http://www.chess.com/forum/view/general/fide-ratings-vs-chesscom-ratings-explored
what I found from the Chess.com forum search function.
Online vs "Real" Chess Ratings
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Lots of lively debate in previous threade about this. My search criteria may not have been optimum, but these will get you started. Nothing wrong with starting a new thread of course but you might want to try a few "search forums" as well.
http://www.chess.com/forum/search?keyword=online+vs.+OTB+ratings
That's what I always assume. Yeah the Internet tends to be inflated and it's nearly all either correspondance or speed chess.
In another thread, Oogie touches on a question I've been meaning to ask: How do online ratings (such as here at chess.com) compare to "real" ratings from established chess organizations like FIDE or USCF here in the U.S.A.?
-Mark R.