The family of an Ottawa-area businessman missing in Mexico has discovered someone tried to use his credit card after he went missing.

The credit card transaction was denied, but Daniel Dion's family hopes it will lead to new information about his whereabouts.

Dion, 51, was last seen at his favourite restaurant in Acapulco early Saturday morning at about 3 a.m. Dion last contacted his family when he called his wife Friday night,

The next day he failed to show up for a business meeting just outside Acapulco.

"We are concerned because Mexico is far. And right now, in Mexico, things aren't going well. There are many kidnappings," Dion's niece, Franceska, told CTV Ottawa on Thursday.

Dion, who lives in Carleton Place, Ont., runs an eco-friendly purse business based in Mexico. His family told CTV Ottawa the fabric used to make the purses is bought in Mexico, and the purses are made by Mexican prisoners.

Dion travelled to Mexico three weeks ago to show off his work at an expo being held in the Acapulco-area.

It's believed he had about 500,000 pesos in his pocket the night of his disappearance. Five hundred thousand pesos is worth about CDN$41,000. His family is unsure why he would be carrying such a large sum of cash.

Dion's family flew to Mexico to search for him this week after he didn't get on the plane for his return flight home on Tuesday.

Although they've reported him missing to police, the family says investigators are not helping with their search.

Dion had rented a white Volkswagen Jetta for his travels and his family is trying to track down any car crashes in the area.

His family has also set up a website, FindDanielDion.com, in hopes of reaching out to anyone who might have information about his whereabouts.

Dion had recently confided in his family that he felt Mexico was becoming a more dangerous place. He had also said he knew several Mexican police officers who had been murdered over the last few years.

Canada's Ministry of Foreign Affairs won't confirm Dion's name, but the department says it is monitoring a case in Mexico.

Dion, who has a home in Carleton Place, also has an apartment in Mexico. He is originally from Sherbrooke, Que.