FBI reports surge in cases involving blackmail and romance scams targeting teens and young adults
AKRON, Ohio — 11 Investigates has learned that Gavin Williams, the top pitching prospect for the Cleveland Guardians, paid a blackmailer $1,000 before going to police after his Snapchat account was hacked.
Williams told police that the blackmailer contacted him via text after hacking into the social media account. On Aug. 3, he was sent the private conversations that were stolen and told to pay $1,000. After payment, the blackmailer demanded more money or else the conversations would be released. On Aug. 5, a member of the Guardians called police to report the crime. Williams then followed up with a phone call and completed a report with the Akron Police Department.
The report does not provide any details about the content of the messages that were stolen. Williams told police that he did not know the identity of the hacker. As of Tuesday morning, no arrests have been made in the case.
Williams, 23, was the Guardians’ top pick in the 2021 draft. He currently pitches for the Akron Rubberducks at the Double-A level. He was scheduled to pitch Tuesday night against the Erie Seawolves in Erie, Pa. The 6-foot-6 right-hander is 1-3 with a 1.83 earned run average for Akron.
