January 27, 2023
Do you believe someone you know may be a victim of human trafficking? If so, learn how to spot the warning signs of the person involved and how to report human trafficking.
Human trafficking affects 25 million people worldwide, including a reported 16,710 cases in the United States (2021).
To report an incident, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or use one of the state and local reporting tools outlined below.
What is Human Trafficking?
Human Trafficking is defined as the “business of stealing freedom for profit.” Traffickers will trick, persuade, or force their victims into commercial sex or manipulate them into working under inhumane, illegal, or unacceptable conditions.
Human trafficking is a multi-billion criminal industry that affects nearly 25 million people around the world. In the United States alone, there were 10,360 cases of human trafficking, which included 16,710 victims that were reported and identified in 2021.
Anyone can be a victim of human trafficking, but those most vulnerable tend to be substance addicts, people affected by mental illness, individuals involved with the child welfare system, the homeless, and runaway youth.
What are the Types of Human Trafficking?
There are two types of human trafficking: sex and labor.
Sex Trafficking
Sex trafficking is defined as the use of force, fraud, or coercion by a trafficker to accomplish a commercial sex act with an adult or minor.
Labor Trafficking
Labor Trafficking (also known as forced labor), is when a trafficker uses force, fraud, or coercion to obtain labor or services from an adult or minor.
National Human Trafficking Hotline Statistics (2021)
In the US, 10,360 cases of human trafficking were identified in 2021. The statistics of these cases were broken down as follows:
What are the Signs of Human Trafficking?
If you believe someone may be a victim of human trafficking, lookout for these signs.
- Person seems submissive, fearful, or paranoid
- Person has branding tattoos on face or chest
- Person exhibits signs of substance abuse
- Person uses multiple phones or social media accounts
- Person has unexplained injuries or bruising
- Person works unusual or long hours of the day and night
How to Report Human Trafficking
If you are a victim of human trafficking or believe you know someone who is, you can report human trafficking confidentially to the National Human Trafficking Hotline by phone or text.
Phone: 1-888-373-7888
Text: 233733
Texas has the second-most reported cases. If you spot signs of human trafficking in Texas, you can report the crime to Texas Suspicious Activity Reporting Network iWatchTexas.
How Can TrapWire Help?
As the developer of the iWatchTexas program, as well as other public facing reporting systems, TrapWire helps fight crimes like human trafficking by acting as the reporting, collection and analysis tool for Federal, State and Local law enforcement. To learn more contact us.