Probably so, although I do think that BIE and OneCollection are low risk operations, but I also like to qualify what you said further.
When I think of indies I think of reputable indies. Not stg indies. Also indies in hotels, and not the ones operating from home.
Also many indies, like Brazilian indies, are the "so called" indies, while being defacto agencies. They all got some sort of managers running them. I even witnessed an outright slavery operations where girls were literally terrified of their handlers (You wouldn't see it with BIE). Trust me, my close to fluent in Portuguese gives me some advantage.
I forgot what that girl called it but it was some sort of indenturement, like a consignment, where the handler pays for getting them here, and room and board and then girls have to work it off. If they don't, they owe it either here in Medford or back in the home country (God help). Last time I saw something like this was about 6 years ago. I remember how terrified she was when she was explaining to me why she couldn't share her phone# with me. "you don't understand what kind of situation I'm in! Don't you know (some Portuguese reference which I, being a gringo, of course never heard of) !!!
First time it was in Medford 20 or so years ago. A very petite woman in basement apartment and I remember she said she was 39 years old.
I spent some time in Africa and Asia and I don't think I ever saw such a distinct case of slavery. Her handler, a female, was in the next room and the provider acted so subservient to her it was unreal. I think this was the only time in my life when I witnessed what I thought was an actual slavery. Scary shit.
) so I don't know.