The catfishing scam putting fans and female golfers in danger
8 days ago
- #Social Media Scams
- #LPGA
- #Online Fraud
- Rodney Raclette, a fictitious character created by The Athletic, was used to test LPGA-related social media scams.
- Scammers impersonate LPGA golfers, move conversations to other platforms, and request payments via untraceable methods.
- Victims of these scams have lost thousands of dollars, with some even traveling to tournaments to confront the athletes.
- LPGA players like Nelly Korda, Charley Hull, and Lexi Thompson have publicly warned fans about these scams.
- Scammers use AI-altered videos and fake accounts to appear legitimate, making it difficult for victims to discern the truth.
- Law enforcement struggles to prosecute these scams due to the international nature of the perpetrators and the rapid creation of new accounts.
- Golf influencers and players have increased security measures due to threats from scam victims.