From phishing to porn star impersonators: how scamming athletes became a billion-dollar industry
Summary
Cybercriminals are increasingly targeting athletes with scams that use advanced technology like AI to steal money and personal information. Traditional fraud by trusted agents and new threats such as identity theft and unauthorized use of name and image rights pose serious risks to players. These dangers have grown as sports revenues rise and criminals exploit publicly available personal data and social media.Key Facts
- Big sports events like the World Cup increase the risk of fans and players being scammed.
- Cybercriminals use AI and deepfake technology to create fake audio and videos to trick athletes.
- Athletes have been defrauded by trusted advisers stealing millions, as in the case of Ippei Mizuhara stealing $17 million from baseball star Shohei Ohtani.
- Former investment adviser Darryl Cohen was convicted of defrauding NBA players out of over $5 million through fake insurance and unauthorized money transfers.
- Modern scams include identity theft, extortion, rigged games, sports betting fraud, and misuse of athletes’ name, image, and likeness rights (NIL).
- Public data and social media posts make athletes vulnerable by revealing personal details and whereabouts.
- Sensitive personal information is sometimes leaked through data breaches, increasing the risk of fraud.
- Experts warn that the digital environment has created complex new ways for criminals to exploit athletes year-round, not just during major events.
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