130 George St, Beckley, WV 25801

(304) 255-2559

For Your Safety

Our website features an ESCAPE button, for visitors to easily close the browser and remove historical data.  If you need to quickly, and safely exit the website just click the red ESCAPE button in the navigation – or the red X button on mobile.

Q

Human Trafficking

Are You Or Someone You Know Victims Of Human Trafficking?

Victims of human trafficking are frequently lured by false promises of a lucrative job, stability, education, or a loving relationship. Victims can be men or women, adults or children, foreign nationals or U.S. citizens. While they share the trait of vulnerability, victims have diverse ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, varied levels of education, and may be documented or undocumented.

As defined under U.S. law, victims of human trafficking can be divided into three populations:

 

  1. Children under age 18 induced into commercial sex.
  2. Adults aged 18 or over induced into commercial sex through force, fraud, or coercion.
  3. Children and adults induced to perform labor or services through force, fraud, or coercion.

Are You Or Someone You Know The Victim Of

Human Trafficking

What Is Human Trafficking?

Human trafficking is a form of modern slavery where an individual is a forced laborer such as those forced to perform commercial sexual acts. Traffickers tend to target those who are at a disadvantage because of immigration status, language proficiency, financial hardship, or other socially isolating factors although victims can be any race, gender, nationality, or age.

People At Risk Of Human Trafficking Victimization

While human trafficking spans all demographics, there are some circumstances or vulnerabilities that lead to a higher susceptibility to victimization and human trafficking. Runaway and homeless youth, as well as victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, war or conflict, or social discrimination are frequently targeted by traffickers.

Foreign nationals who have paid significant recruitment and travel fees often become highly indebted to traffickers or other intermediaries. Traffickers control and manipulate these individuals by leveraging the non-portability of many work visas as well as the victims’ lack of familiarity with surroundings, laws and rights, language fluency, and cultural understanding.

How Can I Identify A Case Of Human Trafficking?

Common Indicators Of Human Trafficking

  • The victim acts fearful, anxious, depressed, submissive, tense, nervous, or paranoid
  • The victim doesn’t speak for themselves
  • The victim shows signs of physical and/or sexual abuse
  • The victim has few or no personal possessions
  • The victim cannot freely contact friends or family
  • The victim does not socialize or attend religious services
  • The victim works excessively long and/or unusual hours
  • The victim is a juvenile engaged in commercial sex
  • The victim has been threatened with deportation or law enforcement action
  • Another individual is in possession of the victim’s identification and travel documents

Victims of human trafficking need A Way out.

Victims face many challenges in accessing help. Their traffickers may confiscate their identification documents and money. They may not speak English. They may not know where they are, because they have been moved frequently. They are often not allowed to communicate with family or friends. And they may have trouble trusting others, due to their traffickers’ manipulation and control tactics.

Contact The

National Human Trafficking Hotline

Are you or someone you know being trafficked? Is human trafficking happening in your community? Recognizing potential red flags and knowing the indicators of human trafficking is a key step in identifying more victims and helping them find the assistance they need.

1-888-373-7888

Call Now

Text HELP

To BeFree (233733)