These distribution systems work in three stages: entry points using adult or other content to draw and capture web traffic, a routing system sends it to destination sites, and people sites monetize the traffic through scams and malware. It has proved to be a lucrative business for the scammers.
Google recognizes the approach and calls such actors search engine optimization parasites as they profit from the reputations of other organizations — particularly government or academic sites, which Google views as having high authority.
Because the creators of OnlyFans content are also the copyright holders, they’re able to issue Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) take-down notices for the stolen content posted by the bad actors to other sites. Upguard was capable of track this through Google’s DMCA Transparency Report, and thru the Lumen Database, one other tracker of takedown notices, to which it was granted research access.