Recent Cryptocurrency CEO Kidnapping in Toronto
Toronto police are currently investigating the kidnapping of a prominent figure in the cryptocurrency world. The CEO of WonderFi, Dean Skurka, was abducted in downtown Toronto during rush hour on Wednesday, Nov. 6. He was later found unharmed after a $1 million ransom was paid electronically, as reported by CBC.
The incident took place near University Avenue and Richmond Street West just before 6 p.m. Reports suggest that Skurka was forcibly taken into a vehicle and the kidnappers demanded the hefty ransom. Skurka was eventually released and was discovered safe at Centennial Park in Toronto.
In a statement via email to CBC, Skurka assured clients that WonderFi’s funds and data were secure, despite the ordeal. This alarming event comes in the wake of a record high in ransomware incidents, with over $1 billion extorted in cryptocurrency payments in 2023 according to Chainalysis data.
WonderFi, a Toronto-based financial firm specializing in digital assets, holds a significant share in regulated cryptocurrency exchanges in Canada. This incident draws parallels to a similar case in Malaysia, where individuals were kidnapped, and a substantial sum in cryptocurrency was paid as ransom.
