This is crazy! It was common to send btc to stranger years ago when it was worth "nothing" but now you should be crazy to pay that amount to someone you don't know and without even know how bitcoin works.
People still send thousands via paypal and bank transfers to internet scammers. I wouldn't go around blaming the vitcims, its usually the good hearted people that are too trusting. I hope this scammer gets what is coming to him in the end.