Have suspicions?
Report suspected human trafficking
If you believe you have observed or experienced human trafficking, please call.
What is human trafficking?
Human trafficking is the illegal exploitation of a person through force, fraud, or coercion. Yes, human trafficking takes place in Missouri. It takes the form of:
Sex trafficking
Forced labor
Domestic servitude
Human trafficking is not specific to age, race, or gender. In each instance, victims are forced or coerced to work for little or no pay. Human trafficking is modern-day slavery.
How do I recognize human trafficking?
Signs of harm or control
- Does the person show signs of having been denied food, water, sleep, or medical care?
- Do they have bruises in various stages of healing?
- Is the person disoriented or confused, or showing signs of mental or physical abuse?
- Is the person often with someone to whom he or she defers or who seems to control the situation?
- Does the person appear to be coached on what to say?
Isolation and living conditions
- Does the person appear disconnected from family, friends, community organizations, or houses of worship?
- Is the person living in unsuitable conditions?
- Can the person come and go from their residence freely?
- Has a child stopped attending school?
In public places
- Look for underage girls who look out of place (possibly wearing revealing clothing).
- Are minors in a public place when they should be in school? How many of them are there?
- Will they make eye contact? Or, do they drop their head? Do they look scared?
- Are they on phones, or do they ask to borrow your phone?
Not all indicators listed above are present in every human trafficking situation, and the presence or absence of any of the indicators is not necessarily proof of human trafficking.
What can I do if I suspect human trafficking?
Report suspected human trafficking to 1-888-373-7888.
If you talk to someone you suspect is a victim of human trafficking, kindly ask questions. What are they doing? Do they see their family? Do they keep any of the money they earn?
If you're at a truck stop or rest area at night, are trucks flashing their headlights? Are girls going up to the trucks? Document a vehicle color, make, model, license plate number, number of people in the vehicle, and driver description, and take a photo if it is safe to do so.
Don't rescue them. Call 911 or *55.
Are you a victim of human trafficking?
If you are a victim of human trafficking, please call 911 or *55. Let us help.
You can also contact the National Human Trafficking Resource Center at 1-888-373-7888, or text HELP or INFO to BeFREE (233722).
Report it
Help the Missouri State Highway Patrol stop human trafficking
Report suspected human trafficking to 1-888-373-7888. In an emergency, dial 911 or *55.
Special Victims Unit daytime calls: (573) 751-3452 · Fax: (573) 526-5577