Know to Say No to Child Trafficking
Our letter writing campaign is an opportunity for local youth to lead the way in the protection against human trafficking. We believe that education, awareness, and action are the keys to preventing this terrible crime. Through powerful videos showcasing kids writing letters to themselves, their parents, teachers, friends, and the community at large, we aim to raise awareness of the risks of human trafficking and the signs to look for. Our goal is to empower you, the community, to take action and prevent human trafficking in our neighborhoods. Join us in this important mission and take the first step towards creating a safer future for our children and youth.
What to Look for: Learn the Tactics and Signs of Trafficking
The exact number of children and youth trafficked in Los Angeles County is difficult to determine due to the hidden nature of the crime. Many trafficked children and youth are never identified or helped because of barriers that keep them hidden or misunderstood. These barriers include:
- Being misidentified due to bias as delinquents or runaways
- Lack of trauma informed training and understanding of trafficking among professionals
- Fear of law enforcement, deportation, or traffickers
- Shame, guilt, and distrust of adults or institutions
Recognizing the warning signs can save lives. Traffickers often gain trust with gifts, false promises, or affection, then slowly trap victims.
BEHAVIORAL SIGNS
- Often runs away from home
- Regularly misses school or arrives late
- Sudden drop in school performance
- Possesses unexplained expensive items or large amounts of cash/prepaid cards
- Given chores or responsibilities that exceed what is typical or appropriate for their age.
- Spends time in places linked to sex work (e.g., hotels, certain streets)
- Often travels without a guardian
- Unclear relationship with parent or guardian
- Secretive about whereabouts or companions
- Shows loyalty or affection toward someone harming them
- Uses trafficking-related slang (“daddy,” “stable,” “square”)
PHYSICAL SIGNS
- Having multiple sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
- Showing signs of physical or sexual assault, or unexplained injuries.
- Having tattoos or markings that they may not want to reveal or that don’t belong to them.
- Struggling with substance abuse or addiction.
- Going through a drastic change in appearance, such as a sudden change in hair color or style, or wearing clothing that is different from their usual style.
- Not taking care of personal hygiene as before.
EMOTIONAL SIGNS
- Feeling scared, nervous, tired, or worried all the time.
- Not trusting adults, including parents or caregivers.
- Having mixed feelings about someone who is hurting them, like feeling both angry and affectionate towards them.
- Suddenly becoming quiet and not talking as much as they used to.
- Getting defensive or upset when asked about things that might be happening to them.
EMOTIONAL SIGNS
- Feeling scared, nervous, tired, or worried all the time.
- Not trusting adults, including parents or caregivers.
- Having mixed feelings about someone who is hurting them, like feeling both angry and affectionate towards them.
- Suddenly becoming quiet and not talking as much as they used to.
- Getting defensive or upset when asked about things that might be happening to them.
PHYSICAL SIGNS
- Having multiple sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
- Showing signs of physical or sexual assault, or unexplained injuries.
- Having tattoos or markings that they may not want to reveal or that don’t belong to them.
- Struggling with substance abuse or addiction.
- Going through a drastic change in appearance, such as a sudden change in hair color or style, or wearing clothing that is different from their usual style.
- Not taking care of personal hygiene as before.
EMOTIONAL SIGNS
- Feeling scared, nervous, tired, or worried all the time.
- Not trusting adults, including parents or caregivers.
- Having mixed feelings about someone who is hurting them, like feeling both angry and affectionate towards them.
- Suddenly becoming quiet and not talking as much as they used to.
- Getting defensive or upset when asked about things that might be happening to them.
If you suspect or know that a child is a victim of Human Trafficking, please contact the
LA County Child Protection Hotline at (800) 540-4000 or 911
What to Know: How Recruiting Happens
Traffickers often target vulnerabilities and make offers that seem “too good to be true.” These methods are designed to build trust and dependence over time, making it harder for victims to recognize the danger or break free.
COMMON METHODS INCLUDE:
- Fake job offers: Traffickers may offer job opportunities to young people that seem too good to be true, such as high paying modeling or acting gigs. For example, a young person might receive a message on social media from someone claiming to be a modeling agent and offering them a chance to audition for a big-name brand.
- False promises of love, success and/or stability.
- Online grooming: Traffickers may use social media or online gaming platforms to groom and befriend young people. For example, a trafficker might pose as a young person online and strike up a conversation with a young person, gradually building trust and manipulating them into meeting up in person.
- Peer Recruitment: Pressuring friends or classmates to meet or work for a trafficker.
- Exploiting vulnerabilities: Traffickers may prey on young people who are experiencing homelessness, drug addiction, or other difficult situations. For example, a trafficker may offer drugs, shelter or gifts in exchange for sex or labor.
- False promises of romance or love: Traffickers gain trust, then use the relationship to make the victim perform sex or labor.
- Abusing authority or impersonating authority figures (e.g., police officer, teacher, government officials, social worker, coach) to intimidate victims.
- Using blackmail: Traffickers may use blackmail to control young people and force them into trafficking. For example, a trafficker might threaten to release compromising photos or videos of a young person if they don’t comply with their demands.
- Adventure/travel offers that turn into trafficking.
- Using drugs or alcohol: Traffickers may use drugs or alcohol to incapacitate young people and make them more vulnerable to trafficking. For example, a trafficker might offer a young person a drink laced with drugs, then take advantage of them while they’re unconscious.
- Normalizing Exploitation, with many child victims in the U.S. trafficked by their own family members.
Traffickers often target vulnerabilities and make offers that seem “too good to be true.” These methods are designed to build trust and dependence over time, making it harder for victims to recognize the danger or break free.
COMMON METHODS INCLUDE:
- Fake job offers: Traffickers may offer job opportunities to young people that seem too good to be true, such as high paying modeling or acting gigs. For example, a young person might receive a message on social media from someone claiming to be a modeling agent and offering them a chance to audition for a big-name brand.
- False promises of love, success and/or stability.
- Online grooming: Traffickers may use social media or online gaming platforms to groom and befriend young people. For example, a trafficker might pose as a young person online and strike up a conversation with a young person, gradually building trust and manipulating them into meeting up in person.
- Peer Recruitment: Pressuring friends or classmates to meet or work for a trafficker.
- Exploiting vulnerabilities: Traffickers may prey on young people who are experiencing homelessness, drug addiction, or other difficult situations. For example, a trafficker may offer drugs, shelter or gifts in exchange for sex or labor.
- False promises of romance or love: Traffickers gain trust, then use the relationship to make the victim perform sex or labor.
- Abusing authority or impersonating authority figures (e.g., police officer, teacher, government officials, social worker, coach) to intimidate victims.
- Using blackmail: Traffickers may use blackmail to control young people and force them into trafficking. For example, a trafficker might threaten to release compromising photos or videos of a young person if they don’t comply with their demands.
- Adventure/travel offers that turn into trafficking.
- Using drugs or alcohol: Traffickers may use drugs or alcohol to incapacitate young people and make them more vulnerable to trafficking. For example, a trafficker might offer a young person a drink laced with drugs, then take advantage of them while they’re unconscious.
- Normalizing Exploitation, with many child victims in the U.S. trafficked by their own family members.
TIP: If an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
11-14
The average age a girl enters the commercial sex trade is 12–14 years old.
For boys, it’s even younger – just 11–13 years old.
*ACLU, Human Trafficking: Modern Enslavement of Immigrant Women in the United States
70%
The vast majority of sex trafficking victims
were U.S. citizens or permanent U.S. residents
*U.S. Office of Justice Programs, Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children and Sex Trafficking
11-14
The average age a girl enters the commercial sex trade is 12–14 years old.
For boys, it’s even younger – just 11–13 years old.
*ACLU, Human Trafficking: Modern Enslavement of Immigrant Women in the United States
70%
The vast majority of sex trafficking victims
were U.S. citizens or permanent U.S. residents
*U.S. Office of Justice Programs, Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children and Sex Trafficking
Ways YOU can make an impact.
For more information on LA County’s efforts to combat
human trafficking, including information for mandated reporters click here
Help spread the word
Join the fight against human trafficking by sharing the ‘Know to Say No’ campaign on social media. With just a few clicks, you can help us educate the community about the signs and risks of human trafficking and empower parents, teachers, and youth to take action. By sharing campaign videos and images, you’ll be helping us to spread the word and encourage others to get involved. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of vulnerable children and youth in Los Angeles County. Share the campaign today and help prevent human trafficking in our community.