With fame comes great responsibility—but what happens when that fame is misused by others? That’s a problem players and influencers have been dealing with for a while now. Fake social media accounts have been popping up left and right, tricking fans into thinking they’re interacting with the real deal. And time and again, these athletes have had to step in and set the record straight. Paige Spiranac, in particular, seems to be a frequent target.

In July 2024, she called out scammers who had been reaching out to her followers while pretending to be her, calling the situation “scary.” More recently, in January 2025, she had to step in when a fan commented on her X post about exclusive content saying, “Hi Darling! Reply with this lead on our chat to confirm it’s really you, please.” Spoiler alert—it wasn’t really her.

Spiranac quickly responded, shutting it down: “I only chat directly on my passes account or my verified social media accounts. Nowhere else.” But the fan wasn’t convinced just yet, replying, “Really? I asked Paige for a photo holding a 2025 note and I got it.” This wasn’t the first time that someone had tried to use her image to fool people. Scammers took an old video of Spiranac and edited the object she was holding—originally a headcover—into a sign that read: “I love you, baby. Please don’t try to hurt me! Because I will never hurt you.” Yeah, creepy.

So, as one of the most popular golf influencers out there, she’s constantly warning her followers. Once again, she’s back with another PSA. She shared a “friendly reminder” on X asking her fans to protect themselves. She also warned that she, or anyone from her team will never contact anyone for any money or NDA, or anything else. 

As someone who has been dealing with impersonators for years, she knows her way around. Her first rule? Check the account. “Is the message coming from my verified account? If so, it is me,” she said, referring to her Instagram handle, _paige.renee. But if you see an account with her name and zero followers? “It is not me, that is a fake account.”

She also warned fans about the usual scam tactics. If someone claiming to be her starts asking for money, iTunes gift cards, Applebee’s vouchers, or—yes—even a relationship, that’s an instant red flag. “If this person insists on talking to you on WhatsApp or Google Hangouts, it’s not me,” she said. And if they try to “prove” their identity with a poorly Photoshopped passport, an old Instagram photo, or a fake driver’s license? Also not her.

Another dead giveaway? The way these scammers talk. “If this person calls you dear, honey, handsome, valued friend, valued fan, my fan, it’s not me,” Spiranac pointed out. Sadly, Spiranac isn’t the only one dealing with this. 

LPGA Tour pros who’ve fallen victim to social media scammers

Take Michelle Wie West, for example. The 5-time LPGA winner had to issue a warning earlier this year, making it crystal clear on Instagram: “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. So many scammers out there, please stay safe.”

Lexi Thompson had a similar experience, using her official Instagram page to alert fans. She revealed that scammers were pretending to be her to ask for money and gifts, and even trick people into fake romantic relationships. Charley Hull had to set the record straight, telling fans she doesn’t even have a TikTok account and making it clear that she would “never ask for any money or gift cards for meet & greet or fan club memberships.” Jin Young Ko also dealt with impersonators trying to mislead fans.

Even world No. 1 Nelly Korda hasn’t been spared from this mess. She pinned a post on Instagram warning about the rising number of fake accounts using her name, saying: “I’ve noticed an increase in fake accounts using my name to try to scam people. 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 a growing issue, and fans are left wondering—how can you even tell what’s real and what’s a scam? Of course, with Meta now offering the blue verification check through subscriptions, it’s easier than ever for scammers to appear legit. But if you follow Spiranac’s advice, you can easily avoid getting tricked by these fakes.