Which of the following is NOT a typical characteristic of human trafficking?

Voluntary participation is not a typical characteristic of human trafficking because trafficking inherently involves coercion or deception. Human trafficking is fundamentally a violation of human rights where individuals are forced, coerced, or deceived into various forms of exploitation, such as forced labor or sexual exploitation. In contrast, voluntary participation implies that individuals willingly engage in an activity with full knowledge of what it entails, which contradicts the very premise of trafficking.

Additionally, the other options highlight key elements of human trafficking. Forced labor involves situations where individuals are compelled to work under threat or deception. Fraudulent schemes involve manipulative practices that lure individuals into trafficking situations, often promising job opportunities that do not exist or that turn exploitative. The exploitation of vulnerable populations typically refers to how traffickers target those with fewer economic or social opportunities, making it easier to exert control over them. These characteristics underline the coercive nature of human trafficking, reinforcing why voluntary participation does not fit within this context.