Rise in Fraud and Blackmail Against LGBTQ+ People in Russia
As repression against the LGBTQ+ community intensifies in Russia, there has been a surge in cases of blackmail, extortion, and violence targeting queer individuals. An investigation by Svetlana Bronnikova for 7x7, conducted with the support of human rights organizations Coming Out, Parni+, and Mayak, reveals how scammers are adapting to the country’s increasingly hostile legal environment—particularly the 2023 classification of the so-called “LGBT movement” as extremist—and exploiting it to coerce victims.
The scam often starts with a match on dating apps like Hornet or “Daivinchik.” The perpetrator extracts personal information, moves the conversation to private messengers, and arranges a meeting.
Afterward, the victim is blackmailed with threats of reporting them to the police for “LGBT propaganda” or extremism, or of outing them to family members, schools, or public Telegram channels. These threats are especially effective now that LGBTQ+ people in Russia face heightened legal vulnerability.
One case involved 16-year-old Artyom, a high school student from Siberia, who was blackmailed by 18-year-old Vladimir after an intimate encounter. Vladimir demanded 20,000 rubles, threatening to send a recording of their meeting to the police and Artyom’s family. Artyom turned to the Mayak organization, where he received legal and psychological support. While lawyers assured him prosecution was impossible under the law, he still avoided going to the police—fearing he’d be forced to come out to his parents.
Another case describes Ilya, a university student from Central Russia, who fell victim to a cryptocurrency scam that cost him 50,000 rubles. The blackmail that followed included threats of being outed in academic group chats. Despite the pressure, he refused to give in and chose to live openly.
The investigation also uncovered cases where scammers impersonated law enforcement. Maria, a transgender woman, was assaulted and extorted by a man with a fake police badge. He demanded 100,000 rubles and tried to coerce her into spying on another trans person. Maria filed a police report, and the suspect was arrested—but she now fears real officers could come after her because of her gender identity.
Lawyer Ksenia Mikhailova highlights that police often ignore reports from LGBTQ+ individuals. Even when victims present proof—such as money transfers—cases rarely move forward without advocacy pressure. In one case, a trans woman who went to police as a robbery victim was instead fined for “LGBT propaganda.”
Dmitry, another victim, met a man named Makar, who claimed he “reformed gays.” Makar threatened to publish a video of their sexual encounter unless Dmitry transferred 50,000 rubles. Under pressure, Dmitry took out a credit card and sent 35,000. The ordeal led to serious mental health issues and psychiatric intervention.
Psychologists and activists stress that blackmail of queer people is not just a legal issue—it’s a deep psychosocial crisis. In a country rife with institutional homophobia, isolation, and repression, LGBTQ+ individuals are particularly vulnerable. Fear of violence and legal persecution contributes to depression, anxiety disorders, and paranoia.
This growing wave of manipulation, threats, and violence is a direct consequence of a state policy that turns LGBTQ+ existence into a criminalized risk. Human rights groups are calling for expanded psychological and legal support for victims—and for public awareness to break the silence and fear that fuels the cycle of abuse.
Link to full investigation
The scam often starts with a match on dating apps like Hornet or “Daivinchik.” The perpetrator extracts personal information, moves the conversation to private messengers, and arranges a meeting.
Afterward, the victim is blackmailed with threats of reporting them to the police for “LGBT propaganda” or extremism, or of outing them to family members, schools, or public Telegram channels. These threats are especially effective now that LGBTQ+ people in Russia face heightened legal vulnerability.
One case involved 16-year-old Artyom, a high school student from Siberia, who was blackmailed by 18-year-old Vladimir after an intimate encounter. Vladimir demanded 20,000 rubles, threatening to send a recording of their meeting to the police and Artyom’s family. Artyom turned to the Mayak organization, where he received legal and psychological support. While lawyers assured him prosecution was impossible under the law, he still avoided going to the police—fearing he’d be forced to come out to his parents.
Another case describes Ilya, a university student from Central Russia, who fell victim to a cryptocurrency scam that cost him 50,000 rubles. The blackmail that followed included threats of being outed in academic group chats. Despite the pressure, he refused to give in and chose to live openly.
The investigation also uncovered cases where scammers impersonated law enforcement. Maria, a transgender woman, was assaulted and extorted by a man with a fake police badge. He demanded 100,000 rubles and tried to coerce her into spying on another trans person. Maria filed a police report, and the suspect was arrested—but she now fears real officers could come after her because of her gender identity.
Lawyer Ksenia Mikhailova highlights that police often ignore reports from LGBTQ+ individuals. Even when victims present proof—such as money transfers—cases rarely move forward without advocacy pressure. In one case, a trans woman who went to police as a robbery victim was instead fined for “LGBT propaganda.”
Dmitry, another victim, met a man named Makar, who claimed he “reformed gays.” Makar threatened to publish a video of their sexual encounter unless Dmitry transferred 50,000 rubles. Under pressure, Dmitry took out a credit card and sent 35,000. The ordeal led to serious mental health issues and psychiatric intervention.
Psychologists and activists stress that blackmail of queer people is not just a legal issue—it’s a deep psychosocial crisis. In a country rife with institutional homophobia, isolation, and repression, LGBTQ+ individuals are particularly vulnerable. Fear of violence and legal persecution contributes to depression, anxiety disorders, and paranoia.
This growing wave of manipulation, threats, and violence is a direct consequence of a state policy that turns LGBTQ+ existence into a criminalized risk. Human rights groups are calling for expanded psychological and legal support for victims—and for public awareness to break the silence and fear that fuels the cycle of abuse.
Link to full investigation