Brazilian says he's trafficked in Asia and must pay to be freed -  If you thought that slavery was a thing of the past, think again. According to Anti-Slavery International, almost 50 million people worldwide are trapped in a situation of modern slavery right now. As shocking as it sounds, modern slavery is present in every country in the world, and often it is right under our noses.

In a recent case, Luckas Viana dos Santos, 31, contacted his family in Brazil, reporting that he has been imprisoned in a cybercrime center on the border between Myanmar and Thailand since early October, as a victim of an alleged human trafficking network.

The young man's mother, Cleide Viana, claims he was lured by a fake job offer and has since been under the control of criminals. In his last call to his mother on December 8, Luckas informed her that the criminals were demanding around US$19,500 for his release. Cleide is trying to raise the amount, but she’s running out of time: "Every second counts. The pain is immense, but faith is stronger."

Luckas' case follows a growing pattern of people being lured into forced labor in Southeast Asian countries. "My son is being exploited, tortured, and forced to commit crimes against his will," Cleide shared online.

Modern slavery can take many forms. It includes, but is not limited to, forced labor, forced domestic servitude, and forced marriage. When it comes to spotting the signs, there are a number of general indicators to look out for, as well as some more specific ones depending on the situation.

Curious? Keep on reading to learn more.

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Crowded accommodation - The first common indicator of modern slavery is a house or apartment that appears to be occupied by too many people. Often these individuals will be picked up and/or dropped off as a group.

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Lack of documents -

It is also common for victims of modern slavery to have few or no identification documents. If they do have a passport or ID card, someone else may be in charge of it.

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No mail or phone -

Another key indicator is inaccessibility to mail or a phone. Traffickers want to minimize their victims’ contact with others, and so will often cut off access to communication channels.

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No remuneration -

Victims of modern slavery also tend to receive little or no pay. Their pay goes to the person trafficking them, so they will seem never to have any money, despite working long hours.

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No voice - Another telltale sign of modern slavery is one person speaking for a group of people, when there is no obvious reason for this and the situation does not call for it.

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No voice -

In these situations, the other people in the group will often try not to make eye contact and to avoid being addressed.

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Scared and confused -

In general, people subjected to modern slavery may seem scared and confused. They are likely to be reluctant to tell anyone about their situation.

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Scared of the police - They may have a particular fear of law enforcement. Often, they are told that if they escape or complain, their lives, or the lives of their families, will be at risk.

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Poor health and appearance - Victims of modern slavery often have poor health and nutrition and may look scruffy. They may wear the same clothes day in, day out.

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Less common sign - A less common indicator of modern slavery is someone believing that they are being controlled by witchcraft.

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Forced labor -

Looking now at some of the specific signs of forced labor, this is where work is done under the threat of a penalty, or the person did not offer themselves voluntarily and is not free to leave.

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Signs of forced labor -

Someone who is being subjected to forced labor may exhibit some or all of the above general signs, as well as some of the following, more specific, indicators.

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Excessive hours -

Victims of forced labor often work excessive hours. They may be required to do huge amounts of overtime, often with few or no breaks.

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Paying for equipment -

They may also be required to pay for their own tools or equipment, despite the fact that they do not receive proper pay in the first place.

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No contract -

People engaged in forced labor do not usually have a labor contract or documentation. If they do, they will likely be prevented from accessing it.

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Forced sexual exploitation -

There are also specific signs to look out for if you suspect that someone may be trapped in a situation of forced sexual exploitation.

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Signs of forced sexual exploitation - The first is frequent movement from city to city. Temporary brothels are often set up in homes or hotels/motels, and victims of forced sex work are required to move about.

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Sleeping at work -

Victims of sexual exploitation may also be found sleeping on work premises, and they may seem to have very little in the way of personal belongings, in particular clothing.

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Strict control -

It is also common for people in this situation to be strictly controlled. Victims of forced sex work are usually picked up and dropped off at their work location.

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Payment received by another person - Finally, in this situation, someone other than the person normally receives payment for services.

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Domestic servitude -

The most difficult form of modern slavery to spot is domestic servitude. This is because it can happen exclusively within a private home.

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Signs of domestic servitude -

Some victims of domestic servitude are exploited only in this context, while others have domestic duties forced on them at home while also being exploited elsewhere.

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No place to sleep -

A domestic servitude victim will usually live and work in a family home, but not have a proper place to sleep, or be allowed to eat with the rest of the family.

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Excessive hours -

They are likely to work excessive hours, even be on the clock 24 hours a day. Usually they will not leave the home without their employer.

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Forced marriage -

Finally, let’s look at some of the indicators of forced marriage. This is a form of modern slavery that primarily affects women and girls.

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Definition -

Forced marriage occurs when someone is forced to live within a marriage to which they did not consent. The institution of marriage is then used to exploit the person in other ways, such as by domestic servitude.

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Forced vs. arranged marriage -

It is important to note that forced marriage is different from an arranged marriage, in which the parties involved can choose not to go through with it.

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Signs of forced marriage -

Someone trapped in a forced marriage may exhibit any number of general indicators. They may also be unable to leave the marital home, unless accompanied by their spouse or a chaperone.

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Absence from work or school -

Forced marriage also causes people to be suddenly absent from work, or even from school, in the case of young victims. Indeed, some victims are under the age of 16 when they marry.

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Decline in health -

Finally, being trapped in a forced marriage will often cause a decline in physical and/or mental health. Victims are not usually allowed to attend doctors' appointments unaccompanied.

Sources: (Hope for Justice) (Anti-Slavery International)

See also: How human trafficking is done—the crime Diddy is being accused of

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