Sex trafficking affects 25 million people around the globe, according to The Polaris Project, an organization dedicated to the “fight to eradicate modern slavery.”

When most people think of sex trafficking (or human trafficking), they envision it as a far-off problem, something that affects communities in foreign corners of the globe. What you may not have considered, however, is that sexual assault through trafficking occurs in the U.S. everyday.

Here’s what you need to know to keep yourself informed about the sex trafficking industry.

Perhaps you’ve heard that the Super Bowl sees a dramatic increase in occurrences of sex trafficking in the cities where it is held. While it can be an important reminder to bring sex trafficking to the forefront of your mind during that time, it’s important to remember that sex trafficking is happening at all times in the United States at the same levels of frequency.

While rates of reported sex trafficking are lower in the US than they are in some other regions, it is certainly an issue that Americans must address. It is estimated that for every 1,000 citizens, 1.3 people are trafficked in the U.S. and living in slavery conditions.

Those affected by sex trafficking are typically involved in industries that you may not have considered. It is fairly common for victims of sex trafficking to be involved in domestic work, agriculture, travelling sales, restaurant/food services, and health/beauty services. Many of the people involved in this sort of exploitation are sexually abused by employers in addition to being exploited for labor purposes. Victims can be trafficked in their own states, cities, and even their own homes.

Keeping Yourself Safe

It is actually a myth that all human trafficking is the result of a violent kidnapping by a stranger. It is not uncommon that a victim of human trafficking would be targeted by a romantic partner or family member. It is also fairly common for human traffickers to use deception and psychological manipulation to lure victims into trafficking.

Sometimes victims are violently forced into trafficking, but it is more common that they are coerced into sex trafficking by subtle manipulation, threats of deportation, or some other legal consequence that places the victim in a compromising position.

Don’t assume that you are free from risk of human trafficking. While your risk is significantly less than some places if you live in the U.S., it is always important to stay informed and watch for the signs that someone may be trying to lure you into sex trafficking.

There are a number of ways you can keep yourself safe from trafficking:

-Always research solicitations for work. If you see an ad posted looking for employees and the company is unknown or lacks information, do some digging before responding to advertisements.

-If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Human traffickers will often pose as job recruiters offering large sums of money for simple jobs. Be extremely skeptical of offers like these and never meet with an unknown employer alone.

-Trust your gut. As mentioned before, sometimes people are coerced into sex trafficking by loved ones or other people they know. Human traffickers are also known to psychologically manipulate victims through extravagant gifts used as bargaining chips and means of guilting their victims into sex trafficking. If a partner or family member is pressuring you into engaging in sexual activity that you’re not comfortable with, speak out.

-Be aware of your online presence. Not everyone is who they present themselves to be online. If you receive any messages from people you don’t know, your safest best is to not even respond. Especially if they ask to meet in person, you could be putting yourself at great risk. If someone talking to you online is a person you don’t already know in the real world, keep yourself safe and block the unknown user. When using dating websites and apps, be cautious when you meet people in person. Don’t give out your address to someone on an app. Meet them in public and wait until you’ve confirmed that they are trustworthy before offering any sensitive personal details.

How You Can Help

Aside from keeping yourself safe, there are active measures you can take to address the global sex trafficking crisis.

Be informed about the signs of sex trafficking. According to The Polaris Project, these are a few common indicators that someone may be a victim of sex trafficking:

• The person is not free to leave or come and go at will
• The person is under 18 and providing commercial sex acts
• The person is in the commercial sex industry and has a pimp and/or manager
• The person s unpaid, paid very little, or paid only through tips
• The person works excessively long and/or unusual hours

Be on the lookout for any of these signs for people in your community.

Sex trafficking is often called modern-day slavery, an issue that many countries believed they had resolved centuries ago. As a society, it is our role to protect the vulnerable and exploited in the fight to bring an end to this crisis.

If you or someone you know has been involved in sex trafficking and you need help, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free hotline at 1-888-373-7888.

In the midst of all kinds of darkness in the world, God’s love and safety shine bright. If you desire to know more about the ways that God loves you, TheHopeLine’s Hope Coaches are available to help you.