They generally believe that Bitcoin is a scam zone and because they totally understand how the commercial banks are being operated, they find it safer.
In Nigeria, the old people do not see bitcoin as a scam zone, but they do not see it as money. Many of them do not know what bitcoin is also. They believed in physical assets and their businesses. They believed mostly in their businesses and have their money in banks.
We've seen this things happen as you said it but it looks like all this kind of things happen in Africa mainly I don't think this kind of things do take place in the civilised world where documentation and data are properly taken and kept for reference purposes
There are thieves everywhere. Money theft can happen anywhere. Do not trust people as long as your money is with them.