Victims were contacted via apps like Grindr and lured to remote locations, where multiple perpetrators were waiting, often armed and prepared to use violence. Some of the assaults were filmed and shared on social media. Police have charged suspects with offences including armed robbery, assault and unlawful imprisonment.

“These attacks are deliberate, organised, and hateful,” said Victoria’s LGBTIQA+ Commissioner Joe Ball. He is working with the government on establishing a dedicated reporting tool to better monitor queerphobic incidents. Police have also urged dating app users to remain vigilant and to safeguard their personal information.

Similar attacks have previously occurred in Sydney, where teenagers used false pretences to lure victims to public parks. Internationally, the phenomenon is also on the rise: in countries such as France, the Netherlands, Belgium and the United States, gay dating apps have been misused for extortion, assault or even entrapment. In Spain, several men were recently robbed after being lured to private apartments, and in Italy, one victim was kidnapped and held for hours.

The increase in these kinds of attacks reflects a broader and troubling trend of rising anti-LGBTQ+ violence, with digital platforms being used more and more as tools for entrapment. Human rights organisations stress that this is not just about physical safety, but also about the erosion of basic trust and the right to be yourself freely and openly, both online and offline.