Prevent

Know the Signs to Stop the Abuse

Our greatest asset in the fight against human trafficking is you and the members of your community. However, the only way you will be effective in helping to end human trafficking is by being able to identify the signs and patterns of trafficker abuse, so that you can report them. Victims can be difficult to identify, and you could even have a victim in your own home.

Know the Patterns of Traffickers

Victims can be from any ethnicity, social or economic group,gender, or level of academic achievement.

LEARN THE TYPE OF TEENS THEY TARGET

ONCE A TEEN IS TARGETED, THEIR PROCESS BEGINS:

Who?


Victims can be from any ethnicity, social or economic group, gender, or level of academic achievement. Some traffickers prefer to focus their efforts on recruiting young people into their enterprises, as most traffickers are young as well.


Traffickers are looking for young people who may:


  • Lack a sense of belonging to others

  • Not feel respected or valued by family or friends

  • Base their self-worth on popularity or relationships

  • Be willing to keep secrets, including the relationship

  • Not have a good relationship with their parents

  • Be looking for a boyfriend or girlfriend

  • Be often bored with not much to do

  • Spend a lot of time away from family or friends

  • Be willing to take directions and believe the lies and false promises

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Scouting

Traffickers are searching for young people to target.

Traffickers find victims via:

  • Social media
  • Shopping malls
  • Bus stops
  • School
  • Through friends
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Manipulating

Traffickers relate to young people and often times seem “too good to be true.”

Trafficker manipulation techniques:

  • Pretend to be boyfriends or girlfriends
  • Buy presents
  • Treat their intended victims very well
  • Listen and act interested in their lives
  • Lie and manipulate
a woman texting on a phone
3

Trapping

Traffickers trick or control young people into staying in the lifestyle.

These methods could be:

  • False love or lies
  • Drugs
  • Threats of violence
  • Physical violence

DO YOU SUSPECT YOU MAY BE BEING SCOUTED OR MANIPULATED BY A TRAFFICKER?

Take This Quiz

How Can You Protect Yourself?

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How Can You Protect Your Friends?

  • Pay attention to changes in mood or behavior
  • Don’t just ignore them if they start to isolate themselves Educate them about trafficking
  • Talk about the issue and make sure your friends know they can come to you if they have problems
  • Don’t be afraid to share your opinion if you think your friends are getting into a bad situation
  • Report your concerns to trusted adults
  • JUST ASK if you think something is wrong

DO YOU SUSPECT YOUR FRIEND MAY BE BEING SCOUTED OR MANIPULATED BY A TRAFFICKER?

3 To Succeed

Everyone should have 3 trusted adults in their life that they can turn to with questions or concerns.

TELL YOUR 3 HOW IMPORTANT THEY ARE TO YOU:

Read message and privacy policy

How Can You Protect Yourself?

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How Can You Protect Your Friends?

  • Pay attention to changes in mood or behavior
  • Don’t just ignore them if they start to isolate themselves
  • Educate your peers about human trafficking
  • Talk about the issue and make sure your friends know they can come to you if they have problems
  • Don’t be afraid to share your opinion if you think your friends are getting into a bad situation
  • Report your concerns to trusted adults
  • JUST ASK if you think something is wrong

DO YOU SUSPECT YOUR FRIEND MAY BE BEING SCOUTED OR MANIPULATED BY A TRAFFICKER?

How Can You Protect Your Community or School?

START A CLUB

Do you want to bring awareness of the crime of human trafficking to your school so that your friends and classmates can avoid the trappings of human trafficking? Just Ask Prevention Project is proud to partner with students and teachers alike to help create a club. Past clubs we’ve partnered with have a direct impact on communities that have suffered from trafficking activity. We’re happy to provide guidance and materials. Our best weapon against trafficking is awareness, and we can use all the help we can get!

OTHER IDEAS
  • Sponsor a Just Ask Walk/Run for Freedom
  • Write letters to victims
  • Advocate for prevention resources
  • Conduct a Just Ask Awareness Campaign

DO YOU HAVE AN IDEA OR WANT TO START A CLUB?

Contact Us

 
 

Stories of Survival

“I thought he was just my daughter’s boyfriend, I had no idea who he really was until the police showed up at my door. I didn’t want to believe them at first, but I knew something was different about her, she wasn’t acting normal and was isolating herself more and more from her family. If I had JUST ASKed what was going on, maybe her innocence wouldn’t have been taken from her.”