Olympic gold medalist Greg Rutherford has publicly disclosed a distressing online scam that resulted in him losing a significant amount of money when attempting to sell a guitar. The retired long jumper, aged 39 and originally from Milton Keynes, shared this cautionary tale during a recent appearance on the Spent podcast, produced in association with Nationwide, where he discussed various personal purchases and financial experiences.
The Costly Purchase Influenced by a Friend
Speaking with podcast host Matt Edmonson, Rutherford explained that he was inspired to buy an expensive guitar and amplifier after visiting a Swedish friend who played in a band. "I had a friend who came over, who is from Sweden and he was... in a band, and he played a guitar. So instantly I was like, 'that's really cool'," Rutherford recalled. He immediately went to a music shop and purchased a high-end guitar setup, investing a considerable sum into the equipment.
Failed Attempts and Decision to Sell
However, the father-of-three quickly discovered he lacked aptitude for playing the instrument, failing to master even basic chords. "I couldn't even learn 'two chords' and therefore 'never touched it again'," he admitted. The guitar had been played for only about ten minutes total before Rutherford decided to sell it on an online marketplace, hoping to recoup some of his investment.
The Elaborate Scam That Left Him Empty-Handed
Rutherford quickly found a buyer for the virtually unused instrument, but the transaction turned fraudulent. The buyer claimed the guitar arrived "snapped in half" and requested a full refund through the platform's dispute system. Despite Rutherford's objections, the platform sided with the buyer, issuing a complete refund that left the athlete with nothing. "He then got a full refund for it and I got nothing. So I lost a very expensive guitar and amp and he basically got it for free," Rutherford explained.
He further revealed that the buyer provided photographic evidence showing a damaged, scratched guitar that clearly wasn't the one Rutherford had shipped. "It was scratched up, beaten up - so clearly, it was his old guitar," Rutherford noted, suggesting the scammer had substituted his own broken instrument to fraudulently obtain both the refund and Rutherford's valuable gear.
Additional Financial Missteps Discussed
During the same podcast episode, Rutherford discussed another substantial investment that didn't yield expected returns. He had an IAAF-accredited long jump track and sandpit constructed alongside his house, theoretically to enhance his training as an athlete. "I invested quite a lot of money in this," he acknowledged, describing it as a "great investment" in principle.
However, practical circumstances undermined this investment. Rutherford was primarily living in the United States at the time and consequently "never used it" for its intended purpose. The track saw minimal use during his career, with Rutherford joking it had been utilized "less than 10 times." Instead, it attracted local wildlife, with cats and foxes frequently treating the sandpit as a litter area. "If you leave the cover off for about 30 seconds, a cat will poo in it," he remarked humorously.
Attempts to Salvage Value from Investments
Rutherford explained his original rationale for the track installation followed the principle of "spend money to make money," believing improved training facilities would enhance his athletic performance and financial prospects. Unfortunately, his career ended abruptly due to injury shortly after the track's completion, rendering what he called a "silly amount of money" spent largely wasted.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Rutherford attempted to put the track to good use by offering it to other athletes when training facilities were inaccessible. This provided temporary utility for the underused facility, though it didn't recover the initial investment. As he and his wife Susie contemplate potentially moving homes, Rutherford joked about the challenge of marketing a property with a specialized athletic track to future buyers.
The Spent podcast, presented in association with Nationwide, features discussions about personal finance and spending habits with various guests. Rutherford's appearance highlighted how even successful athletes can fall victim to common consumer scams and make investment decisions that don't pan out as expected.
