Hong Kong police arrested seven people Monday (14 December) for allegedly coercing men, some as young as 20, into having sex with one another on camera as part of a bogus gay porn scheme.

According to authorities, the group recruited at least four men aged between 20 and 31 on a social media site described by police, according to rthk, as “popular with gay men”.

Each was made to sign a contract with a fake company stating that they could not refuse to have sex with a client, or else face fines.

Victims were reportedly promised by the suspects at least HK$1,000 an hour for live performances watched by a small number of clients. If they attempted to quit or violated their contracts, the victims faced blackmail and hefty fines.

Police arrested the seven on suspicion of conspiracy to control others for prostitution, criminal intimidation and blackmail.

Gay porn scam victims were threatened.

The four victims alleged that they did not have sex with any of their clients, but said others involved in the scam did and implored for them to contact the Hong Kong Police Force.

None of the four victims that the force are aware of were paid for their work, they claimed, and all sought to quit.

But the gang refused, instead blackmailing them into staying by threatening to post the video footage of the men engaging in sex acts online.

If any of the victims broke or violated their contracts, “heavy penalties” would occur, they said.

“Another contract term was that, if those watching the live shows want to have sex with the actors, they cannot refuse,” said police superintendent Chen Chi-cheong.

“If they did, they’d also have to pay a fine.”

In September, Hong Kong courts refused to legalise marriage equality not long after a justice with a troubling track record on LGBT+ rights was appointed to its top court.