People who have been trafficked for the purpose of sexual exploitation may:

• Be of any age, although the age may vary according to the location and the market
• Move from one brothel to the next or work in various locations
• Be escorted whenever they go to and return from work and other outside activities
• Have tattoos or other marks indicating “ownership” by their exploiters
• Work long hours or have few if any days off
• Sleep where they work
• Live or travel in a group, sometimes with other women who do not speak the same language
• Have very few items of clothing
• Have clothes that are mostly the kind typically worn for doing sex work
• Only know how to say sex-related words in the local language or in the language of the client group
• Have no cash of their own
• Be unable to show an identity document

The following might also indicate that children have been trafficked:

• There is evidence that suspected victims have had unprotected and/or violent sex
• There is evidence that suspected victims cannot refuse unprotected and/or violent sex
• There is evidence that a person has been bought and sold
• There is evidence that groups of women are under the control of others
• Advertisements are placed for brothels or similar places offering the services of women of a particular ethnicity or nationality
• It is reported that sex workers provide services to a clientele of a particular ethnicity or nationality
• It is reported by clients that sex workers do not smile