Peter Sagan has been targeted by an online cryptocurrency scam, forcing him to publicly deny involvement in the get-rich-quick scheme.

Three-time world champion Peter Sagan issued an official statement on Wednesday, providing a link to an article that appeared to endorse the scheme, which supposedly "can make anyone a millionaire in three to four months."

The article claimed that Sagan appeared on a TV show to discuss the benefits of cryptocurrency trading platforms and claimed that it was an "exclusive" interview with jockey Beulah Hansgrohe (open in new tab).

The article is hosted on a fake website disguised as a news site, and the link takes you to a registration page for the cryptocurrency platform.

"I am not involved in any way, shape, or form with what is written in this article," Sagan said via social media.

"I have never been in contact with any of the people or companies mentioned, and any claims to the contrary are false."

Scams related to cryptocurrencies have become more common in recent years, with $4 billion taken by cybercriminals in 2019 alone. Many of the scams attempt to lure people to what appear to be legitimate trading platforms in order to obtain funds.

Celebrities have been used to make it appear that products are endorsed by socially popular figures, Sagan being the latest example.

"We are experiencing difficult economic times and this is the solution people have been waiting for," Sagan said in the article.

"Never before in history has there been such a great opportunity for the average person to achieve such enormous wealth in such a short period of time."

After publishing his public denial, Sagan may file a lawsuit for damages if he can identify who is behind the scam.

After making his season debut at the Vuelta a San Juan, Sagan, along with several teammates, headed to Colombia for a high-altitude training camp. He will miss the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad in Belgium and will race in Europe for the first time at the Strade Bianche on Saturday, March 7.