When it comes to human trafficking many myths are taken as the truth which has led to a disconnect between what is taking place in the industry and what many in the public perception about the crime. However, understanding the reality of the industry is vitally important when it comes to both recognizing the crime and preventing it from happening even more. Therefore, a good understanding of what is and what isn’t going on is helpful. Read on for some common myths about human trafficking and the reality that exists instead:

Myth: Most Victims are Undocumented Immigrants

Reality: Many victims are born and live within the United States. The Polaris Project found that the majority, not the minority, of human trafficking survivors are American citizens.

Myth: Traffickers Kidnap Their Victims

Reality: They lure victims through coercion. In other words, victims are not often snatched off the sidewalk or taken from their homes. They are instead coerced by the predators to leave their homes voluntarily. That is why many of the girls we seek to find through Saved in America are labeled as missing. These other situations, where victims are snatched and grabbed into the human trafficking industry, are rare. 

Myth: Most Traffickers will Physically Control Victims Through Restraints

Reality: In many cases, there is no need for predators to physically restrain their victims as they have so psychologically manipulated them that there is no need. In other words, these victims are often in a psychological prison where they have been reprogrammed but are not being restrained by any physical constraints. Others stay put by being blackmailed or threatened. Either way, in many cases, a victim will not leave due to fear, not restraints. 

Myth: Sex Trafficking is the Same as Prostitution

Reality: Prostitution, which is admittedly a crime in most areas of the nation, is not the same as human trafficking. Prostitution is usually consensual, meaning both parties agree to the arrangement and both benefit in some way, at least theoretically. With human trafficking, victims are coerced, threatened, blackmailed, and forced to perform sexual acts, getting nothing in return. Now, it’s worth noting that many times the two industries kinda bleed into each other. Prostitutes can sometimes start off giving consensual services and then become victimized further than they agree to by pimps and other predators.