Whistleblower Accuses Visa and Mastercard of Facilitating Illegal Transactions on OnlyFans
A whistleblower from the credit card and banking sectors has leveled serious allegations against Visa and Mastercard, claiming that they have knowingly allowed their networks to be used for illegal transactions linked to content on OnlyFans. The complaint, which was filed in January 2023, has become a critical issue for these financial giants.
Details of the Allegations
The whistleblower, whose identity remains confidential, filed the complaint with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), and the U.S. Departments of Justice and Homeland Security. The core of the allegations stems from discussions held between 2021 and 2022, which involved anti-trafficking experts and U.S. federal agents.
According to the complaint, federal agents have verified the presence of child sexual abuse material on OnlyFans, a platform that primarily hosts adult content. Despite these findings, Visa and Mastercard are accused of failing to take adequate actions to prevent or stop these illegal transactions on their networks.
Impact on Visa and Mastercard
The accusations suggest that both Visa and Mastercard overlooked significant red flags and continued to process payments linked to OnlyFans, thereby allegedly supporting illicit revenue streams from the platform. This lack of sufficient intervention raises questions about the companies' compliance policies and their enforcement regarding illegal content.
Key People and Entities:- Whistleblower - Unidentified, senior compliance professional in the banking sector
- OnlyFans - Subscription-based platform primarily hosting adult content
- Visa and Mastercard - Accused of facilitating illicit transactions
- Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) - Agency where the complaint was filed
- U.S. Departments of Justice and Homeland Security - Involved in the investigation following the whistleblower's complaint
