AI Deepfake Scams Hit OnlyFans Creators, Costing Fans $150 and Fueling Safety Fears
Updated
Updated · USA TODAY · Aug 3
AI Deepfake Scams Hit OnlyFans Creators, Costing Fans $150 and Fueling Safety Fears
3 articles · Updated · USA TODAY · Aug 3
Summary
OnlyFans creators say AI-generated impersonation accounts are spreading across TikTok, X and Snapchat, tricking fans into sending money and mistaking scammers for the real person.
Elaina St. James, who says she has made more than $1.5 million on OnlyFans since 2021, found a deepfaked video using her image and voice to lure followers to a fake account.
Jessieanna Campbell and Jaimie Smiles said fans have reported losing $150 or more through CashApp schemes, while Shaghana Doyle said misled followers have shown up at her home, leaving her afraid to go out alone.
Creators say the fraud also strips consent and income: AI tools alter clothed photos into fake nudes, swap faces and bodies, and spread stolen content for free instead of paid subscriptions.
Entrust said deepfake fraud attempts hit roughly one every 5 minutes in 2024, while takedown firms and creators—some paying $150 a month or thousands overall—struggle to remove content, especially from overseas servers.