How Do I Know if It’s Trafficking?
Sex trafficking is a crime against a person in which a commercial sex act is induced by forcing, tricking, or pressuring/scaring them into doing it. Something of value (like money, shelter, food, drugs, safety, etc) is exchanged for that sex act. A commercial sex act for someone under the age of 18 is automatically considered trafficking in NC even without evidence of force, fraud, or coercion.
Labor Trafficking is a crime against a person in which they are forced, tricked, or pressured/scared into performing labor.
In some cases, someone may be a victim of both labor and sex trafficking.
If you think you or someone you know is being trafficked contact:
- National Human Trafficking Hotline 1-888-373-7888 or Text: 233733
- Cyber Tip Line cybertipline.org or 1-800-843-5678
- National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (contact if person is a minor) 1-800-THE LOST (1-800-843-5678)
- Contact Your Local Police
TRAFFICKING MYTHS
MYTH: Human trafficking does not happen in the US
FACT: In 2018, Polaris worked on 10,949 cases of human trafficking reported to the U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline
MYTH: Trafficking starts in adulthood
FACT: The common age for sex trafficking begins at 14-16
MYTH: All victims are abducted
FACT: Of the nearly 26,300 runaways reported to NCMEC in 2019, 1 in 6 were likely victims of child sex trafficking
MYTH: All trafficking is sex trafficking
FACT: Labor trafficking is often not recognized but can take many forms including agricultural work, magazine sales, domestic servitude, and illegal massage businesses
MYTH: Foreign-born people are the only victims
FACT: Traffickers prey on vulnerabilities such as homelessness, poverty, family conflict, legal status, substance use, or prior victimization. Victims come from all races, socioeconomic statuses, legal status and genders
MYTH: Only females get sex trafficked
FACT: Stigma often impedes a male’s willingness to disclose, but males are also sex trafficking victims
If you were surprised by these myths sign up for a Human Trafficking 101 Training.
TRAFFICKING INFORMATION
What is Human Trafficking?
Human Trafficking is exploitation that happens because of force, fraud or coercion. Not all human trafficking is sex trafficking; it can be labor trafficking or even a combination of both labor and sex trafficking. Additionally, Polaris Project has identified 25 different subcategories of human trafficking. It’s not always what you’d expect!
Who are the traffickers?
Sex trafficking rarely involves stranger abductions. Sadly, most victims are trafficked by someone they know and trust. Some survivors have been trafficked in their own homes by “friends” and even family members. Other victims are lured with false promises and then sent through a network of brothels throughout the country that use massage businesses as fronts.
Who are the victims?
Vulnerabilities are such as food and housing insecurities, increase individuals risk at being labor and sex trafficked.
According to Shared Hope International, the common age for entering the sex industry is 14-16. These kids may get raped up to 10 times a day. Victims are not just foreign-born. We have a large number of vulnerable US citizens who are at an increased risk for victimization. According to the National Youth Foster Institute, 60% of child sex trafficking victims have a history in the child welfare system.
Individuals exploited into labor trafficking are both male and female. These may be US citizens but are also frequently immigrants (both documented and undocumented). These individuals often work in a domestic servitude and agriculture.
North Carolina has a problem.
Our state consistently ranks in the top 10 nationally for human trafficking according to the Human Trafficking Hotline. North Carolina has great interstate systems, rich agriculture land and tourism, which all drive trafficking.
Who are the buyers.
Most buyers are white, middle class, married men–maybe not who you’d expect. In 2018, NC had more than 730,000 ads for sex on the dark web. If someone’s willing to buy, there will be someone else willing to exploit and sell vulnerable individuals. We have to address demand!
To learn more sign up for a Human Trafficking 101 Training.
INFORMATION FOR YOUTH
Many predators are focusing their efforts online to lure young people. Shield yourself, siblings & friends from sextortion, online enticement (luring), & catfishing.
Set Privacy Settings
Change your gaming apps and social media platforms to PRIVATE. If you can, set up two factor authentication for extra security.
Think Before Sending
If you wouldn’t send it to your grandma, don’t see it. Pictures and videos sent online are forever. If anyone ever pressures you, tricks, or blackmails you to send sexual images
call 1-800-843-5678 (Cyber Tipline) or report at https://report.cybertip.org/
Catfishing
Not everyone is who they say they are. Don’t meet someone in person, share your birthday or address with anyone you just met on the internet or a through gaming platform or an app. They may be trying to trick or lure you.
Sextortion
Teens, especially male teens, are being targeted by predators in hugely increasing numbers. In this scheme, teens are contacted by a supposed admirer of similar age. After building a flirty but trusting relationship, the teen is coerced into sending explicit images – then they are threatened with the publication of the images.
If this is happening to you, please call 1-800-CALL-FBI or report it online at https://tips.fbi.gov/.
Take It Down
If explicit pictures of videos of a minor have been posted online, there is a service to help have them taken down. Please visit https://takeitdown.ncmec.org/ for more information.
HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS VIDEOS BASED ON CAREERS/ACTIVITIES
Recorded Trainings
Watch Pre-Recorded Trainings on Human Trafficking
Topics Include: