Are you a frequent traveler used to short stays in hotels?
You might just be able to help reporting possible victims of human trafficking syndicates, whose operations are now not just confined to brothels but even in low- to high-end hotels.
“Traffickers like to use hotels to ply their trade, since they can get in and make some money and then move on before they attract too much attention,” a Time article explains.
“It happens in hotels that are five star hotels and it happens in the sleaziest, slummiest rent by the hour hotels,” Tammy Lee Stanoch, VP of corporate affairs for Carlson, told Time.
Below are some useful hints that were outlined to help determine underground sex trade operations in hotels:
(1) Luggage, mode of payment, and looks
An older man with a younger woman with a look of concern should raise some red flags.
This is especially so when they have no luggage with them, and the man pays with a bunch of cash.
“Paying with cash is obviously a cause for concern, especially if the reservation was originally made with a credit card,” the article states.
Be wary of the appearance of the woman, too, if “they speak a different language, they’re distant from him, they look dazed or afraid, or if they’re made up to look older than they really are.”
Spot indications that “the women are not there willingly.”
(2) The number of men going inside the room
A “constant stream of men” should also be a cause for concern.
“Rooms which are being used by traffickers typically have a lot of men coming and going, and sometimes have men congregating outside the door, in the lobby or in the parking lot,” the article warns.
A vigilant security team would be able to spot this in no time.
(3) Multiple rooms reserved
Operations are not confined to single customers so multiple rooms would usually be booked.
“One room is the working hotel room and the other room is where everyone else usually stays and they have just a few, very limited belongings,” FBI San Antonio Special Agent Michelle Lee was quoted as saying.
(4) Unusual number of computers and cell phones, porn consumption
If there is a “large number of computers or cell phones in a room,” it is another indication that customers are more than just travelers looking for an overnight stay. It usually means they have set up operation in that room.
“If one room is watching an unusual amount of porn on their hotel TV, that can trigger suspicions especially if it happens in tandem with other signs of trafficking,” the article also states.
In conclusion, Time suggests that “if more than one or two of these warning flags are waving, then it might be time to tell hotel management of your concerns.”
