Rugby players are prime targets for scammers for several reasons. First, you are likely to have a higher earning potential than the average person. Second, you might earn a large portion of this wealth when you are relatively young, and scammers may assume this means you are less knowledgeable about financial matters.
That is why you must be especially vigilant when it comes to managing and investing your wealth.
Here are three scams you could be particularly susceptible to as a rugby player.
1. Cryptocurrency scams
Investing your wealth is important if you want to build lasting financial stability. Your portfolio could provide an income when you finish playing and attempt to establish a second career. Investments may also help fund your lifestyle when you eventually retire altogether.
However, selecting suitable investments can be a challenge, especially if you are targeted by fraudsters.
Cryptocurrencies are very prevalent in the sports world, with many players being approached to promote them. As such, you might have heard stories about cryptocurrency investments and the significant returns they can offer.
However, as we wrote in our recent article, cryptocurrencies are incredibly volatile and you may be just as likely to experience losses as notable gains.
More importantly, as cryptocurrency is becoming more popular, scammers are taking advantage.
You might be approached about an excellent cryptocurrency investment opportunity. Sometimes, scammers will use convincing AI recreations of notable celebrities or financial experts to persuade you that the opportunity is legitimate.
But once you invest your wealth, it might disappear immediately because the opportunity never existed. Even if the cryptocurrency is real, you might lose your savings in an extremely volatile investment.
That is why you should be cautious about any investment opportunity you are offered and always seek professional advice when building your portfolio.
2. Property investment scams
Property investments can be beneficial for rugby players because you could generate a regular rental income. Having diverse income streams can help you remain financially stable when you finish playing and your earnings suddenly fall.
Property values have historically increased a lot, too, so you could see a healthy return on your capital investment.
That said, there have been some high-profile examples of sportspeople falling victim to property investment scams.
In September 2025, the BBC reported that a group of former Premiership footballers had invested in various properties in the 1990s and 2000s, losing tens of millions of pounds between them.
The V11 group, as they are now known, were encouraged to put their earnings into various overseas properties by their advisers. Some properties were owned by their advisers, who charged inflated prices for them. Meanwhile, other properties had little to no value at all, leaving the players with significant losses.
This does not mean that you should avoid property investments altogether. However, you may want to invest directly in buy-to-let properties in the UK, where you can verify what you are buying.
Working with a trusted adviser from DBL Asset Management also ensures the recommendations you receive are reliable and suited to your goals.
3. HMRC impersonation scams
As a professional sportsperson, you might have complex tax affairs because you receive income from several sources, each treated differently by HMRC.
For instance, you will receive a salary from your club that will be taxed according to Pay As You Earn (PAYE). This means your Income Tax and National Insurance contributions (NICs) will be deducted automatically before you receive the remaining earnings.
However, if you earn money from sponsorships or media appearances, you might have to declare this separately through Self Assessment.
Meanwhile, you might have an investment portfolio and, depending on the type of assets and how you draw an income from them, you could pay Income Tax, Dividend Tax, or Capital Gains Tax.
As such, unless you work with a professional, there is a chance that you could make mistakes with your tax and end up paying more or less than required.
Unfortunately, scammers may take advantage of this by posing as HMRC and contacting you. They might tell you that you have overpaid tax and are due a rebate, which you can receive once you share your bank account details with them. Alternatively, they may send an alarming warning about an outstanding bill, pressuring you to pay immediately to avoid legal action.
To avoid scams, be aware that HMRC will never contact you by phone to tell you about a tax rebate or ask you to share sensitive personal information and bank details.
If you suspect a call might not be genuine, hang up immediately and contact HMRC directly.
You can also reduce the chances of falling victim to a scam by seeking professional advice so you understand the tax implications of your various income sources. That way, you can be confident that your tax affairs are in order, and if somebody contacts you claiming otherwise, you can easily identify it as a scam.
Get in touch
Your adviser is an excellent sounding board to help you identify potential scams. Please do contact DBL Asset Management for reliable guidance and to learn how to protect your wealth.
Email enquiries@dbl-am.com or call 01625 529499 to speak to us today.
Please note
This article is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at individuals only.
All information is correct at the time of writing and is subject to change in the future.
Please do not act based on anything you might read in this article. All contents are based on our understanding of HMRC legislation, which is subject to change.
The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate tax planning, or buy-to-let (pure) and commercial mortgages.
The value of your investments (and any income from them) can go down as well as up and you may not get back the full amount you invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.
Investments should be considered over the longer term and should fit in with your overall attitude to risk and financial circumstances.