Red Flags of Child Trafficking

Know The Signs...

Save A Child

Red Flags of Child Trafficking

Red Flags of Child Trafficking

Know The Signs...

Save A Child

Boys as Victims

Boys are often overlooked as possible victims of sex trafficking. Just like girls, boys are often lured into the sex trade in exchange for something of value, especially when they are attempting to survive on the street with no social or familial support. Male survivors of trafficking often face strong stigma from their communities, social service providers, and law enforcement, even though they are victims of a crime.

General Indicators of Child Trafficking

A victim may look like any other child or teenager you see every day. These are indicators of a child that is being trafficked:

  • Leaves home frequently and/or for significant periods of time
  • Shows signs of mental, physical, or sexual abuse
  • Uses street slang for sex work
  • Has a significantly older partner/spends a lot of time with a controlling person or older adult
  • Relies on another person to speak for them
  • Indications or reports of domestic violence/intimate partner violence
  • Lies about age or carries a fake form of identification
  • Describes a stalking situation
  • Lives in housing provided by employer
  • Significantly reduces contact with family, friends, or other support networks
  • Displays a pattern of staying in the homes of friends or a non-legally responsible adult
  • Older boyfriend or new friends with a different lifestyle
  • Shows signs of gang affiliation (i.e.) a preference for specific colors, notebook doodles of gang symbols, etc.)
  • Less appropriately dressed than before or New expensive clothing and an additional phone that you did not buy
  • Reluctant to discuss how they make money, where they live, or how or when they came to the United States
  • Lacks control over schedule and/or money
  • Has large amounts of money or costly items they cannot reasonably afford
  • Brags about making or having lots of money (money belongs to the trafficker)
  • Involvement in systems (social services, PINS, courts, etc.)
  • Works more than they are in school or does not often attend school
  • Unexplained absences from school
  • Overly tired in class
  • Experiences suicidal ideations and/or depression
  • Youth has experienced multiple placements

Physical Indicators of Child Trafficking

  • Has untreated injuries
  • Signs of physical abuse such as burn marks, bruises or cuts
  • Has old and new injuries and/or is injured frequently
  • Explanations for injuries are inconsistent with their severity
  • Has had multiple sexually transmitted infections and/or abortions
  • Exhibits overt sexualized behavior
  • Exhibits evidence of sexual abuse
  • New tattoo (tattoos are often used by pimps as a way to brand victims. Tattoos of a name, symbol of money or barcode could indicate trafficking)

Psychological/Behavioral Indicators of Child Trafficking

  • Has heightened sense of fear or distrust of authority
  • Is unwilling to disclose whereabouts or information about parents or caregivers
  • Is restricted in communication and/or displays anxious, fearful, depressed, submissive, tense, nervous behavior, withdrawn, distracted, or checked out
  • Is unwilling or unable to identify as a victim
  • Displays behaviors aligned with a trauma history or PTSD
  • Has many inconsistencies in their story
  • Multiple youths retell the same story, in the same way, many times, giving the appearance that the story has been coached
  • Fear of consequences is greater than circumstances would warrant (for example, being late)

Boys as Victims

Boys are often overlooked as possible victims of sex trafficking. Just like girls, boys are often lured into the sex trade in exchange for something of value, especially when they are attempting to survive on the street with no social or familial support. Male survivors of trafficking often face strong stigma from their communities, social service providers, and law enforcement, even though they are victims of a crime.

General Indicators of Child Trafficking

A victim may look like any other child or teenager you see every day. These are indicators of a child that is being trafficked:

  • Leaves home frequently and/or for significant periods of time
  • Shows signs of mental, physical, or sexual abuse
  • Uses street slang for sex work
  • Has a significantly older partner/spends a lot of time with a controlling person or older adult
  • Relies on another person to speak for them
  • Indications or reports of domestic violence/intimate partner violence
  • Lies about age or carries a fake form of identification
  • Describes a stalking situation
  • Lives in housing provided by employer
  • Significantly reduces contact with family, friends, or other support networks
  • Displays a pattern of staying in the homes of friends or a non-legally responsible adult
  • Older boyfriend or new friends with a different lifestyle
  • Shows signs of gang affiliation (i.e.) a preference for specific colors, notebook doodles of gang symbols, etc.)
  • Less appropriately dressed than before
  • Reluctant to discuss how they make money, where they live, or how or when they came to the United States
  • Lacks control over schedule and/or money
  • Has large amounts of money or costly items they cannot reasonably afford
  • Brags about making or having lots of money (money belongs to the trafficker)
  • Involvement in systems (social services, PINS, courts, etc.)
  • Works more than they are in school or does not often attend school
  • Unexplained absences from school
  • Overly tired in class
  • Experiences suicidal ideations and/or depression
  • Youth has experienced multiple placements

Physical Indicators of Child Trafficking

  • Has untreated injuries
  • Signs of physical abuse such as burn marks, bruises or cuts
  • Has old and new injuries and/or is injured frequently
  • Explanations for injuries are inconsistent with their severity
  • Has had multiple sexually transmitted infections and/or abortions
  • Exhibits overt sexualized behavior
  • Exhibits evidence of sexual abuse
  • New tattoo (tattoos are often used by pimps as a way to brand victims. Tattoos of a name, symbol of money or barcode could indicate trafficking)

Psychological/Behavioral Indicators of Child Trafficking

  • Has heightened sense of fear or distrust of authority
  • Is unwilling to disclose whereabouts or information about parents or caregivers
  • Is restricted in communication and/or displays anxious, fearful, depressed, submissive, tense, nervous behavior, withdrawn, distracted, or checked out
  • Is unwilling or unable to identify as a victim
  • Displays behaviors aligned with a trauma history or PTSD
  • Has many inconsistencies in their story
  • Multiple youths retell the same story, in the same way, many times, giving the appearance that the story has been coached
  • Fear of consequences is greater than circumstances would warrant (for example, being late)