Fake fan pages built with AI-generated images of athletes are popping up across social media, and they’re costing real fans real money. One woman reportedly lost $2,000 to someone impersonating Braves third baseman Austin Riley, and pages copying established fan communities have traced back to admins overseas, including Vietnam. The FBI’s latest numbers show internet crime complaints topped 859,000 in 2024, with losses exceeding $16.6 billion, a 33 percent increase in a single year.
The scam works because it aims at your heart, not your head. An AI expert at Emory University’s Goizueta Business School put it simply: if scammers can get you thinking emotionally, you’re not thinking rationally. Sports fans on the Suncoast are prime targets, whether you’re following spring training baseball, the arts scene, or your favorite players year-round. The athletes themselves are victims too, since their likenesses are being stolen without their consent.
Protecting yourself comes down to a few habits. Check when a page was created, look for a verification badge, and be skeptical of any direct message claiming to be from a celebrity or athlete. Real players don’t ask fans for money, gift cards, or crypto. If something feels off, report the page to the platform and warn the people in your life who might be more vulnerable. Have you or someone you know encountered a fake celebrity account online? Tell us about it in the comments.
