Human Trafficking vs Human Smuggling

uman trafficking and human H smugglingVOLUME are often XIII: confused. NO. 1 — S U M M E R 2 0 1 7 The two crimes are very different and it is critical to understand the difference between the two.

Volume XIII No. 1 Summer 2017 Human trafficking involves exploiting men, women, or children Inside This Issue for the purposes of forced labor or commercial sexual exploitation. Human Trafficking vs Human smuggling involves the HSI exploits the financial provision of a service—typically, vulnerabilities of smuggling and Human Smuggling….……………..1 transportation or fraudulent trafficking organizations to stop their Red Flags……………………………….2 documents—to an individual who illegal activities. voluntarily seeks to gain illegal entry into a foreign country. If you think you have witnessed trafficking and/or smuggling activity, It is possible the crime may start out please call HSI at: as human smuggling but quickly turn into human trafficking. U.S. 1-202-312-9746 Cornerstone is U.S. Immigrations and Customs Or Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Enforcement’s (ICE) Security Investigations (HSI) is the 1-800-BE-ALERT comprehensive investigative lead agency countering both issues. initiative for fighting financial crime.

The Cornerstone Report is a quarterly bulletin highlighting key issues related to ICE Homeland Security Investigations’ (HSI) financial, narcotics and special operations investigations.

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www.ice.gov/cornerstone For Project Stamp and case studies: www.ice.gov/stamp HS/HT Red Flag Indicators

 Common Human Trafficking business  Leasing of high-end luxury vehicles and extravagant trips fronts: Modeling and travel agencies, paid by electronic funds transfers from business bank Page 2 of 2 employment companies, “au pair” accounts babysitting and international  Receipt of numerous incoming wire transfers or personal Volume XIII No 1 matchmaking services (mail order bride), checks inconsistent with account type massage parlors  Wire transfers from one business account to another  Transactions conducted by individuals, escorted by a business account that has no apparent ties third party (under the pretext of requiring an  Checks deposited from a possible funnel account appear interpreter), to transfer funds to other countries to be pre-signed, bearing different handwriting in the  Frequent transactions, inconsistent with expected signature and payee fields activity or line of business, carried out by a business  Frequent exchange of small denomination bills for larger customer in apparent efforts to provide sustenance to denomination bills by a customer who is not in a cash individuals such as: payment for housing/lodging, intensive industry regular vehicle rentals, purchases of large amounts of  Sudden increases in cash deposits, rapid turnover of food, frequents purchases at pharmacies (e.g. medicine/ funds and large volumes of cash deposits from unknown condoms for victims) sources  Payment to employment or student recruitment agencies  Money flows that do not fit common remittance patterns that are not licensed/registered or that have labor such as wire transfers that originate from countries with violations high migrant populations (Mexico, El Salvador,  Frequent payments to online escort services for Honduras, Guatemala) directed to beneficiaries location advertising, including small posting fees to companies of in US or Mexican cities along the border online classifieds as well as more expensive high-end  Beneficiaries receiving wire transfers from countries with advertising and website hosting companies high migrant populations who are not nationals of those  Accounts of foreign workers or students where the countries employer or employment agency serves as a custodian  Inflows are largely received in cash where substantial  Business owner does not exhibit normal payroll cash receipts are inconsistent with the customers line of expenditures such as wages, payroll taxes, social security business contributions. Payroll costs can be non-existent or  Wire senders may use similar transactional information, extremely low for the size of the customer’s alleged including commons accounts, addresses, phone numbers operations, workforce or business model. and IP addresses  Multiple accounts established for different businesses or persons with the same signatory powers on each account  Multiple wire transfers to the same beneficiary who may  Frequent outbound wire transfers with no business or be located in the US or Mexican city along the SW border apparent lawful purpose, directed to countries at higher  When questioned, the senders have no explanation for risk for human trafficking or to countries that are the purpose of the wire transfer and have no relation to inconsistent with the customers expected activity the recipient of the funds  Business bank accounts that lack typical business  New accounts that often reflect similar activity of that of expenses or account activity does not relate to the the closed account business  Credit or debit processing for even dollar amounts, or transactions at time when atypical for business type (e.g. 2 am transactions)

HSI – A Diverse, Global Force DHS/ ICE HSI is a critical investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security Investigations 500 12th Street, SW Homeland Security and is a vital U.S. asset in combating Washington, DC 20536 criminal organizations illegally exploiting America's E-mail: [email protected] travel, trade, financial and immigration systems. Web: www.ice.gov