South Carolina Human Trafficking Task Force

Preventing Human Trafficking

Preventing Human Trafficking in South Carolina is a main focus area within the State’s plan to address the crime. The Task Force believes that prevention is one of the most important tasks of our collective. The more educated our communities, the closer we become in preventing individuals from being victimized. We would rather prevent all men and women, adults and children from experiencing the trauma of being exploited at the hands of another. This will take combined efforts from law enforcement, health care providers, community advocates, and others throughout South Carolina. It will also take various approaches including promoting the National Human Trafficking Hotline, awareness posters, billboards, and special events that generate dialogue in our communities.

TraffickProofSC Promo

TraffickProofSC

In partnership with SC ETV and Public Radio (SCETV), the State Task Force developed TraffickProofSC, a series of free, age-appropriate, educational videos and curricula catered to middle and high school students. This initiative serves as the first statewide human trafficking prevention education curricula highlighting the importance of educating youth and their families on the realities of human trafficking.

Middle and High School Students

Recognizing key indicators of human trafficking is one of the first steps in prevention. As such, the TraffickProofSC curriculum teaches students how to identify different types of human trafficking and associated warning signs, methods used by traffickers to exploit victims, and what to do if they think someone is exploited. Educators and students are also provided with tools and resources available to assist those who are or may be vulnerable to being trafficked.

The curriculum includes: 

  • Human Trafficking Overview: What is Human Trafficking? 
  • Staying Safe Online 
  • Labor Trafficking 
  • Sex Trafficking  

Facilitator Training Opportunities

Educators and CAC staff interested in becoming a facilitator of TraffickProofSC can request a training through the SCETV link below. Those who participate will receive instruction on how to deliver the content and be provided with a facilitator’s guide to assist them with training topics and class activities.
SCETV Link

State Task Force Support

If you would prefer to have a Task Force staff member facilitate the curriculum at your middle or high school, please complete the request form linked below.
Link to Form

TraffickProofSC Newsletter

If you would like to also receive the new TraffickProofSC newsletter, please sign up below.
Newsletter



Fact Sheets and Brochures - English

Human Trafficking Brochure

Learn about Human Trafficking Facts versus Myths, our Regional Task Forces, and the three requirements for human trafficking: Force, Fraud and Coercion.

 

Download Human Trafficking Brochure

Human Trafficking Fact Sheet

Learn how to define human trafficking, identify potential victims, and report human trafficking incidents to the National Human Trafficking Hotline. 

Examples of Highly Vulnerable Populations 

  • Foster care youth
  • Runaway/homeless youth
  • Foreign nationals
  • Individual with disabilities
  • Individuals with a history of trauma or abuse
  • Individuals with a history of substance abuse & addiction
  • LGBTQIA+ individuals
  • Low-income individuals

Download Human Trafficking Fact Sheet

Sex Trafficking Fact Sheet

Learn how to define sex trafficking, how to recognize the types of sex trafficking, and the common signs of a sex trafficking victim.

Types of Sex Trafficking

  • Personal sexual servitude
  • Residential brothels
  • Remote interactive sexual acts
  • Escort services
  • Outdoor solicitaion
  • Illicit massage, health, and beauty
  • Pornography
  • Bars, strip clubs, and cantinas

Download Sex Trafficking Fact Sheet

Labor Trafficking Fact Sheet

Learn how to define labor trafficking, how to recognize the types of labor trafficking, and the common signs of a labor trafficking victim.

Types of Labor Trafficking

  • Factories & manufacturing
  • Agriculture & animal husbandry
  • Peddling & begging
  • Commercial cleaning services
  • Traveling sales crews
  • Health & beauty services
  • Landscaping & construction
  • Domestic work
  • Hotels & hospitality
  • Restaurants & food service
  • Bars, strip clubs, & cantinas
  • Arts & entertainment

Download Labor Trafficking Fact Sheet

Human Trafficking & Internet Safety

Understand how traffickers can use the internet to exploit victims and learn how caregivers can implement safety mechanisms to prevent youth from being victimized.

Safety Recommendations

  • Monitor social media accounts
  • Make sure all online accounts are private
  • Do not share any personal information online, such as phone numbers and addresses
  • Avoid online conversations with strangers, as traffickers often use messaging apps to build rapport with their victims
  • Only add or friend individuals you trust
  • Help children and youth understand the permanence of content posted online
  • Establish a rule that young people will not meet up in person with anyone they meet inline
  • Inform children and youth they can report online abuse or threats to a trusted adult or law enforcement
  • Discuss safety tips in an age-appropriate manner with children and youth

Download Human Trafficking & Internet Safety Fact Sheet

Human Trafficking & Temporary Guestworker Visas

Understand human trafficking trends within the temporary guestworker system as well as the potential signs of a labor trafficking victim.

Visa types at risk for exploitation

  • A-3: Personal employees, attendants or domestic workers for diplomats and government officials
  • B-1: Business visitors
  • F-1: Students, including colleges and universities
  • G-5: International organization/NATO officials and employees
  • H-1B: Workers in specialty occupations requiring a higher education degree
  • H-2A: Temporary/seasonal agricultural workers
  • H-2B: Temporary/seasonal non-agricultural workers
  • J-1: Participants in work, cultural, and study-based exchange programs

Download Human Trafficking & Temporary Guestworker Visas Fact Sheet


Fact Sheets - Spanish

Informacion Sobre Trata de Personas

Aprenda cómo definir la trata de personas, identificar posibles víctimas, y reportar incidentes de trata de personas a la Línea Nacional de Trata de Personas. 

Descargar Informacion Sobre Trata de Personas

 

La Trata de Personas y Seguridad de Internet

Comprender cómo los traficantes pueden usar Internet para encontrar, capacitar y aprovecharse de sus víctimas. Aprender cómo los cuidadores pueden implementar mecanismos de seguridad para evitar que los jóvenes sean víctimas. 

Descargar La Trata De Personas Y Seguridad de Internet


SC Highway Heroes

Human trafficking occurs in many forms and places, our roadways and related infrastructure serve as a potential breeding ground for trafficking to invade our communities. South Carolina’s over a hundred thousand Commercial Driver License (CDL) holders can play a pivotal role in our fight against this horrendous crime, serving as the eyes and ears on our highways.

View Available Resources



Human Trafficking Hotline Posters

Legislation passed in 2015 mandating the posting of information about the National Human Trafficking Resource Center. The following establishments are required to post notices in no less than 8.5 x11 size in conspicuous places:

  • Establishments that have been declared a nuisance for prostitution pursuant to law;
  • An adult business, including a nightclub, bar, restaurant, or another similar establishment in which a person appears in a state of sexually explicit nudity or semi-nudity, as defined by law;
  • Businesses and establishments that offer massage or bodywork services by any person who is not licensed under appropriate laws;
  • Emergency rooms within any hospital;
  • Urgent care centers;
  • Any hotel, motel, room or accommodation furnished to transients for which fees are charged in this State;
  • All agricultural labor contractors and agricultural labor transporters as defined by law;
  • All airports, train stations, bus stations, rest areas and truck stops.

Billboards

The South Carolina Office of the Attorney General, in partnership with the National Human Trafficking Hotline, posted three billboards (two sex trafficking and one labor trafficking) in the Myrtle Beach area. The goal is for the Task Force to sponsor more billboards throughout the state while targeting key areas for increased awareness efforts. The latter areas will be identified through data collection and research conducted by the Task Force’s Data Management workgroup.


National Human Trafficking Hotline