According to dhs.gov, whether it’s an adult or a child, human trafficking is alive and well. “Human trafficking involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act. Every year, millions of men, women, and children are trafficked worldwide – including right here in the United States. It can happen in any community and victims can be any age, race, gender, or nationality. Traffickers might use the following methods to lure victims into trafficking situations:

Violence

Manipulation

False promises of well-paying jobs

Romantic relationships”

“Language barriers, fear of their traffickers, and fear of law enforcement frequently keep victims from seeking help, making human trafficking a hidden crime.

Traffickers look for people who are easy targets for a variety of reasons, including:

Psychological or emotional vulnerability

Economic hardship

Lack of a social safety net

Natural disasters

Political instability”

The above situations are things to watch for.  As previously stated, human traffickers don’t just target adults.  They also target children.  Human trafficking, whether adults or children, is a massive problem in the United States.

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Where there is a highly visible interstate highway, human traffickers also use these highways to transport their victims, and they also look for others they can exploit by stopping at truck stops and rest areas.  They often look for single people or families that are “stuck or needing help.”

Human traffickers also look for kids that might be unhappy at home, looking to run away, promises of money, a better life, or simply “a friend”.  Parents should always be aware of what and who their children associate with online.

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Catfishers are another way human traffickers are targeting adults and children.  They ask for pictures, promises of money, and other gifts.  Then, these catfishers use those pictures and threaten to spread those pictures out to different websites.

Exploitation of both adults and children is another form of human trafficking.  Forced labor, sex trafficking does exist.  Legitimate and illegitimate industries force these people to “work” for them.

There are several industries where victims can be found.  These include but are not limited to labor industries, including sweatshops, massage parlors, agriculture, restaurants, hotels, and domestic service.

A national hotline exists to report human trafficking or to ask for help. To get help from the National Human Trafficking Hotline, call 1-888-373-7888.  You can also contact your local authorities or call 911.  There is also a website that is full of helpful information.  Click here to go to the human trafficking hotline website.