NFL offensive lineman are often anonymous, walking through the cities they play in without the average citizen knowing their faces.
That makes them particularly vulnerable to imposters looking to commit fraud, which happened recently to Panthers offensive lineman Travelle Wharton. The team held an impromptu press conference Wednesday to let the media know about a man posing as Wharton.
The imposter reportedly scammed $5,300 from a woman in the Atlanta area. According to Panthers head of security Gene Brown, the same imposter has scammed four or five people out of roughly $25,000.
A similar problem occurred last year when someone impersonated free safety Charles Godfrey. Wharton is frustrated.
“It is because I don’t go nowhere,” Wharton said. “Just hearing about
it I was a like, ‘Wow.’ And then hearing about the amounts of money
and that it’s continued to happen, it is frustrating.”
How did he scam people??? It had to be more than “Hi, I’m Travelle Wharton from the Panthers. Give me $5,300 because I’m Travelle Wharton from the Panthers.”
Who’s to say that the “real” Travelle Wharton isn’t an imposter posing as an NFL player?
That’s terrible for the victims, but honestly, who gives a guy money just because he says he’s an NFL lineman?
I hope they nail that a-holes butt to the wall. The people who do this are such scumbags they deserve to be put in the constant rape section of prison. Some fat &*#& impersonated Big Ben and Jerame Tuman in Pittsburgh a couple of years ago and took a couple of girls that did not know better for several thousands of dollars each. It ended up backfiring on him and he went down for it, but the damage had been done to the victims before it became a news story.
I can’ believe someone is stealing my identity. You should send me some money to help out. My address is
123 Fake Street,
Springfield, VA
Who and where are these people that are dumb enough to hand out FREE MONEY to NFL Players who already make enough money as it is.. i got a couple ideas lined up
People who are scammed by someone posing as an offensive lineman and someone posing as someone named Travis Wharton probably have too much money and not enough sense anyway.
And of all the needs in the world, why would I give money to a guy posing as an NFL player to begin with? What, his car broke down and he needs to buy a new one to drive back to Charlotte?
You can’t fix stupid.
not that this is funny, but the same thing happened in my town last summer, with someone trying to pass themselves off as Joba Chamberlain
Fortunately for me, i called said individual out on it, but he sammed some others into buying him beer, getting girls to pull their shirts down so he could sign their tata’s
quite humorous
I’m willing to guess that the majority of these scams would be centered around a proposed investment instead based on the fake player needing money….
Ahhhh, who gives a frick! Jim Zorn has been posing as an NFL Head Coach all season.
Chuck Norris can track this person down and return the money in five minutes if he decides to.
“I’m willing to guess that the majority of these scams would be centered around a proposed investment instead based on the fake player needing money….”
“Hi, Im Travelle Wharton, offensive lineman for the Carolina Panthers. Have you ever thought of the investment opportunities in the global thermodynamics field? No? How about factories that make scale model factories? “
It’s probably Johnathon Babineaux (of Falcons police blotter fame) posing as Wharton to pay for the weed he buys and drives around until he gets caught!!!
I think Jarred Allen would tell you he’s not impersonating an NFL player. Warton has been playing LT since Jordan Gross went on IR and gave him all he could handle. Jonathon Stewart 100 + yards. nuff said. 26 – 7
Usually the scam artist sayd they have a “cash flow” problem.
That’s funny because Travelle Wharton has been posing as an offensive linemen.
Please. This happens all the time in Pittsburgh. Steeler fans are easy targets, I guess.
This would be happening if Ronald Reagan were president.
The way the scammer likely did it was to say he was an NFL player and that he has the money to back up a loan, or that he is a partner in an investment, yadda yadda yadda. No trick in it, just a good gift of gab. How did Madoff do it? Gift of gab and believabilty. Often the scammer believes it completely himself and is comfortable in talking someone into it. Before you know it, your Florida retirement is in the rearview and you’re making parts deliveries for a car dealership at age 71.
@hayward giablommi says:
December 23, 2009 4:11 PM
“Who’s to say that the “real” Travelle Wharton isn’t an imposter posing as an NFL player?”
You are retarded.
Would love to know how the scam works. Does he use the bus ticket to get home routine or just the I need food bit?