When Patrick Kunz started chatting with a porn star on OnlyFans in April 2022, he thought he had struck gold. Nikki, a blonde Hungarian model, bore a striking resemblance to his first girlfriend. Their conversations spanned various topics from sexual fantasies to a shared love for cats. Over time, Kunz, a 42-year-old insurance worker from Germany, spent thousands of dollars on personalized videos and tips for Nikki, who claimed to reciprocate his feelings.

However, Kunz’s suspicions grew as Nikki often forgot details of their conversations. After confronting her, he realized he had been communicating with multiple people posing as Nikki. “I fell for her,” Kunz said, “but I’m not stupid.” This revelation highlighted a deceptive practice on OnlyFans, where content creators employ “chatters” to manage interactions with subscribers.

OnlyFans, a subscription-based platform, promotes authentic relationships between creators and subscribers through direct messaging. However, many top creators hire chatters to maintain these interactions, thereby creating a deceptive illusion of intimacy. Reuters’ investigation revealed that chatters play a crucial role in OnlyFans’ business, raising significant legal and ethical concerns.

OnlyFans does not employ chatters directly nor acknowledges their existence. Yet, these chatters are often hired by agencies managing top creators. These agencies, creators, and chatters share a common goal: maximizing subscribers’ spending. This setup has significantly contributed to OnlyFans‘ revenue, which amounted to nearly $1.1 billion in 2022.

Despite the platform’s claims of direct interaction, many subscribers like Kunz have been deceived by chatters impersonating their favorite creators. This practice potentially violates U.S. and European consumer protection and data privacy laws, according to legal experts. “If you’re telling customers that you’re giving them one thing, but instead giving them something else, then that seems like a paradigm case of a deceptive business practice,” said Brian Berkey, associate professor at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School.

OnlyFans faces a class-action lawsuit in Illinois, alleging that the company knowingly benefits from the deceptive practices of its most successful creators. The lawsuit seeks over $5 million in damages. Another class-action suit, filed by attorney Robert Carey in central California, accuses OnlyFans and several agencies of violating privacy laws and the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO).

OnlyFans defends itself by stating that creators are independent and responsible for their own accounts. The company claims its role is limited to providing the platform and storing content, making it immune from liability under a federal law that protects websites from user activities.

Agencies play a pivotal role in managing OnlyFans creators. They handle everything from account management and hiring chatters to promoting models on social media. These agencies often promise significant earnings, but the reality is that only a small fraction of creators achieve substantial income. According to Bedbible.com, the top 0.1% of OnlyFans creators earn about $2.3 million annually, while most make less than $100 a month.

Chatters, often based in low-wage countries like the Philippines, manage interactions with subscribers using specialized software. They maintain detailed profiles of subscribers to ensure seamless interactions, regardless of shift changes among chatters. The work involves indulging subscribers’ sexual fantasies and maintaining the illusion of a personal connection with the creators.

Kunz, like many others, was emotionally invested in his relationship with Nikki. His realization of the deception led him to seek therapy and take time off work. Determined to understand the system, Kunz briefly became a chatter himself, discovering firsthand the emotional and financial manipulation involved.

“I was lonely,” said a semiconductor assembly technician from Illinois, who spent nearly $20,000 on OnlyFans before learning about chatters. He is part of the class-action suit against the platform. “That’s really pathetic that someone is trying to take advantage of you,” he added.

The privacy and confidentiality breaches on OnlyFans are concerning. Subscribers often share intimate details, believing they are communicating directly with creators. However, this information is accessible to chatters and agencies, raising significant privacy issues.

OnlyFans revolutionized the porn industry by allowing creators to monetize their content directly. However, the use of chatters and the involvement of agencies have introduced new layers of deception and exploitation. As legal battles unfold, the platform’s practices face increased scrutiny, potentially reshaping the landscape of online adult entertainment.

For now, subscribers like Kunz are left to grapple with the emotional fallout of their experiences, seeking justice and transparency from a platform that promised authentic connections but delivered deception.