A man from Florida, accused being an Elon Musk impersonator, has been charged in a massive fraud case involving up to $600,000.
Elon musk impersonator swindles elderly woman
According to the Bradenton Police Department’s Detective Jim Curulla, part of the department’s Elder Fraud Unit, the victim, “really thought she was friends with [Musk], and she’d communicate with him on a daily basis with him.”
Investigators say Jeffrey Moynihan, Jr., 56, pretended to be the Tesla CEO and used the social network to exchange messages with a 74-year-old woman in Texas over several months starting in 2023.
He reportedly promised her an incredible return of $55 million if she invested in Musk’s supposed business endeavors.
Authorities examined financial records to discover the victim had transferred $250,000 across various accounts—not belonging to Musk—but traced back to Moynihan and his personal business, Jeff’s Painting and Pressure Washing, LLC.
Detective Curulla urged caution when dealing with strangers online. “What and who you see is not who is typing back to you. I think these people, you have to realize that, but even more so, you can’t give money.”
“You can’t start going into a business dealing with someone over the internet,” Curulla added.
The victim’s husband stepped forward, describing the staggering loss of $600,000 and adding that he believed his wife might be experiencing dementia.
Despite mounting evidence, she still insists her investment was made with the real Elon Musk.
When police caught up with Moynihan at his Bradenton home on a Tuesday night, arresting him on allegations of grand theft, he protested.
“Grand theft of what?” Moynihan asked, when he was handcuffed on his porch.
Digging deeper, law enforcement officials subpoenaed Google’s records, uncovering email accounts linked not just to the name Elon Musk but also to singer Lionel Richie and actor Johnny Depp.
Elon Musk impersonator shifts the blame
As evidence mounted against him, Moynihan shifted the blame, claiming, that he was not involved in the scheme and his girlfriend was the “mastermind.”
News of Moynihan’s arrest has left his neighbors stunned. Franklin Farmer, a long-term resident in the area, shared his reaction, “This has been a pretty quiet neighborhood, that’s why the wife and I moved here thirty years ago.”
Another neighbor, Charles Green, added, “I just can’t believe it. It blows me away. It’s shocking. It’s surprising because he’s really a hard worker.”
According to Evan Keats, spokesperson for the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, this isn’t an isolated incident.
Scammers using fake identities—often tied to well-known figures—are becoming increasingly common.
Keats pointed out that the Suncoast region, filled with retirees and financially-established residents, is especially vulnerable to this type of fraud.
“Technology certainly plays a role in that. As these scams become more sophisticated it some things that maybe, I don’t want to say it’s just seniors because it’s really everybody,” Keats explained.
“Sometimes you overlook certain things. Emails, you may overlook a spelling mistake and that becomes the rabbit hole to opening up all these other types of scams that you’ll see,” he commented.
Florida may be a hotspot for these crimes, but it’s far from alone. Fraudsters worldwide have consistently latched onto famous names, with Elon Musk remaining a frequent favorite.
Deep fake scams are on the rise
Increasingly sophisticated methods, including artificial intelligence, now allow these criminals to mimic high-profile individuals’ appearances and voices to a startling degree of realism.
Deloitte, a leading financial research firm, reported that AI-driven fraud led to losses exceeding $12 billion in the most recent year—a figure projected to skyrocket to $40 billion in the U.S alone by 2027.
Sensity, an AI-focused company, revealed Elon Musk as the top celebrity featured in deepfake scams for several reasons.
First, Musk’s immense wealth and iconic status make him a compelling target for fraudulent schemes.
Additionally, his extensive online presence and countless interviews provide ample material for crafting eerily accurate digital duplicates.
