Two women in Pennsylvania have fallen victim to a scam involving the identity of Pittsburgh Steelers rookie Eli Heidenreich. The impersonator convinced them to make several financial transactions, resulting in a total loss of $1,000. The Pennsylvania State Police are currently investigating the case and are urging anyone with relevant information to come forward.
The alleged fraud took place in July and involved a 20-year-old woman and a 50-year-old woman, both from Avella, Pennsylvania. The person behind the scheme claimed to be Heidenreich, a Pittsburgh native who was selected by the Steelers in the 2026 NFL Draft, according to a Pennsylvania State Police public information report. A victim may believe they are communicating directly with a professional athlete when the person on the other side is actually using a false identity.
Pittsburgh Steelers’ Heidenreich Yet to Debut; Identity Fraud Cases Surface
Heidenreich was drafted 230th overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2026 NFL Draft. The running back, a Pittsburgh native, has not yet played in an NFL game, as confirmed by the team.
This news coincides with ongoing investigations into identity fraud involving individuals impersonating professional athletes. Recently, federal prosecutors charged two men with using the identity of a San Francisco 49ers player and a purported financial adviser to defraud at least 26 victims, totaling around $1.3 million.