Former NRL player turned private investigator reveals how perverts are using star footy players' identities to groom children online
- Perverts are using footy players identities online as a way to groom children
- Former NRL player turned private investigator Scott Sattler knows of 3 cases
- Predators created a kids' footy clinic to communicate with boys on Facebook
- He manages his own investigation firm and says they 'shut down' the operation
Former NRL star turned private investigator Scott Sattler (pictured) now owns his own investigation firm
Perverts are masquerading as star football players in a sickening ploy to groom children online, a former NRL star has claimed.
Former NRL player turned private investigator Scott Sattler, who memorably played for the Penrith Panthers from 1993 to 2003, said prominent players identities have been stolen as a result of 'catfishing'.
Catfishing is when an individual creates a fake identity or online profile to deceive another person.
Sattler, who is now the managing director of his own investigation firm Complete Corporate Services, says he's become aware of some heinous online activity.
He claims he knows of three high-profile footballers who have been impersonated by predators as a way to communicate with children through social media.
Two rugby league stars who have played for the Australia national rugby league team and a wallaby rugby union star had their identities taken, the 47-year-old told The Daily Telegraph.
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The identities of the three sportsmen were used as a ruse for a children's football clinics.
The young children, believed to be male and around the age of 12 to 14, were duped into believing they were interacting with a famous footy star.
'In this case, they were asking children to engage in online coaching clinics under the guise of some of the game's biggest names,' Sattler said.
'The marquee player would be conversing with them, giving them tips and got to a stage when they had the trust of child or teen they would organise a face-to-face. Someone who wouldn't be the player but was supposedly a 'representative' of the player.
'They were trying to engage and groom young children. There are a lot of deviant minds out there. That's what our business is for — to try identity the deviance and then rectify it, he said.
Sattler (pictured left) is now the managing director of his own investigation firm Complete Corporate Services
Sattler (pictured right) is a man of many talents and has previously also worked as a television commentator and a football manager
Sattler said they were able to 'shut down' the operation, but warned of the ease in which a famous person could have their identity taken.
He also noted the 'issue' of stealing players' identities was 'increasing' – although the motive isn't always quite as sinister.
He recounted one incident in which a person had impersonated a debut player, and although the content wasn't 'defamatory or vulgar' the posts made him appear like he was self-absorbed and had no regard for his opponents.
As well as his online work, his firm has also looked into cases for player managers whose players have been accused or charged with a criminal offence.
Sattler (pictured left) also previously investigated cases for player managers whose players have been either accused or charged with a criminal offence
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