Former WWE Tough Enough winner Maven Huffman recently uncovered a scammer using his name to solicit money from fans and took matters into his own hands to expose the fraud. In a video uploaded to his official YouTube channel, Maven detailed how he discovered an individual impersonating him in the comment sections of his videos, directing users to a WhatsApp number to engage with them further.
Maven explained that he felt compelled to see the scam through to protect his followers. “I want to let you guys know, that’s not me, so refrain from doing that,” he stated in the video’s introduction. “But I have to admit that my curiosity is getting the best of me. So we’re going to reach out. We’re going to type a message and we’re going to see what happens when I reach out to that number”. He then chronicled his entire conversation with the impersonator, playing the part of an unsuspecting fan.
The Sting Operation
Posing as a fan, Maven began a conversation with the scammer, who quickly confirmed they were the “real Maven”. To build a convincing backstory, Maven mentioned that he had been following his career since the first season of Tough Enough in 2003, a deliberate error to test the impersonator’s knowledge. The real season aired in 2001. The scammer failed to notice the mistake, with their grammatically incorrect reply providing another clue. “Oh wow you are a big fans,” the impersonator wrote.
After a series of messages, the scammer’s intentions became clear. They offered Maven a “fan card” and, after Maven expressed interest, the impersonator revealed the catch. “Before you can have my VIP fan card you are going to get me a apple card worth $500,” the scammer wrote. This demand came just 22 minutes into the conversation. Maven then negotiated the price down, agreeing to purchase a gift card to see how far the scammer would push the interaction.
Turning the Tables
After the scammer instructed him to open the gift card and send photos of the front and back, Maven revealed his hand. Instead of sending images of a gift card, he sent the scammer a video of himself, directly addressing them and the fraudulent activity. “Hey, scammer Maven. You see this equipment right here?” he said, pointing to his camera setup. “This equipment is to let everyone know two things. One, there is no money. Two, what a piece of crap you are”.
Maven then sent a series of text messages to the scammer, ending the charade. “THERE IS NO CARD!!! You’re acting like ‘Maven’…. IM THE REAL MAVEN YOU PIECE OF SH*T! And your scam in my name ENDS TODAY!” he wrote. He informed the scammer that he was posting the entire interaction to warn his followers. Instead of giving the money to the impersonator, Maven announced he was donating the $500 to a charity called Diva for a Day, an organization that provides spa and wellness days for women battling cancer.
Maven’s Return to the Ring
While Maven has been focused on growing his successful YouTube channel, where he shares stories and insights from his career, he has also made a return to in-ring competition on the independent circuit. In May 2024, he competed for Create A Pro Wrestling academy, demonstrating that he still maintains the passion for performing that he first discovered on WWE’s Tough Enough.
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit Maven Huffman with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
