From phishing to porn star impersonators: how scamming athletes became a billion-dollar in
Athletes have always been targets for criminals hoping to profit from their wealth. But a new wave of dangers has cropped up in recent years W ith exorbitant ticket, travel and hot
ManyPress Editorial Team
ManyPress Editorial
Athletes have always been targets for criminals hoping to profit from their wealth. But a new wave of dangers has cropped up in recent years W ith exorbitant ticket, travel and hotel prices making fans desperate to find an affordable way of attending this summer’s World Cup, it’s no surprise that security firms and law enforcement agencies are warning that fans are at significant risk of becoming
Key points
- While major tournaments are moments of heightened vulnerability for supporters, players themselves are increasingly attractive year-round targets for cybercriminals who can use AI to mount ever mor…
- “As the sports industry reaches record revenue levels, the financial incentives to steal from athletes and profit illicitly has never been higher,” according to a recent report from the consultancy…
- “The playbook for fraudsters and organised crime is growing more complex every year, and the risks have multiplied at every level of sport.” The classic way for rich athletes to become poor ones wa…
- These advisers would then make foolish or fraudulent decisions that went unnoticed until it was too late.
- One recent example of such an abuse of trust is Ippei Mizuhara, the former interpreter and de facto manager for the Japanese baseball superstar Shohei Ohtani.
This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Guardian Sport.