Russian Influencer Under Investigation for Fraud Connected to Paid Telegram Channel
The Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs has opened a fraud inquiry involving the blogger Victoria Boni. The news outlet Life reports the development, noting that Boni has filed a criminal complaint with the police and that the matter centers on allegations surrounding the blogger and the star she followed on social media. The investigation focuses on whether Boni engaged in fraudulent activity related to paid online content in the influencer space.
As the case unfolds, Boni herself claims she joined the star’s paid Telegram channel to monitor a post-surgery transformation. Although the star publicly shared updates, she did not reveal her face in the posts. If found guilty, the influencer could face up to two years in prison under Russian fraud statutes.
On September 27, Boni clarified that she did not allow Pay subscribers to view the blogger’s closed paid Telegram channel to see a photo after the plastic surgery. She argued the restriction was due to not reaching a required subscriber count threshold for the channel.
Boni previously indicated that there were more than 30,000 interested viewers who were ready to pay a symbolic fee of 1,300 rubles to see the facial images immediately after the procedure. The topic drew attention to the economics of online fan bases and the monetization of post-surgery changes in a social media landscape dominated by paid access.
According to Boni, in August she underwent plastic surgery, specifically a procedure intended to adjust eyelid shape. She disclosed a significant payment of 19 million rubles for the operation and admitted that lip enhancement occurred accidentally due to an oil filler being used without prior warning.
Separately, former singer Olga Orlova commented that the issue highlighted tensions among audiences who identify differently within entertainment and social spheres, suggesting that the billing and sponsorship dynamics still depend on how viewers perceive authenticity and consent in paid online content.