FOI 259/25 OnlyFans Crimes
Enquiry Reference: 259- 25
I write in connection with regards to your Freedom of Information request. Below is your request and our response.
I would be grateful if you could provide the following information for the period 1st January 2020 to 31 December 2024.
- Fraud/Financial Crimes:
The number of reported crimes involving fraud, blackmail, or financial scams/crimes where OnlyFans was mentioned.
The number of reports specifically involving:
* Subscription fraud.
* Identity theft.
* Chargeback fraud.
Please provide any information held by your officers on:
* The total financial losses reported in fraud cases involving OnlyFans.
* The average financial loss per case.
* The number of cases resulting in arrests or prosecutions.
Answer
Having made enquiries within the Force the above information is held by Action Fraud.
- Coercion & Exploitation
* The number of reports mentioning controlling or coercive behaviour (as defined under Section 76 of the Serious Crime Act 2015) involving OnlyFans.
Answer
None
* The number of Modern Slavery Act offences recorded where victims were forced to create content on OnlyFans.
Answer
None
* The number of reports involving:
o Revenge porn.
Answer
3
o Stalking. Three crimes under the 8L- Stalking category were validated. Two in 2024 and one in 2023
Answer
3
.
o Harassment.
Answer
4
o Threats against OnlyFans creators.
Answer
6 MO comments mention the word threat.
Please break down data (where available) into the following criteria:
* The demographics of victims (e.g., age, gender) where available.
Below is a breakdown of the age and gender (if supplied) of the victims recorded.
|
Age of victim at the time of the offence |
Female |
Male |
Not recorded |
|
16 |
|
|
1 |
|
18 |
1 |
|
|
|
19 |
2 |
|
|
|
20 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
21 |
2 |
|
|
|
22 |
1 |
|
|
|
23 |
1 |
|
|
|
25 |
1 |
|
|
|
26 |
1 |
|
|
|
27 |
1 |
|
|
|
29 |
|
1 |
|
|
30 |
3 |
|
|
|
33 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
34 |
1 |
|
|
|
48 |
1 |
|
|
|
Not recorded |
|
|
2 |
* The number of cases involving organized crime groups.
Answer
No information held
* The number of cases resulting in safeguarding interventions.
We were hoping to get data on the number of cases that have been referred to local authorities or other statutory agencies that would provide safeguarding services, particularly for young people under the age of 18.
Answer
Having made enquiries within the Force victims in this request are offered Victim Services. Those with a PPN completed are offered referrals to/or the services of SARC, mental health, Domestic abuse local services such as harbour whichever is appropriate. For those under 18 a PPN is completed, and this can be shared with the local authority or other support services, school etc.
- Underage Content & Exploitation
* The number of child exploitation or grooming-related crimes recorded where OnlyFans was mentioned.
Answer
None
There were no crimes of 88A sexual grooming nor 71 – Abuse of children through sexual exploitation.
* The number of reports where minors were found to be using or appearing on OnlyFans.
Answer
1
Victim aged under 18 at the time.
* The age range of minors involved.
Answer
1
Victim aged 16.
* The number of cases involving parental or guardian coercion.
Answer
None.
* The number of cases involving 3rd part coercion (other than a parent).
Answer
None
There was no mention of ‘coercion’ in the comments.
* The number of cases resulting in prosecutions under the Protection of Children Act 1978.
Answer
We don’t hold data on prosecutions.
Please note that all statistical data supplied in relation to Freedom of Information requests is a snapshot of data held at the time the request was received by the Freedom of Information office and is subject to constant change/updates.
If you are not satisfied with this response or any actions taken in dealing with your request, you have the right to request an independent internal review of your case under our review procedure. The Freedom of Information Code of Practice (see below link) states that a request for internal review should be made within 20 working days of the date on this response or 40 working days if extenuating circumstances to account for the delay can be evidenced. Public authorities are not obliged to accept internal reviews after this date.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/freedom-of-information-code-of-practice
Yours sincerely
Information Rights Decision Maker