Sorry for your loss, man.  I also think you got snookered by an impersonator, it's a common tactic.  Someone was running around Telegram impersonating me a few years ago, and I woke up to a scam accusation against me.  The scammer was using a subtle misspelling of my username, and made off with at least one person's money.

Considering Bittawm's reputation and his recent absence, that's the most likely explanation.