According to a whistleblower complaint filed with the U.S. Treasury in January 2023, Mastercard and Visa allegedly failed to prevent their payment networks from being utilized for laundering funds linked to child sexual abuse material and sex trafficking on OnlyFans. The complaint, submitted by a senior compliance expert, accused the card companies of ignoring illicit revenue streams and turning a blind eye to unlawful activities on the platform.
The complaint highlighted instances where Visa and Mastercard were notified by anti-trafficking experts and federal agents about illegal content on OnlyFans. It referenced a study pointing out a high volume of accounts potentially associated with child sexual abuse material or sex trafficking, shared with the card companies. The whistleblower emphasized that by facilitating payments on OnlyFans, the card companies were directly handling proceeds from illicit transactions, contravening anti-money laundering regulations.
The whistleblower urged federal agencies, including FinCEN, to take action against Mastercard and Visa for allegedly failing to uphold effective anti-money laundering measures. The agencies received the complaint, but declined to comment on its status or potential actions taken. However, they confirmed the complaint was filed under FinCEN's anti-money laundering whistleblower program, designed to protect the identity of whistleblowers.
Despite the whistleblower’s claims, both Mastercard and Visa denied prior knowledge of the 2023 complaint until contacted by Reuters. They disputed the allegations, asserting their commitment to combatting illicit activities within their networks. In response to these concerns, the card companies clarified their compliance standards and efforts to address illegal behavior.
The whistleblower’s statements regarding the inaction of Mastercard and Visa towards potential child exploitation on OnlyFans were supported by Reuters' investigative findings. These findings revealed disturbing incidents of child sexual abuse content on the platform, prompting calls for further investigations by law enforcement and lawmakers.
OnlyFans, a major player in the creator economy, relies heavily on card payments for its revenue. The platform's financial success has raised ethical and regulatory concerns, leading to increased scrutiny from payment processors like Mastercard and Visa. Both companies have implemented stricter guidelines in recent years to prevent illegal activities on adult content platforms, aligning with industry standards and legal obligations.