The Human Cost of Scam Centers

Scam centers are flooding headlines — but what’s really going on behind the screens?In this first episode of The Human Trace, Helen Avadiar-Nimbalker is joined by friends and co-thinkers Mechelle Moore and BC Tan to unpack the hidden realities behind scam centers: forced criminality, trafficking, torture, and the growing underground economy built on human suffering.This conversation explores the deeper layers — from recruitment tactics and political complicity, to what happens when survivors return home. Support the showPublished by Asia Freedom Network. The Human Trace is produced to spark real conversations, amplify unheard stories, and trace the human impact behind global issues. Helen Avadiar-Nimbalker is a trauma specialist, anti-trafficking strategist, and Director of the Asia Freedom Network. She is the founder of The Whispering Willow and CEO of Rise Foundation Asia — two organisations providing trauma-informed, community-based support for survivors of exploitation across Southeast Asia. With over two decades of experience, Helen has supported displaced communities, led survivor care initiatives, advised governments and civil society on systems reform, and shaped regional conversations on human rights, trauma, and justice. Connect: linkedin.com/in/helenavadiarnimbalkerLearn more at asiafreedomnetwork.org and follow us on Instagram & LinkedIn @asiafreedomnetwork.