A retired Australian police officer, with decades of experience spotting fraud, lost over $1.2 million to a slick investment “crypto scam” in Thailand. The criminals promised steady returns, showed convincing online dashboards, and gained his trust over months of careful manipulation. Even seasoned professionals can fall victim—because the problem is not just the scammer, it’s the very nature of “crypto.” It is an exploitive playground of schemes designed to separate people from their money.

The simplest, most effective way to avoid crypto scams is to avoid crypto entirely. All of it. If it’s not Bitcoin, it’s not worth touching. Bitcoin is not “another crypto.” It is money—open, borderless, and free from manipulation by any single party. Unlike all the cryptos, Bitcoin was invented to give individuals full control over their wealth without permission from banks, governments, or middlemen.

Stay humble and study Bitcoin, without any speck of fiat-mindset in mind. Avoid crypto, study Bitcoin, and protect both your wealth and your freedom.