FAQ’s

Sex trafficking is human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation, including sexual slavery. The sex exploitation is based on the interaction between the trafficker selling a victim (the individual being trafficked and sexually exploited) to customers to perform sexual services.

Sex trafficked victims are young women and children under the age of 18 with the average age being 12-14 years of age. Minors under the age of 18 engaging in commercial sex are considered to be victims of human trafficking, regardless of the use of force, fraud or coercion.

The typical buyer is a Caucasian male, in the average range of 40 years old, married with 2 children, with an average income of $70,000.00 per year.

Sex traffickers frequently target victims using violence, threats, lies, false promises, debt bondage, psychological manipulation, drugs, and other forms of control to keep victims involved in the sex industry for their own profit.
A trafficker will slowly isolate a child with false hopes of love before selling that child for sex.

Sex traffickers often move their victims to areas hosting large sporting events and conferences such as Superbowl, March Madness, etc. which creates a spike in online advertising for sex on sites such as Craigslist.

Commonly use online social media community sites, such as Facebook, Craigslist, Backpage.com (Backpage.com shut down by the US Dept of Justice in March of 2018)
Seek vulnerable runaways
(contacted within 24-48 hours)
Seduction and coercion “Boyfriending”
False advertising for “modeling,” “acting,” or “dancing” opportunities
Peer recruitment (in schools)
Parents selling children for drugs or money
Violence and force
Kidnapping – 1% of cases

Are from all economic strata throughout the United States and abroad
Are under 18 years old (Average age is 12-14 years of age)
Walk to school or to the store alone often
Own or have access to a computer
Are attracted to consumer goods
Desire to develop romantic relationships
Sometimes feel insecure
Feel misunderstood
Fight with their parents
Sometimes feel their parents don’t care
Want more independence
Test boundaries and take risks

Excessive absences from school
Very tired during the day
Anxiety, fear, depression, withdrawn behavior
Signs of drug addiction
Frequently running away from home
Has an explicitly sexual online profile via internet community sites, such as Facebook, Craigslist, and Backpage.com (shut down by the US Dept of Justice March 2018).
Physical signs of abuse
Older “boyfriend” or “girlfriend”
A sudden change in attire, behavior, relationships, or material possessions
New or extravagant gifts
New tattoos, especially $ or Daddy
Doctors and nurses consider frequent or multiple sexually transmitted infections (STIs), pregnancies or abortions a warning sign.
Homeless, runaway, group home children.