OnlyFans is a subscription-based social media platform with over 170 million users worldwide. It is where content creators share exclusive images and videos with their “fans.”
The site has more than 22 million content from diverse creators, mainly sharing adult content. However, many other creators post about almost anything you could imagine, such as:
- Food recipes
- Workout routines
- Creative writing
- Photography
Generally, OnlyFans is a safe platform that provides opportunities for creators and entertainment to subscribers. However, it is not 100% risk-free.
Continue reading to learn more about the typical scams on this site.
Common OnlyFans Scams
The Federal Trade Commission reported over 2.8 million scam incidents in 2021. Knowing about scams and how they work is the first step to avoid becoming a victim.
More than 2 million content creators are already on the internet hoping to be the next big thing. With its popularity and the sheer number of people trying OnlyFans out to be the next top 1%, malicious individuals have also jumped on the bandwagon to make a quick buck.
Here are the most common OnlyFans scams you should be aware of:
1. Phishing Scams
Phishing links are usually sent through emails or DMs. In 2022, almost 3.4 billion phishing emails were sent per day.
Clicking on these links may redirect you to fake websites that look like OnlyFans. These phishing messages typically offer free OnlyFans content or promotions.
A successful phishing attack means obtaining your account information. Hackersm usually do this by prompting you to sign in to their bogus web pages, which can host malware and viruses.
Reports of a malware campaign using OnlyFans content surfaced in June 2023. Lured in by explicit photos of OnlyFans creators, victims of the scam unsuspectingly deployed a malware called ‘DcRAT’ onto their devices.
Aside from that, OnlyFans malware strategies can involve dumping ransomware, spyware, and rootkits onto your computer.
The best way to avoid being a victim of phishing is by NOT signing in. Identifying a fake OnlyFans website may be challenging as scammers get more creative.
Remember that a new browser tab should never ask you to enter your login credentials if you’re already signed in to the site.
Also, the actual email address of OnlyFans customer support should only have the domain @onlyfans.com. For phishing DMs, immediately block the OnlyFans accounts and submit a report.
| ⚠️ Warning: The internet can be dark and terrible, especially if you’re a female creator. 46% of women are more likely to get hacked. That alone is a compelling reason 53% of women feel vulnerable online. Since Q2 of 2023, more than 490 million ransomware attacks have been reported worldwide. Some of these started through OnlyFans malware dumps. |
2. Scam Premiums
OnlyFans and dating sites are closely related. OnlyFans creators often use dating platforms like Tinder and OkCupid to advertise their profiles or offer exclusive content.
This method itself is not a scam. However, be wary if they ask to be paid with gift cards or anything outside OnlyFans. Unique content should be offered and delivered through the website, not anywhere else.
Another form of this scam is when content creators advertise an offer but provide something else.
Unfortunately, all transactions on OnlyFans are non-refundable. This means there’s nothing you can do once you subscribe. These accounts must be reported.
This type of scam can also take the form of phishing. Scammers will ask you to click a link. It will bring you to a fake page asking for your credit card information in exchange for exclusive content.
| 🔒 Security Note: Scammers can also try to take control of your accounts online. After all, 80% of online breaches are due to password-related issues. Secure your email and keep good password habits to make scammers stay as far away from you as possible. Add extra layers of security to your accounts through the following: |
3. Promotion Agency Scams
OnlyFans creators can also be victims of scams.
Several scammers take on the role of fake promotion agents, offering small creators a chance to popularize their profiles for a price. Some even present the option to buy a fixed number of “fans.”
People offering to promote creator profiles are easy to identify. If you’ve never heard of them or if their social media pages have only a handful of followers, they are absolutely fake.
4. Romance Scams
There are two sides to this type of scam: one for fans and the other for content creators. It can also happen within the OnlyFans platform or through other dating sites.
She scammed money from her victims by telling them various reasons, such as her rent or having suicidal thoughts. She even asked them to subscribe to her OnlyFans on top of the money and goods being sent to her.
A scam creator will likely delete their account once unsuspecting subscribers have given them money.
On the other hand, fans are posing as willing “sugar daddies” to scam content creators by offering wealth in return for companionship and a chance to communicate.
These scammers typically act like someone very old who just needs someone to talk to. They will ask for banking information since it is the “easiest” way to transfer huge sums to their victims.
However, they suddenly disappear, leaving the bank accounts of content creators drained of funds.
| ⚠️ Warning: An OnlyFans creator named Leigh Dennis was charged with two counts of fraud in Liverpool. She targeted vulnerable men and conned £35,000 out of them through a dating site and OnlyFans. |
How To Stay Safe On OnlyFans?
In general, staying safe on OnlyFans is easier if you’re a subscriber by being anonymous.
On the other hand, due to the nature of their work, OnlyFans creators can’t stay 100% anonymous. Regardless, there are numerous ways to track or find creators and subscribers on OnlyFans.
Other than knowing how scams work, there are safety measures you can take to prevent falling victim to those schemes.
Here are a few ways to avoid being scammed on OnlyFans:
1. Secure Your Login Credentials
Never share your login credentials if someone offers to manage your account. They may use your personal data to commit identity theft and scam other users.
Promotion agencies are usually fake, so there’s no need to allow them to scam you. Also, you can activate two-factor authentication in your OnlyFans account for double security.
2. Use An Anti-Virus Software
Scammers blast DMs about free offers or access to OnlyFans content. Clicking their links may bring you to a copycat OnlyFans page or website offering hacked content.
These sites usually ask you to download a file or complete a survey before accessing the content.
An anti-virus will protect your device from malware by quarantining and disabling suspicious downloads.
Anti-virus software like Norton has an “anti-threat” feature to warn you about harmful websites. Norton also has a VPN feature that hides your IP address, preventing scammers from determining your location.
| 👍 Helpful Article: You’re not alone if you have doubts about your computer’s security. However, you can dive into our quick guide to eliminate possible malware on your computer before it wreaks havoc. |
3. Never Pay For Anything Outside Of OnlyFans
Staying on the platform lets you see reviews from other fans. If there’s no review, don’t risk it.
Also, always be cautious when subscribing or finding someone on OnlyFans. Scammer models typically ignore or block you after you subscribe or pay.
In the event of phishing attempts, remember that your credit card information is already saved in OnlyFans. There is no need for you to enter it again to buy exclusives.
4. Use A Third-Party Tool
Romance scammers usually use fake identities or even stolen photos.
An online investigation tool like TruthFinder will let you know if someone is who they say they are.
TruthFinder has search engines for parameters such as name, address, email, phone number, and username lookup.
Here’s how to use TruthFinder:
- On your browser, go to the TruthFinder website
- Choose the Background Check option on the navigation bar.
- Enter your First and Last Name. Adding your City and State is optional, but they will help to narrow down the results.
- Wait for TruthFinder to complete its scan.
- From the search results, choose the one that best matches the person you’re looking for. Click Open Report.
| 📝 Note: While TruthFinder gathers the report, you will be prompted to provide your birth year or age, as the report may include graphic content. TruthFinder may also ask if you want any related people in the report and other user agreements. |
6. Provide your first and last name, email, and zip code as part of the user information, then click on Continue to Report.
- You must activate your account by choosing a plan to access the report.
- Submit your payment and View Report.
You can get unlimited monthly reports ($28.05) or two months ($46.56). 256-bit AES encrypts all transactions, so your data is guaranteed to be safe.
TruthFinder also offers a 5-day trial for $1. Be sure to cancel before the trial ends if you don’t want to continue. Payment options can be credit cards, debit cards, or PayPal.
The full report includes comprehensive data such as basic personal information, current and past addresses, employment history, criminal or sexual offender records, and more.
TruthFinder’s background reports can help you find discrepancies in someone’s personal accounts and even learn if the identity is fake or stolen.
| 📝 Note: Personal data is as precious. Allowing malicious hackers access to it can be a nightmare for OnlyFans creators and fans alike. Make sure to treat your personally identifiable information seriously, such as your:  Full name Mother’s maiden name E-mail address Social Security Numbers ID numbersOnline privacy isn’t rocket science, after all. Don’t give important details about yourself to anyone you don’t trust. |
Conclusion
OnlyFans is an entertaining site that benefits both subscribers and content creators. Setting aside the social stigma, the site has helped creators express themselves while earning a living.
Overall, it is a safe platform. Users can easily prevent OnlyFans scams by identifying their tactics and protecting themselves using the tips above.
FAQs
What should I do if I am scammed on OnlyFans?
If it’s within the platform, you can submit a refund request and an appeal to delete the scammer’s account. Make sure to include a proof with these requests. Contacting your bank for a chargeback might only get your OnlyFans account banned.
Can people on OnlyFans track you?
No, people can’t track you IF you use a pseudonym and an anonymous email with a VPN. However, you must provide your basic info and card details to subscribe to a content creator. This means there’s no way to be completely anonymous in OnlyFans.
How do I know if my OnlyFans account is real?
OnlyFans offers a verification program for creators. You should see a badge next to a verified creator’s profile picture.
Timeline Of The Article
Aditya is an Azure DevOps and Infrastructure Virtualization Architect with experience in automation, infrastructure management, and designing and implementing virtualization solutions. His expertise encompasses both on-premise and cloud-based systems. Aditya's articles on TechJury serve as a reliable resource for individuals and organizations looking to harness the power of cloud computing, embrace automation, and leverage infrastructure-as-code practices.