How to Reduce Risk and Improve Safety in Adult Work Moscow Settings

Working in adult services in Moscow isn’t like working in other cities. The legal gray zone, language barriers, and unpredictable enforcement make safety a daily concern-not just a suggestion. If you’re doing this work in Moscow, you’re not just looking for clients. You’re managing risk every single day. And that starts with knowing what actually works, not what sounds good on paper.

Know the Local Laws-Even If They’re Not Written Down

Moscow doesn’t have a clear law saying sex work is illegal. But it doesn’t say it’s legal either. That’s the problem. Police can charge you with administrative offenses like "disturbing public order," "prostitution," or even "illegal entrepreneurship" if you’re working out of an apartment or using online platforms like AdultWork. You won’t find a statute that says "prostitution is banned." But you’ll find plenty of fines, detentions, and forced disappearances from apartments.

Real talk: if you’re working independently, don’t rely on the law to protect you. Instead, assume every interaction with authorities could turn dangerous. Keep your ID hidden unless absolutely necessary. Never carry cash or client lists on you. Use encrypted apps like Signal to communicate. If you’re arrested, say nothing beyond your name and ask for a lawyer. Don’t try to negotiate. Don’t apologize. Just wait.

Screen Clients Like Your Life Depends on It-Because It Does

Most serious incidents in Moscow don’t happen in alleys. They happen in apartments after a client says, "I just want to talk." That’s the signal. The ones who ask for your full name, your real photo, your social media, or insist on meeting without a video call? They’re not interested in your service. They’re looking for leverage.

Here’s what actually works in Moscow:

• Always do a 3-minute video call before meeting. Ask them to say their full name out loud. Record it. If they refuse, walk away.
• Never give your home address. Use a hotel room booked under a fake name. Use a prepaid card. Pay in cash.
• Send your location to a trusted friend before you leave. Set a 15-minute check-in timer. If you don’t respond, they call the police.
• Keep your phone charged. Never hand it over. Never let them use it.

One worker in Khamovniki told me she once met a client who asked for her passport number. She gave him a fake one. He left. Two hours later, police showed up at her building asking about her. She had already moved. That’s the level of paranoia you need to survive.

Work With Other People-Not Alone

Working alone in Moscow is the biggest mistake you can make. It’s not just about safety. It’s about access to real-time help. If something goes wrong, you need someone who knows your schedule, your client, your routine.

There are informal networks in Moscow. Not official groups. Not NGOs. Just women who check in with each other daily. One sends a code word: "Tea?" That means "I’m safe." "Coffee?" Means "I need help." They don’t use WhatsApp. They use Telegram channels with passwords changed weekly. They don’t share names. They share locations, car plates, voice clips.

If you’re new, find one person you trust. Even if you’ve never met them in person. Start by sharing a fake client name. See if they respond with a warning. If they do, keep talking. If they don’t, walk away. Trust isn’t built on loyalty. It’s built on consistency.

Use Technology-But Not the Way You Think

Most workers think safety means using apps like AdultWork or Telegram. But those platforms are monitored. Russian authorities use automated tools to scan profiles, keywords, and payment patterns. If you’re advertising "private meeting," "24/7 availability," or "no photos," your profile gets flagged.

Here’s what actually works:

• Use burner phones. Buy them with cash. Don’t register them. Change them every 30 days.
• Use cryptocurrency for payments. Bitcoin or Monero. Never bank transfers. Never PayPal. Never Sberbank.
• Use a VPN that doesn’t log activity. NordVPN or Mullvad. Never free ones.
• Don’t post photos with landmarks. Don’t show windows with building numbers. Blur everything.

One worker in Zelenograd used a fake profile with photos taken in a studio in Belarus. She never showed her face. She used a voice changer for calls. She got 12 clients a week. No arrests. No complaints. Just quiet, consistent work.

Plan Your Escape Routes-Before You Even Arrive

Every meeting location needs a backup plan. Not just a way out. A way to disappear.

Here’s how:

• Book hotels in areas with multiple exits. Avoid places with one hallway or one elevator.
• Know the nearest metro station. Know the last train time. Know how to get there without using your phone.
• Carry a small bag with essentials: extra phone, cash, a change of clothes, a mask, a pen.
• Never take the same route twice. Never leave at the same time. Never use the same taxi app.

One woman in Tagansky District always left through the service stairwell, even if it meant climbing five flights. She did it because the main exit had security cameras. She never got caught. She never got threatened. She just kept working.

Build a Support System-Even If It’s Just One Person

You don’t need a team. You don’t need an agency. You just need one person who knows your routine and will act if you go silent.

That person doesn’t have to be a friend. Doesn’t have to be a coworker. Doesn’t even have to know your real name. But they need to be reliable. And they need to know what to do.

Teach them:

• How to recognize your code words
• When to call the police (even if you’re not sure)
• Where to find your last known location
• How to contact a lawyer if you’re detained

There’s a lawyer in Moscow who works pro bono for sex workers. She doesn’t advertise. She doesn’t take calls from strangers. But if you’re referred by someone in the network, she’ll answer. Her number is passed in whispers. She’s saved lives.

What Not to Do

Here’s what gets people arrested, hurt, or worse in Moscow:

• Working from home-police raid apartments regularly
• Using your real name or photo online-easily traced
• Accepting cash from strangers in public places-high risk of robbery
• Drinking with clients-loss of control = loss of safety
• Believing someone who says "I won’t hurt you"-it’s not about them. It’s about your preparedness

One woman in Butovo thought a client was "different" because he brought her flowers. He recorded her. He showed up at her sister’s house two weeks later. She moved cities. She changed her name. She never worked again.

It’s Not About Luck. It’s About Systems.

Safety in Moscow isn’t about being careful. It’s about building systems that work even when you’re tired, scared, or desperate. It’s about having a plan for every scenario. It’s about trusting no one-not even yourself-until you’ve verified it.

The most successful workers here don’t have the most clients. They don’t have the prettiest photos. They don’t have the most social media followers. They have the most routines. The most backups. The most silent allies.

If you’re doing this work, you’re already strong. Now make sure your strength doesn’t become your weakness.