Know The Signs of Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking
Indicators
A victim may look like any other children or teens you see daily. Here are a few indicators that a child is a trafficking victim:
- Signs of physical abuse such as burn marks, bruises or cuts
- Unexplained absences from school
- Overly tired in class
- Less appropriately dressed than before
- Sexualized behavior
- Withdrawn, depressed, distracted or checked out
- Brags about making or having lots of money (money belongs to the trafficker)
- Displays expensive clothes, accessories or shoes
- New tattoo (tattoos are often used by pimps as a way to brand victims. Tattoos of a name, symbol of money or barcode could indicate trafficking).
- Older boyfriend or new friends with a different lifestyle
- Talks about wild parties or invites other students to attend parties
- Shows signs of gang affiliation (i.e.) a preference for specific colors, notebook doodles of gang symbols, etc.)