A British tourist has spoken out about how he was threatened and robbed by a man he met on Grindr while visiting Dubai.
The 43-year-old businessman—who has not been named for safety reasons—spoke to about the ordeal.
The Brit says he started chatting to a 29-year-old man from Gambia on the hook-up app and invited him to his hotel.
The tourist became suspicious when the younger man did not appear to be aroused and noticed his phone was glowing as they started to have sex, soon realising he was being secretly filmed.
“I asked him to get dressed and leave. He put on his jeans, then said he wanted his cash”, the 43-year-old said, adding: “I was pretty shocked and told him no arrangement was made and I made it clear I would not meet an escort."
He continued: “He told me I am ‘a dirty pervert spreading disease, and people like me are not welcome there’. I tried to yank the door open past him and he told me he would take me down by one punch."
“He then pushed me over, went to my backpack which was on the table, rummaged through it and took about $1,800 US dollars from my travel wallet."
The man fears gay men are being specifically targeting on Grindr in the UAE, saying he’s aware of other visitors to Dubai who have been blackmailed.
A spokesperson for the International Lesbian and Gay Association said: “Unfortunately, episodes of blackmailing are still far too common, especially in countries where the State itself seems to encourage human rights violations with laws that criminalise consensual sexual behaviour.”
The group noted that victims of blackmail can contact embassies and human rights organisations for support.
