2 Peter 2:1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.

I don’t know the first time I read this scripture, probably in the mid 80’s.
False prophets existed then and they do now.
Peter says false prophets and teachers are always a problem for believers.
It was quite an issue back then because people had nothing in which to compare the prophetic word and teaching.
They had the Old Testament scriptures but it wasn’t in the hands of everyday people.
Remember, there were no books until around the 15th century.
Scripture existed in scrolls or on parchment.
Now you can compare the words of ministers to those in the Bible.
Their falsities are still secretly slipped into their messages and books.
However, God’s word is eternal and speaks against and condemns their bold claims.
Again, read your Bible and know the truth.