Tell me if any of this sounds relatable: You have self worth or body image issues. Likely financial problems or not living the life you want for yourself. A difficult relationship with your family or they don’t have the means (wealthy) to rescue you.

You met your friend in another country or possibly your home country. They went to Dubai at some point and either you lost contact with them or they got quiet for a while. They start telling you about how they have more money now, sending you photos from parties or them next to cool cars.

Hey you should come hang out and you can live this lifestyle too. The friend is doing better than you financially so they offer to pay for your ticket and either get you a hotel or let you stay with them. There is little or no expectation for you to pay for anything. They might even send a driver to pick you up at the airport because they have something else going on, how fancy!

When you arrive at the airport or get to the address where your friend said they lived, two men will be waiting for you. They will take your phone and your passport. Even if you escape, the police will return you to them.

Best case scenario you stay in Dubai and are forced into prostitution. Not the rich guys who will buy you fancy things and take you out to dinner. All of the mid-level mob guys who left Russia to keep criminal operations running and avoid sanctions. After you’ve been completely broken and accept your fate, if you don’t cause problems, you might get to where your friend is at. Servicing tourists and showing them a good time, all the while trying to recruit your previous friends for cash so you can eventually pay off your “debt” and get your passport back.

Worst case, you get sold and moved to another country to work physical labor or a sex job. But because you don’t have a passport and are in that other country illegally you won’t be able to escape.