UPDATE: On Friday, Saanich Police said officers identified and arrested two suspects believed to be involved in an extortion scam using a popular dating app.
Saanich PD said the pair, whose names were not released, allegedly used the app Grindr to extort a victim out of thousands of dollars.
According to police, both suspects are facing one charge each of extortion, and one is facing an additional charge of possession of property obtained by crime.
Anyone with information about the investigation, or who may have been affected in a similar manner, is asked to call Saanich PD at 250-475-4321. To make an anonymous report, call Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers at 1-888-222-8477.
Original story follows:
Investigators in Saanich hope to identify two suspects accused of using the dating app Grindr to extort a victim of more than $2,500.
Police say the incident took place on the app last month when the suspects created a profile, gathered personal and private information about the victim and provided them with false information.
The pair then arranged to meet the victim in person, then threatened to use the information they gathered to extort the person, according to police.
The suspects used the names “Jay” and “Oliver” when messaging the victim and are described as both being 18 to 20 years old, one six feet tall and the other 5’9″, both with slim builds.
Saanich Police Handout
Police are now looking for anyone who may have also fallen victim to the scam.
“We are concerned that there may be other similar incidents that have yet to be reported,” said Saanich Police spokesman Const. Markus Anastasiades.
Anyone with information or who may have been affected is asked to contact Det. Const. Dane Nicholson of Saanich Police’s Major Crime Unit at 250-475-4321 or [email protected]. Anyone can make an anonymous report about the incident to Crime Stoppers at 1-888-222-8477.
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