A Sutherland landowner faces having to sell off parts of his estate – which includes Scotland’s most northerly nudist beach – after claiming he has lost £130,000 in a crypto scam.
Michael Dudgeon only got involved in the “too-good-to-be-true” scheme to help pay off the bills at his 4000-acre Crakaig Estate, near Helmsdale.
He is now speaking out in the hope of preventing others from being drawn in by get-rick-quick promises.
Mr Dudgeon, 71, was tempted after seeing an advert promising seemingly fantastic returns.
Over six months he ploughed in nearly £100,000 in cash and investments in a bundle with a broker that included crypto currency and oil price leverage.
His portfolio appeared to have risen to a staggering £402,000.
But when the tried to get his money out, he was allegedly told by a crypto currency trader who was now managing his investments, that he had to pay £34,000 in early exit penalty fees to Coinbase – the world’s best-known digital currency exchange where his money was apparently eventually parked.
Mr Dudgeon duly paid up only to be asked for £18,000 for “capital gains tax”.
Having paid £4000 he got suspicious – and also out of cash.
So far between the investments, penalty and “tax”, Mr Dudgeon has splashed out £130,000.
“I could lose the whole estate, but certainly may have to sell off parts of it. It has been in my family for over 150 years,” he revealed.
“I only invested to help pay the running costs. I put in my…
