Nagpur: Gay dating applications are increasingly being misused by criminals to target queer men for robbery, extortion and blackmail, with police suspecting that the cases coming to light may represent only a small fraction of the actual incidents.

According to police, perpetrators exploit victims’ fear of their sexual orientation being disclosed to family members, friends or colleagues. In some cases, victims are allegedly lured to secluded locations, assaulted and robbed, while others are threatened with exposure to extort money.

In June, Mankapur police busted a five-member gang that allegedly used a gay dating application to trap an 18-year-old man. The victim was reportedly contacted through the app and called for a meeting. He was allegedly taken towards the Gorewada-Bharatwada Road area, where the accused allegedly called their accomplices, assaulted him and robbed him of cash and valuables.

A similar case was reported in Wathoda this month, where police arrested two men for allegedly robbing a 27-year-old technician after he met them through a gay dating app. The accused allegedly assaulted him at knifepoint and robbed him of around ₹5,000 before withdrawing another ₹30,000 using his ATM card.

Police said criminals deliberately exploit the social stigma surrounding queer relationships. Victims may hesitate to approach the police fearing that their sexual orientation could become known to their families or acquaintances, making them vulnerable to continued threats and extortion.

Police have urged users of dating applications to exercise caution while meeting strangers and opt for public places for initial meetings. Officials also appealed to victims of robbery, assault or blackmail to approach the police without hesitation, warning that silence could embolden perpetrators to target more people.

The police believe greater awareness and prompt reporting are essential to prevent dating applications from being exploited as a tool for organised criminal activity.