# Signs Someone is Being Groomed for Sex Trafficking Source: https://3rdmil.com/signs_someone_is_being_groomed_for_sex_trafficking/ Last updated: 2026-05-04T17:54:00+00:00 Signs Someone is Being Groomed for Sex Trafficking - 3rdmil - Blog [Skip to content](https://3rdmil.com/signs_someone_is_being_groomed_for_sex_trafficking/#content) ![](https://3rdmil.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/bg_big_alt.svg) ![](https://3rdmil.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Stop-Trafficking-1536x768.jpg) ## Signs Someone is Being Groomed for Sex Trafficking Sex trafficking is a multibillion-dollar industry that affects approximately **5 million victims**. It is a type of human trafficking, and **modern-day slavery**, that is defined by the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 as “**the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, obtaining, patronizing, or soliciting of a person for the purpose of a commercial sex act.**” Although anyone can be at risk for sex trafficking, victims are usually children and vulnerable adults. Grooming is when a trafficker **gains a person’s trust to exploit them**. While movies and TV give off the impression that trafficking occurs by being violently kidnapped by a stranger, the grooming process happens in a much **more subtle manner** than we may think. ## 6 Stages of Grooming 1. **Targeting** – Traffickers usually prey on girls and women although boys and men can be victims too. They usually look for people who **show a vulnerability they can exploit**. They can meet or find their victim in person or online. Traffickers can **meet children on online games, social media, and even homework sites.** 2. **Gaining Trust** – This can be done by **casual conversation and befriending**. This provides the trafficker access to the victim. 3. **Fill the Need or Helping the Victim** – They use their vulnerability against them by providing **whatever need they are seeking to fill**. Examples include gift-giving or offering special or extra attention. 4. **Isolation of the Victim** – Once the predator and victim begin to spend more time with each other, the trafficker will begin to **withdraw the victim from other people in their lives** such as family and friends. This leaves the trafficker as the **only true “friend” in a victim’s life**. 5. **Sexualization and Abuse** – The trafficker will introduce **drugs, alcohol, and pornography**. The trafficker may also **request sexual pictures and videos**. This allows the trafficker to gain further control of the victim. 6. **Maintaining Control and Power** – The traffickers use **verbal and psychological threats**, blackmail, as well as physical violence to manipulate the victim into doing what they want. ![grooming](https://3rdmil.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/grooming.png) **Less than 1% of sex trafficking victims are rescued**. Identifying the signs of grooming can help identify a victim and even **possibly save a life.** Signs to help recognize grooming and/or trafficking include: - **Regular absences** from school, work, and other activities - Being **dishonest or secretive** about what they are doing and with whom - Attitude or **behavior changes** - The person having a **controlling parent, guardian, partner, or sponsor** who limits or monitors their interactions with others - New friends - Being **fearful, timid, or submissive** - **Fearfulness** of law enforcement - Expensive **gifts or a large amount** of money If you feel like someone is being trafficked or is at risk, **notify law enforcement as soon as possible**. A great resource is the **National Human Trafficking Hotline**, which is a **24-hour, multilingual, anti-trafficking hotline.** The National Human Trafficking Hotline is 1-888-373-7888. Most importantly if you see something do not be nervous or afraid to talk to someone. ## If you see something, say something. If you are interested in learning more about **how to identify the red flags of grooming and trafficking**, check out our online course, [*Red Flags*](https://3rdmil.com/red-flags-sign-up/). ### References: 1. 1. *6 stages of grooming in human Trafficking: Fight to End Exploitation*. 6 Signs of Grooming in Human Trafficking | Fight To End Exploitation. (n.d.). [https://fighttoendexploitation.org/2019/03/01/grooming-in-human-trafficking/](https://fighttoendexploitation.org/what-is-human-trafficking/indicators-of-trafficking/). 2. CACs, I. (2021, February 23). *6 signs your child is being groomed for sexual exploitation*. The Indiana Chapter of the National Children’s Alliance. [https://incacs.org/6-signs-your-child-is-being-groomed-for-sexual-exploitation/.](https://incacs.org/6-signs-your-child-is-being-groomed-for-sexual-exploitation/) 3. Chapko, R. (2020, September 3). *Unraveling the stages of grooming*. NCPTF.org. [https://www.ncptf.org/post/unraveling-the-stages-of-grooming.](https://www.ncptf.org/post/unraveling-the-stages-of-grooming) 4. *Child sexual exploitation and grooming*. Department of Education and Training Victoria. (n.d.). [https://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/teachers/health/childprotection/Pages/expolitationgrooming.aspx.](https://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/teachers/health/childprotection/Pages/expolitationgrooming.aspx#link2) 5. *Indicators of human trafficking*. Department of Homeland Security. (2021, June 28). [https://www.dhs.gov/blue-campaign/indicators-human-trafficking.](https://www.dhs.gov/blue-campaign/indicators-human-trafficking) 6. *Recognizing the signs*. National Human Trafficking Hotline. (2020, August 31). [https://humantraffickinghotline.org/human-trafficking/recognizing-signs.](https://humantraffickinghotline.org/human-trafficking/recognizing-signs) 7. *Sex trafficking*. National Human Trafficking Hotline. (n.d.). [https://humantraffickinghotline.org/type-trafficking/sex-trafficking.](https://humantraffickinghotline.org/type-trafficking/sex-trafficking) 8. *Sex trafficking|sexual violence|violence prevention|injury center|cdc*. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, January 28) [https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/sexualviolence/trafficking.html.](https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/sexualviolence/trafficking.html) 9. U.S. Department of State. (2021, January 10). *Identify and assist a trafficking victim – united states department of state*. 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