Official Site of The State of New Jersey

Human trafficking occurs when someone uses force, fraud, or threats to control another person — making them work against their will or exploiting them sexually.

Labor traffickers force individuals to work—often for little or no pay—by exploiting vulnerabilities like immigration status, economic hardship, or lack of social support. Labor traffickers use violence, threats, lies, and other forms of coercion to force people to work against their will.

Here are some examples:

• Mary is a domestic worker living with a family that brought her from another country. They pay her less than minimum wage and threaten to call ICE if she reports them or tries to leave.
• Leo works construction for a company that paid his bills when he started — then they used that debt to force him to work in unsafe conditions for almost no pay.

Sex traffickers force individuals to perform sex for money through the use of lies, violence, false promises, force, fraud, or coercion. Traffickers will target people because of their vulnerabilities, such as poverty, unstable housing, or a history of abuse. 

Here’s an example:

• Rachel met Matt, who started a romantic relationship with her and gave her gifts. He then pressured and threatened her into having sex with other men for money.

• 📞 NJ Human Trafficking Hotline (Tips/Reports): 855-363-6548
• 📞 Covenant House (Victim Assistance): 862-240-2453