GUELPH – A Guelph man is out $2,500 after police say he was targeted in an extortion scheme that began with a visit to an escort website.
Police say the man reported on Tuesday that he contacted several women through the website but did not follow up with any of them.
He later received a text message and phone call from a man who accused him of wasting the women’s time.
Police say “The man demanded payment of $2,500 and threatened to harm the complainant and his family if payment was not made.”
The victim then visited two Bitcoin ATMs and deposited the money as instructed.
Given the nature of the communications and the use of cryptocurrency, police advised the man that investigating the incident would be extremely difficult.
