SALISBURY — Police are investigating a fraud case after a man reported that he received death threats against his family, saying that they would be killed if he did not pay.

The fraud occurred on Tuesday, when the victim randomly received a text from a number he did not recognize, said a spokesperson for the Salisbury Police Department. That text allegedly was from a man that said that if the victim did not pay him, he would kill the victim and his family. The suspect also allegedly sent the victim photos of multiple people suffering physical abuse, though none were members of the victim’s family.

The man then sent the suspect almost $10,000, the spokesperson said. After that, the suspect allegedly claimed to be a high-ranking gang member who ran an escort service, and said that the victim had “wasted his girl’s time.” The victim told police that he had not used any escort services, according to the spokesperson.