Hidden in Plain Sight: Signs and Indicators

a Black girl sits in silence next to a couch
This learning module is part 2 of Hidden in Plain Sight: Understanding and Combating Familial Trafficking.

Signs and Indicators of Familial Trafficking

Familial trafficking is a complex and devastating form of exploitation that often goes unnoticed. However, there are signs and indicators that can help identify victims and put an end to this abuse. Common signs include sudden changes in behavior, unexplained absences from school or work, unexplained bruises or injuries, and a reluctance to talk about their family members. Additionally, victims of familial trafficking may exhibit signs of physical or emotional trauma, have a sudden influx of expensive gifts or possessions, or lack personal identification documents. 

It is crucial for communities and individuals to be aware of these signs and report any suspicions to authorities. By recognizing these indicators, we can work to prevent and combat familial trafficking and ensure that all individuals are protected and supported.

Signs and Indicators* to Recognize

  • Early age of onset of experiencing trafficking
  • Reports working for long hours in work positions that are inappropriate for the child’s age 
  • Indicators of other forms of trauma, including domestic violence, without explicit reference to trafficking 
  • Unexplained physical injuries
  • Somatic complaints 
  • Throat and urinary tract infections
  • Interrupted sleep patterns and insomnia
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • High level of dissociation/ ‘spacing out’
  • Memory loss
  • Learning disabilities and cognitive impairments 
  • Feeling unable to talk about family or home life
  • Distrust of adults or peers outside of the family system
  • Appearing as the ‘keeper’ of family secrets, or maintaining a high level of privacy on behalf of the family

Language

Here are some examples of how traffickers might use these words** to mask exploitation:

  • Vacation - "You're going on a special vacation to make a lot of money."
  • Trip - "We're going on a trip to the city to meet some important people."
  • Job - "This is your special job to help out the family."
  • After-school job - "You need to go to this after-school job to support your family."
  • Gardening - "You'll be helping out with gardening at a special farm."
  • The Farm - "You need to work at the farm to earn money."
  • Work - "This is what work looks like when you're in the city."
  • The Greenhouse - "You'll be helping out at a greenhouse."
  • Camping - "We're going camping in the city for a while."
  • Help - "You need to help out these men to make money."
  • Perform - "You need to perform for these people to make money."
  • Act - "You need to act like you're having fun to make money."
  • Juice - "Drink this juice to help you relax."
  • Road Trip - "We're going on a road trip to make money at different places."
  • My Friend - "This is my friend; you need to do what they say."
  • Be good - "Be good and these men will give us money."
  • Uncle / Aunt - "This is your uncle/aunt, you need to do what they say."
  • College Fund - "The money you make will go to your college fund."
  • Housekeeping - "You'll be helping out with housekeeping for these men."
  • Chores - "These are your chores to make money."
  • Cleaning - "You need to clean the house for these individuals."
  • Landscaping - "You'll be helping out with landscaping."
  • Assistant -"You'll be the assistant to these men to make money."
  • Selling - "You'll be selling things to make money."
  • Restaurant - "You'll be working at this restaurant to make money."
  • Entertain - "You need to entertain these individuals to make money."
  • Be nice - "Be nice to these people and they'll give us money."
  • Going to Disneyland - "We're going to Disneyland to make money.”

 

Let’s consider the following questions when it 
comes to signs and indicators of familial trafficking:

  • Family Dynamics - Are family members overly controlling or protective of one another?
  • Isolation - Is the individual isolated from friends, neighbors, or community activities? Are they discouraged from making outside connections?
  • Behavioral Indicators - Does the person show signs of fear, anxiety, depression, or submissiveness when family members are around?
  • Communication Restrictions - Is the person reluctant to talk freely or seem to be under constant surveillance?
  • Awareness of Exploitation - Does the individual seem unaware that their situation may be exploitative or abusive?
  • Health and Wellbeing - Are there signs of physical abuse, malnutrition, or lack of medical care?
  • School and Work Attendance - Does the individual have unexplained absences from school or work, or lack access to educational or employment opportunities?
  • Dependence on Family - Does the victim rely heavily on family members to the point where they seem unable to make decisions independently?
  • Legal Documents - Are personal identification or other important documents kept by the family members without their consent?
  • Fear of Authorities - Does the person express fear about the consequences of involving law enforcement or other authorities?

Module Navigation

* Navigating the Unique Complexities in Familial Trafficking, U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of State 

** Please note that language looks very different case by case. It's important to understand the nuances of the language used in these conversations. Asking the right questions can help identify potential cases of familial trafficking. It's important to listen to and be aware of body language.
 

Focus areas
Violence, Exploitation and Trafficking