🚩 Behavioral and Emotional Signs

• Sudden changes in behavior: anxiety, depression, or aggression

• Avoids eye contact, appears fearful, anxious, submissive, or paranoid

• Talks about a “boyfriend” or “manager” who’s older or unknown

• Rehearsed responses or inability to speak freely

• Withdrawn from family, friends, school, or activities

• Hypersexual behavior or knowledge inappropriate for their age

• Evidence of drug use (especially if sudden or unexplained)

 

🚩 Physical Indicators

• Signs of physical abuse: bruises, cuts, burns, or branding (tattoos, carvings)

• Malnourishment or frequent hunger

• Inappropriate or provocative clothing inconsistent with the weather or their situation

• Sudden appearance of expensive items (phones, shoes, jewelry)

• Repeated STIs or pregnancies

• Lacks identification (ID, passport, school records) or has someone else hold their documents

 

🚩 Environmental or Situational Red Flags

• Lives with or is frequently accompanied by an older “boyfriend,” “friend,” or unrelated adult

• Often seen in motels, hotels, gas stations, or known “track” areas

• Has frequent absences from school, or enrolls in multiple schools in different locations

• Avoids questions about home life or is inconsistent in stories

• Seen working odd hours or in inappropriate environments

• Talks about making “fast money” or being required to meet a nightly quota

 

🚩 Online and Social Media Behavior

• Has multiple or secret social media accounts

• Receives excessive direct messages or attention from adults

• Sends or receives sexually explicit photos or messages

• Mentions “sugar daddies,” modeling gigs, or “easy money”

• Engages in live-streaming or shows signs of coercion in video content

• Obsessed with or afraid of losing access to their phone

 

🚨 Common Phrases or Victim Responses 

• “He takes care of me.”

• “I’m just staying with a friend.”

• “I can’t talk about it.”

• “It’s my fault.”

• “I owe him/her money.”

 

🧩 Especially at Risk:

• Foster youth

• Children experiencing identity crises

• Children with disabilities

• Runaways and homeless youth

• Kids with history of abuse, neglect, or poverty

• Youth with prior involvement in juvenile justice or Protective Services

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Report suspicious underage trafficking activity: 

📞 1-888-373-7888
📲 Or text “BEFREE” (233733)
🌐 https://humantraffickinghotline.org

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Download the SimplyReport app (anonymous)