In a post catfish world, should anyone really expect that internet accounts truthfully represent who is running them? In the united states, fraud is typically defined as an instance in which an entity or individual knowingly deceives another in order to gain something of value. You could certainly argue that a subscriber talking to a chatter is being induced to spend money he would not otherwise based on false information. But you could just as easily argue the opposite. The photos and video the subscribers receive are genuine depictions of need women, even if the perceived intimacy around the sale is false. This is on line sex chatting at fter all in a post cat fish world.
Ezra Marcus takes a deep dive into the world of OnlyFans and self-described e-pimps, and untangles the vast web of models, agencies and “chatters” (the people who often act as the OnlyFans models in private messages with the customers) that support these lucrative businesses.
The article explores how e-pimps can help turn a seemingly simple exchange of “dollars for sexts” into a transaction that extends across layers of third-party intermediaries.
With the help of e-pimps, even the most impersonal of transactions are fine-tuned to feel personal. As Mr. Marcus discovers: “That OnlyFans creator you’re DMing? It’s probably a marketing ghostwriter impersonating a woman.”
When it comes to OnlyFans and its legions of e-pimps, deceit and desire work together closely.
This story was written by Ezra Marcus and recorded by Audm. To hear more audio stories from publications like The New York Times, download Audm for iPhone or Android.