FBI agents are warning high-profile pro athletes to be on high-alert after NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Warren Moon was scammed out of $200,000 as part of a phony Miami Heat court side ticket scheme.
Several media outlets are reporting the 57-year-old Moon was also fraudulently assured by a man identified as George French Jones that he would be able to purchase a 5 percent minority interest in the NBA title-winning franchise and the purchase of the tickets would serve as a sort of down payment on the larger investment.
According to FoxLA.com, the NBA and the Heat first contacted the FBI about the scam, which reportedly has also targeted a man thus far only identified as a “Super Bowl champion Patriot player,” and another described as an “eight time NFL Pro Bowler.”
Moon specifically was under the impression he was purchasing four court side seats, but since his agent turned the money over to French Jones he has not been seen or heard from.
Fox reports the agent wired the money to an account at Academy Bank through Moon’s Sports I Marketing Company. Investigators are trying to determine if Jones is still contacting athletes about that or other fraudulent offers and Moon has also sued in attempt to recoup all of his money.
Moon played 17 NFL seasons for four different teams and was a nine time Pro Bowl selection. He passed for 49, 325 yards and 291 touchdowns over his career and became the first African-American quarterback ever inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 2006.
More recently, Moon served as a mentor to quarterback Cam Newton, who was subsequently selected as the top overall pick of the 2011 NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers. For the last ten seasons, Moon has also worked as the official radio analyst for the Seattle Seahawks.
The Heat and the NBA have declined to further comment on the issue.
