“Scam Awareness Times”
Written by CL Young
Washington | November 27, 2024 12:33 (GMT-5)
How Cristiano Ronaldo Was Scammed Out of £250,000
—And What You Can Learn From It
Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the richest athletes in the world, yet even he fell victim to a financial scam. If a football icon worth hundreds of millions can be scammed, what does that mean for the rest of us?
This shocking case proves that scammers don’t just target the uninformed—they go after everyone, even the wealthy. Here’s how Ronaldo lost £250,000 to someone he trusted and how you can protect yourself from similar scams.
The Scam: How Cristiano Ronaldo Lost Over £250,000
Between 2007 and 2010, a travel agent named Maria Silva managed Cristiano Ronaldo’s travel bookings. Because of her long-standing relationship with him, she had access to his credit card details and PIN.
Instead of booking flights only when requested, Silva secretly booked 200 trips Ronaldo never took—charging his card to cover unrelated payments and fund her own expenses (Business Insider).
- The shocking part? Ronaldo never noticed the fraud for years because the transactions blended into his regular expenses.
- Silva used Ronaldo’s money to cover other clients’ trips by billing their flights to his account.
- She defrauded multiple high-profile figures, including his agent Jorge Mendes and ex-Manchester United player Nani (The Sun).
- By the time she was caught, she had stolen over £250,000 from Ronaldo alone.
The Aftermath: What Happened to the Scammer?
Silva was convicted in 2017 and received a four-year suspended prison sentence—meaning she avoided jail time but had to repay the stolen money (BBC).
Even after the scam was exposed, Ronaldo never publicly commented on the case.
5 Lessons You Can Learn From Ronaldo’s Scam
If a billionaire athlete can be scammed, so can you. Here’s how to avoid becoming the next victim.
- Never Give Anyone Full Access to Your Financial Accounts
- Ronaldo trusted his travel agent with his credit card details and PIN—a fatal mistake.
- Even trusted professionals should never have full access to your financial accounts.
How to Protect Yourself:
- Use virtual credit cards or one-time payment authorizations instead of sharing full details.
- Limit access—if someone handles your payments, review transactions weekly
- Set Up Transaction Alerts on Your Bank Account
- Ronaldo’s scam lasted 3+ years because he never noticed unauthorized transactions.
- If he had bank alerts enabled, he would have been notified of every large charge.
How to Protect Yourself:
- Set up mobile banking alerts for transactions over a certain amount.
- Regularly check your statements for unusual charges.
- Verify Charges—Even If You’re Wealthy or Busy
- Scammers target high-income earners because they don’t check small transactions.
- Fraudsters know that wealthy people often overlook financial details.
How to Protect Yourself:
- Make it a habit to review your bank and credit card statements each month.
- If you use an accountant or assistant, ask them to verify and flag suspicious charges.
- Watch for Unusual Spending Patterns
- Silva slowly increased her fraudulent charges over time so they wouldn’t be noticed.
- If a scammer knows your financial habits, they’ll exploit them.
How to Protect Yourself:
- Use spending tracking apps to monitor any unusual patterns.
- Question any expenses that don’t match your normal spending habits.
- Report Fraud Immediately—Don’t Wait!
- The longer fraud goes unnoticed, the harder it is to recover lost money.
- Banks have fraud reimbursement policies, but only if reported quickly.
How to Protect Yourself:
Explore 30+ AI tools that can simplify your workflow
- If you notice a suspicious charge, call your bank immediately.
- Use chargeback protection on purchases over a certain amount.
Final Takeaway: Anyone Can Be Scammed
Ronaldo’s story is proof that even the world’s most powerful people can fall victim to fraud.
The best way to protect yourself? Stay informed. Stay alert. Never assume you’re too smart to be scammed.
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Sources & References
- Business Insider. Cristiano Ronaldo scammed out of £250,000 by a trusted travel agent. Link
- The Sun. How Ronaldo’s travel agent tricked him for years. Link
- BBC News. Football Stars Who Have Been Scammed Over the Years. Link
