates for the rights of all uprooted people, including human trafficking victims. We have partnered with Caritas Mali to help survivors of human trafficking in Mali rebuild their lives. Our other efforts include: supporting survivors of sexual or gender-based violence, fostering the integration of migrant survivors of human trafficking, working for better protection of labor migrants, and championing the causes of these often unseen people deprived of basic rights. We need your help to achieve our goals. Visit our website and learn how you can help end this humanitarian crisis.

About the International Catholic Migration Commission

The International Catholic Migration Commission is a nonprofit organization that protects, serves, and advocates for displaced people throughout the world. We help refugees, asylum-seekers, victims of human trafficking, and migrants of all faiths, races, and ethnicities forge lives in safety and dignity.

With support from people like you, ICMC delivers humanitarian aid and social development, protects vulnerable migrants, contributes to refugee resettlement efforts, advocates before governments, and partners with civic leaders. We seek a sustainable solution to dangerous migration and refugee crises.

Find out more by visiting our website.