The 19-year-old told police he arranged to meet someone from social media in the parking lot of a Winnipeg high school with the intention of exchanging his money for Bitcoin.

When he got into the person's car, he was immediately held at gunpoint, assaulted, tied up and driven around by a man who demanded his money, Winnipeg police public information officer Const. Dani McKinnon said.

When the vehicle eventually stopped, he escaped and ran for help. He was treated for his injuries and released from the hospital.