Human trafficking victim reports rise in Mississippi, data shows. Here’s how much, ways to help
Reports of human trafficking victims in Mississippi increased in 2024 compared to the previous year, state health experts said.
While complete data for 2025 has not been released, Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch said 51 victims of human trafficking, including two minors, were recovered for the year, according to a Jan. 5 Facebook post.
“These cases often start with tips from people who want to help. Everyone can be the solution to human trafficking,” Fitch said in the post.
Here’s what to know about human trafficking in Mississippi, including how to help others that may be victims.
What is human trafficking?
The MSDH defines human trafficking as “the recruiting, harboring, transporting or providing a person for labor services or commercial acts through force, fraud or coercion.”
Victims of trafficking, which can be anyone, may not speak up about it due to fear or manipulation, according to the MSDH.
Human trafficking in Mississippi
The National Human Trafficking Hotline received 303 signals from Mississippi in 2024, up by 32 reports compared to the previous year, according to the organization’s website.
Mississippi reports spiked in 2020 at 695 and have decreased every year through 2023, according to NHTH data.
These were the most common types of trafficking reports for the state in 2024, according to the NHTH:
- Sex: 156 reports
- Labor: 18 reports
- Sex and Labor: 15 reports
What to look out for to avoid becoming a victim
Be aware of anyone suspiciously offering money, jobs or comfort as it could be a trap, according to the MSDH. Look out for these potential traps:
- Job offers for high pay that require little or no skills or experience
- Relationships that become controlling, including access to your money or personal identification
- Requests from someone online for personal details, photos or identifying documents
What are signs that someone may be a victim of trafficking?
To know if someone might be a victim of trafficking, the MSDH suggests looking for the following signs:
- Lack of identifying documents
- Signs of physical abuse
- Unusual fearfulness
- Unwillingness to communicate or socialize
- Lack of food, sleep or proper care
- Being underage for their work
What to do if you suspect someone is a victim of trafficking?
If you think someone might be a victim of human trafficking, here’s how to report it, according to the MSDH:
If the person is under 18
Report it to the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services by calling 1-800-222-8000 or file a report online.
If the person is 18 and over
Report it to the MDHS Adult Protective Services by calling 1-844-437-6282 or file a vulnerable adult report online.
You can also call the National Human Trafficking Hotline, available 24/7 for confidential support and referrals, at 888-373-7888 or text 23733 (BEFREE).
