Being a social media influencer comes with perks—fame, partnerships, and a massive following—but it also has a dark side. Hailey Ostrom, a popular golf influencer with over 1 million followers, recently shared a harrowing experience that highlights the dangers influencers face behind the scenes.
Ostrom revealed a terrifying incident involving a fan who not only stalked her on a golf course but also appeared outside her home. While the individual left before the police could be called, the situation took an even stranger turn when it was discovered that the man had been duped by a fake profile impersonating Ostrom.
A scam turned stalking incident
The stalker, under the belief that he had been communicating with Ostrom, had sent $50,000 to a scammer who posed as the influencer. Ostrom, shaken by the incident, admitted her fear:
“As you can imagine, I don’t know his intentions and because of some of the situations that I’ve had in my past with some followers, I was very skeptical and scared and not going to take any risks,” she shared.
The event underscores a growing problem for influencers like Ostrom—fake profiles using their likeness to exploit fans, leading to not only financial fraud but also personal safety threats.
A message to her followers
Ostrom took to her social media platforms to issue a heartfelt warning to her fans. She emphasized that she would never request money or ask followers to engage with other accounts.
“A very scary situation for me. As a reminder: I will NEVER message you asking you to follow me on another page or another platform,” she clarified.
Ostrom also called on major platforms like Instagram, Meta, TikTok, and Facebook to take action against fake accounts using her name, urging them to better protect both influencers and their followers.
The broader issue of influencer safety
This incident sheds light on the broader challenges influencers face in their line of work. From relentless online criticism to real-world stalking, the risks they encounter are far more significant than many realize. Fake profiles and scams not only damage their reputation but can also put their safety and the well-being of their followers at risk.
Hailey Ostrom’s experience serves as a stark reminder of the dark underbelly of social media fame. For influencers and their fans, vigilance is key. Ostrom’s plea for action against fake profiles underscores the urgent need for social media platforms to implement stronger safeguards.