The National Human Trafficking Hotline answers 24 hours a day: 1-888-373-7888, text 233733, or TTY 711. RAINN’s hotline is free and confidential: 800-656-4673. If a child is at risk now, Childhelp is at 800-422-4453. In immediate danger, call 911.
What it is
Federal law defines sex trafficking as “the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, obtaining, patronizing, or soliciting of a person for the purpose of a commercial sex act” (22 U.S.C. 7102). A commercial sex act is “any sex act, on account of which anything of value is given to or received by any person.” It does not have to be money: the statute says anything of value.
The federal crime, 18 U.S.C. 1591, applies when force, threats of force, fraud or coercion are used to cause a person to engage in a commercial sex act, or when the person is under 18. For a minor, no force, fraud or coercion has to be shown. Coercion includes “threats of serious harm,” and the statute defines serious harm to include “psychological, financial, or reputational harm.” Coercion also covers the abuse or threatened abuse of the law or legal process to pressure someone. The statute’s verbs include “harbors” and “maintains,” so a person can be trafficked without ever being moved anywhere.
Traffickers “may be family members, romantic partners, acquaintances, or strangers,” according to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, which also states that “any child under 18 who is involved in commercial sex is legally a victim of trafficking, regardless of whether there is a third party involved.” Federal child welfare law treats a child identified as a trafficking victim as a victim of sexual abuse (42 U.S.C. 5106g(b)). Reports to NCMEC’s CyberTipline related to child sex trafficking rose 323% in 2025 over 2024, which NCMEC attributes to a 2024 federal law that requires online companies to report it.
Signs and how it is reported
The National Human Trafficking Hotline lists signs that someone may be experiencing sex trafficking. Among them, the person:
- wants to stop but feels “scared or unable to leave the situation”
- has a controlling partner, parent, guardian or “sponsor” who will not let them meet or speak with anyone alone, or who “monitors their movements, spending, or communications”
- lives where they work, or is driven between home and work by someone guarding them
The hotline also lists recruitment patterns to watch for in a young person or a friend: being “newly showered with gifts or money,” a fast-moving relationship with someone much older or wealthier, staying with someone who is not a parent or guardian after running away, or a job offer that “seems too good to be true.” Many of these overlap with grooming. Young people who have run away or who are in the juvenile justice or child welfare systems are among those the hotline identifies as at higher risk; our pages on foster care, group homes and juvenile detention cover those settings.
Where to report. The National Human Trafficking Hotline, 1-888-373-7888 or text 233733, takes calls from people who are being trafficked and from people who are worried about someone. It is confidential. Online exploitation of a minor can be reported to NCMEC’s CyberTipline at 1-800-843-5678, and federal crimes to the FBI at tips.fbi.gov. In immediate danger, call 911. Our guide to reporting abuse explains what follows a report to police. Whether and when to report is the survivor’s decision, and a civil claim does not need a police report.
Civil claims that may apply
The federal trafficking claim. Under 18 U.S.C. 1595, part of the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act, a victim may sue the trafficker and also anyone who “knowingly benefits” from participation in a venture that it “knew or should have known” was engaged in trafficking. The claim must be filed within 10 years after it arose or, for someone who was a minor, within 10 years after turning 18, whichever is later. If a criminal case about the same events is pending, the civil case is paused until it ends. State attorneys general can also sue under the statute on behalf of state residents.
Businesses as beneficiaries. The “should have known” language is how claims reach businesses such as hotels and motels, and courts read it in different ways. In Doe #1 v. Red Roof Inns (2021), the Eleventh Circuit required a plaintiff to allege that the business knowingly benefited from taking part in a common undertaking that violated the statute as to the plaintiff, with actual or constructive knowledge, and it upheld dismissal of claims against three hotel franchisors, writing that “observing something is not the same as participating in it.” In G.G. v. Salesforce.com (2023), the Seventh Circuit held that participation can be shown through “a continuous business relationship” with the trafficker. Our pages on hotels and trafficking claims and massage businesses explain how these standards apply.
For people who were minors. A person who was a victim of sex trafficking under section 1591 as a minor can also sue under 18 U.S.C. 2255, known since its 2006 amendment as Masha’s Law. It has had no time limit since September 16, 2022 for claims not already barred on that date.
Cases we follow. Our page on the Epstein estate settlement follows a class settlement of claims alleging that the estate’s former advisers took part in a trafficking venture; the court has set the final approval hearing for December 2, 2026, and until then the settlement can change. The case tracker lists every matter we follow. Every claim described on those pages is an allegation unless a court has ruled on it.
State laws add their own trafficking claims and deadlines. Our statute of limitations reference covers each state, and our guide to filing anonymously explains how survivors keep their names out of court records.
The deadlines described here are general rules, and most of them have exceptions. The date that governs a particular claim turns on the state, the person’s age when the abuse happened, when they connected it to the harm it caused, and who the defendant is. A claim against a public agency or a public school can carry a written notice requirement that runs out long before the ordinary deadline.
Nothing on this page can tell you your own date. A lawyer who looks at your facts can, and there is no charge to ask.
Support resources
The National Human Trafficking Hotline, 1-888-373-7888, text 233733, also offers online chat on its website and keeps a national directory of service providers. RAINN, 800-656-4673, is free and confidential for anyone affected by sexual violence. Childhelp, 800-422-4453, takes calls and texts for and about children. Anyone thinking about suicide can call or text 988.
Trauma and healing describes support that does not depend on any legal step, and our guide to browsing safely explains how to keep reading private on a phone someone else may check. Related pages cover child sexual abuse, adult sexual assault and online exploitation and sextortion, and every type is listed on the types of abuse hub.
Questions we are asked most
Sex trafficking involves a commercial sex act, meaning any sex act for which anything of value is given or received, caused by force, fraud or coercion, or involving anyone under 18. For a minor, no force, fraud or coercion has to be shown under 18 U.S.C. 1591.
No. The federal definition includes harboring and maintaining a person, so someone can be trafficked without being moved anywhere. Traffickers can be family members, romantic partners, acquaintances or strangers, according to the National Human Trafficking Hotline.
The National Human Trafficking Hotline is confidential and open 24 hours a day at 1-888-373-7888, by text at 233733, or by TTY at 711. In immediate danger, call 911. Online exploitation of a minor can also be reported to the NCMEC CyberTipline at 1-800-843-5678.
Possibly. Under 18 U.S.C. 1595 a victim can sue anyone who knowingly benefited from a venture it knew or should have known was engaged in trafficking, but courts read that standard differently. In Doe #1 v. Red Roof Inns (2021) the Eleventh Circuit upheld dismissal of claims against three hotel franchisors, while the Seventh Circuit in G.G. v. Salesforce.com (2023) held that a continuous business relationship with the trafficker can show participation.
Under 18 U.S.C. 1595, the later of 10 years after the claim arose or, for someone who was a minor, 10 years after turning 18. A person trafficked as a minor may also sue under 18 U.S.C. 2255, which has had no time limit since September 16, 2022 for claims not already barred on that date. State deadlines differ.
No. A civil claim does not need a police report. If a criminal case about the same events is pending, federal law pauses the civil case until the criminal case ends.
- Doe #1 v. Red Roof Inns, Inc., 21 F.4th 714 (11th Cir. 2021), Nos. 20-11764 et al. Accurate as of December 22, 2021.
- G.G. v. Salesforce.com, Inc., 76 F.4th 544 (7th Cir. Aug. 3, 2023), No. 22-2621 Accurate as of August 3, 2023.
- Doe 3 v. Indyke, Memo endorsement, Dkt. 446 (September 17, 2026): notice program and final approval hearing December 2, 2026 Accurate as of September 17, 2026.
- 22 U.S.C. 7102, definitions (sex trafficking; severe forms of trafficking in persons) Accurate as of October 5, 2026.
- 18 U.S.C. 1591, sex trafficking of children or by force, fraud, or coercion Accurate as of October 5, 2026.
- 18 U.S.C. § 1595, civil remedy for trafficking victims (beneficiary liability; 10-year limitations period)
- 18 U.S.C. 2255, civil remedy for personal injuries Accurate as of October 5, 2026.
- 42 U.S.C. 5106g, Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act definitions Accurate as of October 5, 2026.
- NCMEC, CyberTipline Data 2025 Accurate as of December 31, 2025.
- National Human Trafficking Hotline, Recognizing the Signs Accurate as of October 5, 2026.
- National Human Trafficking Hotline Accurate as of October 5, 2026.
- National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, CyberTipline.
- FBI tips
