How a retired Aussie cop lost $1.2M in a crypto scam in Thailand
How was Michael Reinecke lured into the crypto scam?
In the fast-evolving landscape of blockchain and the digital assets ecosystem, stories of overnight riches often overshadow the darker side: sophisticated scams that prey on the inexperience and trust of victims.
One such cautionary tale unfolded in Thailand when a retired Australian police officer, Michael Reinecke, reported to the authorities on July 18, 2025, that he had fallen victim to a cryptocurrency scam that cost him nearly 40 million Thai baht, approximately $1.2 million.
Reinecke wasn’t a novice to deception. With a 30-year career in the Queensland Police Service, he had honed skills in spotting deception, interrogating…
