OnlyFans scam siphons creators’ earnings: users say accounts were hijacked

This summer, creators on subscription platforms are confronting a fast-evolving threat: AI-generated impostor accounts that repurpose their photos and videos to defraud fans and, in some cases, put creators at physical risk. The surge in synthetic media is forcing performers to spend money and time chasing down fake profiles while warning followers how to protect themselves.

Elaina St. James recognized one of her own publicity photos when she found it reposted on TikTok — but the clip had been altered into a talking video that used her likeness to pitch a different account. Fans who clicked were encouraged to follow and to move conversations to other apps, where scammers solicited payments and then vanished.

How the scams play out

Creators interviewed by this outlet described a recurring pattern: visual assets taken or altered, an impostor account that appears authentic, and a push to private messaging or payment services where victims are charged for “exclusive” content that never arrives.

• Impersonation: Original photos or short clips are posted under fake usernames or manufactured profiles.
• AI alteration: Faces, voices or clothing are digitally changed to create convincing new material.
• Redirection: Fans are encouraged to move to third‑party messaging apps (or platforms like Snapchat) where scammers request money directly.
• Payment and block: After payment via services such as Cash App, victims are frequently blocked and left with no recourse.

Those tactics have real consequences beyond financial loss. Several creators said fans misled by impostors have shown up at their homes, creating safety concerns and limiting when and how performers feel comfortable leaving their properties.

Creators’ response and mounting costs

Many creators now rely on professional removal services and copyright takedowns to get stolen or altered material taken down. One performer told us she moved from a basic $45-per-month service to a more comprehensive plan costing about $150 monthly after repeated incursions. Another said she has spent thousands over the course of her career trying to purge illicit copies of her work.

Reba Rocket, co‑CEO of the removal firm Takedown Piracy, says the firm has handled hundreds of millions of infringements and that the arrival of generative tools has accelerated the problem — making scale and speed the defining challenges.

“AI lets bad actors generate huge volumes of manipulated media in minutes, rather than laboriously editing images one by one,” Rocket told us, noting that automated detection and legal frameworks have lagged behind the technology.

Why this is different from ordinary piracy

Creators who publish adult or explicit content say there’s an important distinction between consenting to sell intimate material and having one’s image digitally altered without permission. They describe the latter as a violation that erases their control over how their likeness is used and monetized.

That loss of control also harms creators financially: when manipulated images circulate freely, potential customers see content for free rather than paying the original creator through official channels.

Industry data underscores the scale of the threat. According to Entrust’s 2025 Identity Fraud Report, attempts at deepfake-driven fraud surged in recent years, with reported incidents occurring at a high frequency through 2024.

Practical steps being taken and proposed fixes

Platforms, creators and takedown services are using a mix of technical, legal and community-based measures to respond. Proposed or suggested measures include stronger trademark protections for creator names, faster cross-border takedown processes, and more robust verification tools on social platforms.

• Creators: Use official fan pages, post verification notices, and engage takedown services or copyright counsels.
• Removal firms: Issue DMCA and copyright notices, and monitor the web for repeat offenders.
• Policy solutions: Calls for clearer international standards and faster enforcement against servers hosting synthetic impostor content.

There is no single fix yet. Removal experts say legal tools and platform policies must evolve in tandem with detection systems, while creators continue to shoulder much of the burden — financially and emotionally.

For fans, the practical advice is straightforward: verify accounts through official channels, be skeptical of direct requests for money on third-party apps, and report suspicious profiles to the platform before interacting. For performers, the new reality is a costly and ongoing fight to reclaim control of their images and to keep themselves and their audiences safe.

As synthetic media becomes easier to produce, the stakes rise not only for content creators but for anyone whose likeness can be copied. The problem is current and growing; how quickly platforms and policymakers respond will shape both creators’ livelihoods and public safety going forward.