Why Crises Increase the Risk of Human Trafficking
In times of crisis, traffickers prey on the vulnerable. Traffickers may target people who have lost homes, jobs or support systems, or exploit victims’ language and legal barriers. They may use fear, force, fraud, or coercion to exploit a person for labor, services or commercial sex.
Natural disasters like the 2025 LA wildfires create chaos and displacement. They leave many people isolated, desperate for work and struggling to rebuild. Periods of crisis disrupt normal support systems, making individuals more vulnerable and susceptible to deceptive and abusive labor situations.
What Human Trafficking Is
Human trafficking doesn’t always look like what people expect. It does not require violence or crossing borders and it can happen in any community. Traffickers ofen use deception. It may appear as a job offer, temporary work, or help during a difficult time. Immigrants and workers in certain industries, including domestic workers, construction workers and day laborers, hospitality workers and others, are particularly vulnerable. People going through job loss, financial challenges or housing insecurity are more vulnerable for exploitation because traffickers take advantage of desperate circumstances.
Trafficking frequently goes unrecognized and unreported. People experiencing it may not realize they are being trafficked, particularly when abuse happens gradually or is tied to work. They may hesitate to report, or be held, under the threat of deportation. Those who witness warning signs may not recognize it either.
How to Help Prevent Exploitation
You can support ethical labor practices by hiring responsibly, advocating for stronger worker protections and sharing information to raise awareness in our communities. Knowing the signs and helping workers identify and remove themselves from exploitative labor conditions is another way we can all help prevent trafficking.
Warning Signs of Exploitation and Trafficking
For those seeking work after a disaster, be cautious of job offers that sound too good to be true. Traffickers use false promises of high wages and effortless jobs to lure people into dangerous situations where they are exploited. Staying informed and recognizing these warning signs early can help stop trafficking before it starts.
- Personal Identification: A person’s passport, ID or documents are taken away and held by someone e else
- Constant Surveillance: Being closely monitored or controlled by another person
- Pay and Threats: Not being paid what was promised or being threatened with deportation or harm
- Unsafe Work Conditions: Working in dangerous conditions without proper gear, training or breaks
- Loss of Financial Control: Not having control over your income or being afraid to talk about work with others
Resources and Reporting Information
WATCH: After the Disaster: Know the Signs of Human Trafficking, examines how moments of crisis can create dangerous opportunities for trafficking.
If you or anyone you know is being coerced or forced into any activity – whether it is commercial sex, housework, farm work, construction, factory, retail, restaurant work or any other activity – please call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at (888) 373-7888 or text “HELP” to 233733. The hotline is free and confidential. Anonymous calls are welcome, and services are provided in more than 200 languages.
Reports can also be made to DCBA’s Office of Labor Equity:
- Online: dcba.lacounty.gov/stophumantrafficking
- Email: dhumantrafficking@dcba.lacounty.gov
- Phone: (800) 593-8222
If someone is in immediate danger, contact local law enforcement or call 911.
