HUMAN TRAFFICKING

Traffickers often look for individuals facing emotional, economic, or social vulnerabilities such as isolation, homelessness, low self-esteem, or family conflicts.
A trafficker may shower potential victims with compliments, expensive gifts, and promises of a better life to create dependency.
Traffickers will attempt to isolate victims from their social support networks, discouraging them from interacting with friends or family.
Traffickers often pretend to be a “romantic partner” or close friend to build emotional dependency, using love and trust as leverage.
Traffickers may entice victims with offers of well-paying jobs, especially in modeling, entertainment, or travel industries, to create false hope.
Traffickers may ask for or take control of personal documents like IDs or passports and offer to "manage" the victim’s money, further entangling the victim in a web of dependency.
Victims may show signs of sudden behavioral or physical changes, such as becoming secretive, wearing expensive clothing, or being afraid to speak freely.
A trafficker may use threats of violence, exposure, or harm to loved ones to maintain control over the victim.

According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), an estimated 40.3 million people are victims of human trafficking worldwide, with 81% of these individuals being exploited for sexual purposes and 19% in forced labor. This highlights the widespread nature of the issue and the various forms it can take.
Youth Vulnerability: The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) reports that a significant portion of trafficking victims in the United States are minors. Many of these youth are runaways or homeless, making them particularly vulnerable to traffickers who exploit their desperation and need for shelter and support.