47°
The resident said that after accepting a friend request from a stranger on Facebook, the two began communicating and entered what the resident construed to be a dating relationship, Middlesex police said.
The suspect later claimed to be out of the country for business and in need of money, police said.
The resident was then convinced to purchase gift cards totaling approximately $1,000 and provided the suspect with the card numbers.
After the resident stopped sending funds to the suspect, the suspect threatened to share "compromising photographs of the resident with their Facebook friends," police said.
The resident reported the incident to Middlesex police on April 22.
Police did not say whether the victim was a woman or a man.
Officer Paul Steffanelli and Detective Sgt. Sean Flanagan are investigating.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Middlesex and receive free news updates.
