TORONTO: Dean Shukra CEO of the Toronto based crypto trading platform Wonderfi Technologies was reportedly kidnapped from downtown area during rush hours and later released after a $1 million ransom was paid, the media reports here said.
CEO says he is “safe and doing well” after he was reportedly forced into a car in downtown Toronto at rush hour and held for ransom on Wednesday, November 9, 2024.
Toronto police received a call about a kidnapping near University Avenue and Richmond Street West, just before 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Const. Laura Brabant said in an email. The suspects demanded money, then released the victim unharmed about 20 kilometres away at Etobicoke’s Centennial Park, approximately an hour later around 7 p.m., police confirmed.
CBC News reported that Skurka was the victim in the kidnapping, and was released after a $1 million ransom was paid. The claim is neither denied or confirned by the compaby officials.
“The investigation by Toronto Police into this incident is ongoing, with my full cooperation, ” Dean Shukra wrote on X and LinkedIn on Friday.
On the same day as the attack, WonderFi was updating shareholders on its third-quarter earnings. In a news release, Skurka said he was “extremely pleased” with the company’s progress, with the platform facilitating $2.3 billion in crypto trading volumes during the nine months ending Sept. 30.