It’s crazy how despite advancements in technology and cybersecurity, scams are still on the rise. The latest one to sound the alarm is none other than 5-time LPGA winner Michelle Wie West. On January 19th, around 9 p.m., she took to Instagram to warn her fans.

She posted a story saying, “This is my only account!!! Please report any account trying to message you or request a follow! My team and I will never message you asking for money or anything like that.” She ended her message with a cautionary note saying, “So many scammers out there, please stay safe.”

It seems like West had been getting complaints from her fans about someone impersonating her and asking for money. But why target Michelle Wie West? Well, the former LPGA winner has been pretty active online since her retirement in 2023, especially when it comes to sharing funny stories with her friends. This increased her reach, making her a prime target for scammers. We’ve seen this happen time and time again – scammers using famous LPGA personalities to deceive fans.

Paige Spiranac was one of the first to fall victim to these scams. Remember when her imposter allegedly catfished a follower?  Or when someone edited one of her screenshot pictures, taken from an old video, and edited out the head cover that she was holding to a sign that said, “I love you, baby. please don’t try to hurt me! Because I will never hurt you.” It’s ‘scary’ how far these scammers will go. And it keeps growing.

After Paige Spiranac, Lexi Thompson also warned her fans through her official Instagram page. Thompson expressed how fake pages were scamming her fans for money, and gifts, and even trying to trick them into romantic relationships. “IT ISN’T ME!” she exclaimed in her Instagram story.

But Thompson wasn’t the only one. Charley Hull and Jin Young Ko also shared similar experiences. The English golfer shared that she does not have a TikTok account and “will never ask for any money or gift cards for meet & greet or fan club memberships.”

Shockingly, even the world number one, Nelly Korda, couldn’t protect her fans from these fraudsters.

Nelly Korda sends urgent warning of shady scams

Last week, world no. 1 Nelly Korda, issued a warning about the growing number of fake accounts on her name. “I’ve noticed an increase in fake accounts using my name to try to scam people,” she warned in her latest pinned Gram post. “Please know I will never ask any of my fans for money. Any outreach on my behalf is fake and run by scammers.”

It’s high time for social media giants to take decisive action against these scammers, a concern continuously echoed by Paige Spiranac. Just a couple of days before, Spiranac again voiced out about platforms having better security when Hailey Ostrom endured a horrific stalking accident. It also started with a fake account only!

Double-checking the authenticity of celebrity accounts via the blue tick verification is a good starting point. Moreover, it’s crucial to remember that legitimate profiles will never ask for sensitive info like bank details online. Stay safe, stay alert!