Unfortunately it is entirely true- was talking to him today and he is still hoping someone can help track the scammer/s down and there are a few leads in addition to our tracing of the Bitcoin to HTX - for example he is still in contact with the scammer- via Telegram.
I told him the chances now of retrieving anything are pretty much zero but it would be still interesting to try to track the scammer/s down.
If anyone knows of anyone skilled in this area please let me know.
I am pretty sure he would pay a bounty for any funds recovered.

denlillaapan

econ

Scam Inc., and Did I Find My Scammer?? (The Economist)

A friend of mine got cleaned out of his life savings by one of these scams.
He was working in Cambodia at the time...I wonder now if the scammers were locals.
Back in New Zealand the police were zero help.
I tracked the Bitcoin funds part of the scam to a major exchange HTX but the NZ police were very reluctant to engage with HTX and get details of the scammers.
China is now heavily involved in Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos.
Good luck getting any serious cooperation from China in tracking these scammers.
 