WEBVTT

1
00:00:06.160 --> 00:00:10.960
If you work in a convenience store setting, 
you could play an important role in combating

2
00:00:10.960 --> 00:00:16.320
human trafficking. Because convenience retail 
employees observe and communicate with the

3
00:00:16.320 --> 00:00:22.400
public so frequently, they are in a unique position 
to observe indicators of human trafficking while

4
00:00:22.400 --> 00:00:28.160
working. Traffickers and victims may utilize 
convenience stores to purchase food and gas,

5
00:00:28.160 --> 00:00:33.120
or to use the restroom. Traffickers 
may take advantage of the expediency,

6
00:00:33.120 --> 00:00:39.120
anonymity, and low-cost items that convenience 
stores offer as they attempt to operate unnoticed.

7
00:00:40.160 --> 00:00:47.040
What is human trafficking? It is a crime that 
involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to

8
00:00:47.040 --> 00:00:53.840
obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act. 
Traffickers can use imposing of debt, fraudulent

9
00:00:53.840 --> 00:01:01.040
employment opportunities, false promises of love or 
a better life, psychological coercion, and violence

10
00:01:01.040 --> 00:01:07.120
or threats of violence to lure and control their 
victims. The crime of human trafficking hinges

11
00:01:07.120 --> 00:01:12.560
on the exploitation of another person. Human
trafficking does not require an element of

12
00:01:12.560 --> 00:01:18.000
transportation. It is a crime that can be committed 
against someone who has never left their hometown.

13
00:01:18.800 --> 00:01:24.960
Human trafficking victims can be any age, 
race, gender identity, and socioeconomic class.

14
00:01:25.600 --> 00:01:31.520
In many cases, victims do not come forward to 
seek help because they are vulnerable, language

15
00:01:31.520 --> 00:01:39.680
barriers may exist, they may fear law enforcement, 
or they do not identify as a victim. Now, let's talk

16
00:01:39.680 --> 00:01:44.640
about potential signs of human trafficking that 
you may recognize in a convenience store setting.

17
00:01:45.360 --> 00:01:51.120
Do the potential victims show signs of 
fear, anxiety, submission, or nervousness,

18
00:01:52.000 --> 00:01:58.080
or signs of malnourishment, poor hygiene, sleep 
deprivation, or untreated illness or injury?

19
00:01:58.880 --> 00:02:02.560
Do they appear to be with a 
significantly older romantic partner?

20
00:02:03.360 --> 00:02:09.840
Are they in a group of varying ages or ethnicities 
that do not seem to have a social dynamic? Do they

21
00:02:09.840 --> 00:02:14.960
have similar tattoos to others in the group? 
This may indicate branding by a trafficker.

22
00:02:15.840 --> 00:02:20.560
Some other signs that could indicate 
individuals may be victims of human trafficking

23
00:02:20.560 --> 00:02:28.320
include: avoiding eye contact and interaction with 
others; if they have no control over or possession

24
00:02:28.320 --> 00:02:34.960
of their money or IDs; if they defer to someone 
else to talk for them or appear to be coached on

25
00:02:34.960 --> 00:02:41.760
what to say; or if they are not able to provide 
logical details about their travel plans if asked.

26
00:02:42.480 --> 00:02:49.040
Keep in mind no single indicator is proof that 
human trafficking is occurring. Let's put your new

27
00:02:49.040 --> 00:02:54.560
knowledge to the test. Listen closely to this 
scenario, and try to pick up on the potential

28
00:02:54.560 --> 00:03:00.240
indicators of human trafficking. Ashley works the 
evening shift at a convenience store attached

29
00:03:00.240 --> 00:03:06.720
to a gas station in a small rural town by the 
interstate. Her shifts are usually pretty slow, so

30
00:03:06.720 --> 00:03:13.520
she's able to observe all the customers who stop 
off to purchase items, use the bathroom, or pump gas.

31
00:03:13.520 --> 00:03:19.200
During one of her shifts, she notices a utility 
van pull up, and a large group of men and women

32
00:03:19.200 --> 00:03:25.520
of varying ages and ethnicities get out. She's used 
to seeing groups of seasonal workers in the area,

33
00:03:25.520 --> 00:03:31.600
but this group looks particularly disheveled and 
distressed. She can see there are two adults in the

34
00:03:31.600 --> 00:03:35.840
group that seem to be in charge of the others 
because they are yelling at the group as they

35
00:03:35.840 --> 00:03:42.480
get out of the van. As the group enters the store, 
everyone lines up to use the restroom. As they walk

36
00:03:42.480 --> 00:03:48.880
by, she notices their clothes are in poor condition, 
they have little personal belongings with them, and

37
00:03:48.880 --> 00:03:54.640
some of them even have untreated injuries. The 
group leaders approach the counter to purchase a

38
00:03:54.640 --> 00:04:02.000
few snacks and packs of cigarettes for themselves. 
Ashley knows something is off, so she takes note of

39
00:04:02.000 --> 00:04:08.400
the name and city on the ID she checks for the 
tobacco purchase. As everyone returns to the car,

40
00:04:08.400 --> 00:04:13.920
she writes down the information, along with a van's 
license plate. She is not sure exactly what she

41
00:04:13.920 --> 00:04:21.600
just saw but knows she needs to report it. Did you 
pick up on some of those indicators? Let's recap

42
00:04:21.600 --> 00:04:27.520
what Ashley observed, which may indicate human 
trafficking: The van was carrying a large group of

43
00:04:27.520 --> 00:04:34.560
men and women of various ages and ethnicities; the 
men and women were disheveled, appeared distressed,

44
00:04:34.560 --> 00:04:40.880
and had little personal belongings; their clothes 
were in poor condition, and some had untreated

45
00:04:40.880 --> 00:04:46.640
injuries; two men seemed to be in charge of the 
group and are verbally aggressive towards them.

46
00:04:47.440 --> 00:04:52.320
Like Ashley did, if something doesn't seem right, 
take note of what the suspected trafficker

47
00:04:52.320 --> 00:04:57.840
or victims looked like. If you are able to 
discreetly observe information from IDs or

48
00:04:57.840 --> 00:05:03.360
vehicle license plates, that information can 
be helpful when reporting what you saw. As a

49
00:05:03.360 --> 00:05:09.200
first step, follow your organization's reporting 
protocol for suspected criminal activity. You can

50
00:05:09.200 --> 00:05:14.320
also contact the National Human Trafficking 
Hotline and Homeland Security Investigations

51
00:05:14.320 --> 00:05:20.320
Tip Line to anonymously report suspected human 
trafficking. If someone is in immediate danger,

52
00:05:20.320 --> 00:05:26.000
call local law enforcement. For more information 
about recognizing and reporting human trafficking,

53
00:05:26.000 --> 00:05:34.560
and to access a printable guide for convenience 
retail employees, visit dhs.gov/bluecampaign