| | Child Sex Trafficking: How YOU Can Spot It As January marks Human Trafficking Prevention Month, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) is using this opportunity to spread awareness of the vital issue and how the public can be instrumental in spotting victims. Did you know that YOU can play a role in identifying child sex trafficking? That’s right! A common misconception of child sex trafficking is that it is hidden away from the public and nearly impossible to spot. However, it often occurs right before our eyes. In 2023 alone, NCMEC received more than 18,400 reports of possible child sex trafficking. If you see or know a child who exhibits one or more of the signs below, it can potentially mean they are at risk of victimization through child sex trafficking: A child is in possession of unexplained large amounts of cash, prepaid cards, hotel keys, multiple cell phones or apps providing multiple cell phone numbers The child’s ID is being held by another person, or they do not have any ID Signs that the child has been coached when talking to people, letting others speak for them or looking at others before they speak Tattoos or branding the child does not wish to talk about, explain or did not choose Chronic homelessness, youth who are unstably housed or children who frequently run away Abruptly disconnects from family and friends Close association with an overly controlling adult Regular, unexplained school absences Continue reading this article online or visit www.missingkids.org/trafficking to learn more. If you suspect an incident of child sex trafficking, please call the NCMEC hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) or make a report at CyberTipline.org. |
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