Three people have been charged with using Internet escort websites to lure and rob men looking for female companionship.
Two males and one female face a combined 48 charges stemming from at least two incidents within the past week.
Red Deer City RCMP started the investigation after two reports of robberies that originated from male victims using the Internet for escort services.
According to police in both instances the males contacted a female from these websites and set up a location and time to meet with them.
Once the man arrived at the meeting place two male suspects brandishing a knife or firearm would steal money, credit cards and in one instance a vehicle from the victim.
Police said during one of those robberies the male was held against his will for an extended period of time before escaping capture and contacting police.
Police have arrested and charged Lindsey Rae Mazzei, 30, of Red Deer, Florian Edward Poitra, 31, of no fixed address and Mark William Bitterman, 30, of no fixed address.
Mazzei, Poitra and Bitterman each face charges of robbery with a firearm, extortion with a firearm, kidnapping with a firearm, forcible confinement, uttering threats, theft over $5,000, unauthorized possession of a firearm, use of an imitation firearm in the commission of an indictable offence and use of a firearm while committing an indictable offence.
Poitra and Bitterman also face assault charges and Bitterman faces a breach of probation charge.
Court dates for all three suspects have not been set.