With human trafficking on the rise in epidemic numbers across the nation, it is now more important than ever to know the signs of human trafficking to look for when you are out and about. Recognizing these “traffic signals” could be the difference between life and death for a girl who is being enslaved within the human trafficking industry. Often these victims are hiding in plain sight. Here are some signs to look for that we at Saved in America want everyone to keep in mind. If you see something, say something, as you could be the difference between a rescued child, reunited with their parents, and a child that suffers in the clutches of a heartless predator. 

Signs That Someone is Being Trafficked

• The person seems timid, tense, submissive, or overly fearful. They will often refuse to talk with you if you ask them a question and will defer to the other person with them to answer your question. In many cases, the victim will even refuse to look you in the eye. They are instead woefully submissive and quiet, almost wishing to disappear into the background.

• You notice that the child has injuries or has been branded. Much like a type of cattle, pimps and predators see their victims as their property. Therefore, there will be signs of abuse in many cases as well as branding like tattoos—often located on the face or chest areas— featuring phrases often used by pimps. This could include tattoos related to sex or money or other industry-related phrases.

• You notice many people living in the same space within one house or complex. This can indicate a pimp has hidden several girls in one location. The living conditions are usually poor, and it's often not clear that there is a normal family structure in place. Instead, you will see several young girls of different races and backgrounds seemingly residing together.

Know The Traffic Signals

There are many other signs that someone is being trafficked, traffic signals if you will, that we must all learn to look for when out in public. Thankfully, the professional volunteers at Saved in America know exactly what to look for to track down missing and exploited children. However, they want us all to be aware of what might be around us every day, victims who are silently calling for help. Please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for more valuable tools to help in the fight against Child Sex Trafficking. We invite you to connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or your favorite platform for updates on our work or subscribe to our email newsletter for biweekly blog updates.