Human Trafficking Red Flags

Recognizing potential indicators of human trafficking can help healthcare providers connect victims with resources and assistance. 
The individual in question:

  • Is not free to leave or come  and go at will
  • Is unpaid, paid very little,  or paid only through tips
  • Owes a large debt and is  unable to pay it off
  • Was recruited through false promises concerning the nature and conditions of his/her work
  • Is living and working at  the same site
  • Experiences verbal or physical abuse by their supervisor
  • Is not given proper safety equipment
  • Is fearful, anxious, depressed, submissive, tense, or nervous/ paranoid
  • Shows signs of substance  use or addiction
  • Shows signs of poor hygiene, malnourishment, and/or fatigue
  • Shows signs of physical and/or sexual abuse, physical restraint, confinement, or torture
  • Is not in control of their own money or identification documents 
  • Is not allowed or able to  speak for themselves 
  • Appears to have lost the  sense of time and location
  • Shares scripted, confusing,  or inconsistent stories
  • Protects the person who may be hurting them, or minimizes abuse

Source: Polaris