Recognize and Report Human Trafficking

Know the Red Flags
Recognize & Report Human Trafficking

Human trafficking happens in our community. Recognizing potential red flags and knowing the indicators of human trafficking is a key step to identifying more victims and helping them find the assistance they need. If you suspect someone is being trafficked, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888. If you would like to request a training, explore local reports on human trafficking, and connect with additional resources, please visit our Resources page

Know the Red Flags

These videos and brochures were created by the Coalition in partnership with the County of Santa Clara Office of Women’s Policy.

English Brochure

Vietnamese Brochure

Spanish Brochure

Download No Traffick Ahead’s “Red Flags” TRI-FOLD CARD to keep on your phone or print for your wallet.

Indicators of Human Trafficking

The following red flags are indicators of human trafficking. Some of these indicators may also be red flags for other forums of abuse. It is important to report red flags to the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888 who have direct connections to local agencies who can investigate a case further.

A trafficked person may:

Have Poor Physical Health

Have Poor Mental Health & and Abnormal Behavioral

Work or Live in Poor Conditions

Not free to go as they please or have other unusual restrictions at work
Work in the sex industry and have a pimp or manager
Be unpaid, paid very little, or paid only through tips
Be forced to turn over wages, deduct large fees from paychecks, or be paid indirectly
Work long or unusual hours, forced to meet daily quotas, or not allowed breaks
Owe a large debt and unable to pay it off
Live and work onsite
Be recruited through false promises concerning the nature and conditions of the work
Have security measures at work or home like barbed wire, security cameras, or opaque windows with boards or bars

Experience Loss of Freedom

Be an Exploited Child

Be under 18 and exchanging sex for money, food, or shelter
Have behavior changes, like retreating, being hyper-sexual, or having gaps in memory
Change in appearance like new attire, hair, nails, tattoos, expensive handbags/ jewelry
Have difficulty in school like not turning in homework, chronic absenteeism, frequent travel to other cities, or gaps in schooling/not in school
Have excessive cash, a new phone, hotel keys, or an older boyfriend
Lie about age, have a false ID, or not possess their own identification
Be unable or unwilling to give local address or information about parents
Be a chronic runaway or homeless or live with a non-parent/non-guardian, at their workplace/with employer, or live separately from “family” in the garage or on the floor instead of a bedroom
Not be allowed to freely contact parents or guardians
Be forced to sell drugs, jewelry, magazines on the street

Be in a Hotel, Bar, Restaurant, or Transportation

Be a child taking on adult roles, like paying the bill or talking about the local sex scene
Have lost sense of time and have inconsistencies in stories like claiming to be visiting, but not knowing where they are staying or what city they are in
Have a hotel room that is paid with cash or pre-paid card, overlooks the parking lot, or has excessive foot traffic in and out
Have a room for an extended stay, but few possessions or excessive drug, alcohol, or sex paraphernalia
Frequently requests new linens, towels, and restocking of mini-fridge