Elon Musk Followers Are Nonetheless Shedding Ridiculous Quantities of Cash to Crypto Scams

For those who’re going to run a crypto rip-off, it is smart to invoke Elon Musk’s identify. He’s the wealthiest man on the earth, in spite of everything, just lately surpassing a internet price of $500 billion based on Forbes. But it surely’s nonetheless stunning to learn the tales of those that’ve been scammed by individuals posing because the Tesla CEO.

Gizmodo filed a Freedom of Data Act (FOIA) request with the FTC for complaints from individuals who say they have been tricked by scammers posing as Musk or who used on-line advertisements with the billionaire’s likeness. Gizmodo has filed such FOIA requests with the FTC before, and it’s instructive to study what new tips and instruments scammers are utilizing to lure their victims.

Some scammers seem to persuade victims they’re really Elon Musk, even bringing in supporting characters like Elon’s mom, Maye Musk, to vouch for a given “funding.” Different occasions, scammers will use AI-generated pictures or movies to make it seem Elon is selling a given cryptocurrency or on-line platform the place somebody can supposedly get wealthy.

Among the tales are heartbreaking, like the girl in Florida who filed a criticism with the FTC as a result of her aged husband has most cancers and isn’t pondering clearly as he engages with an individual he’s satisfied is the true Elon. She writes that her husband, who’s in his 70s, is “closely medicated and doesn’t consider he’s being scammed.” He misplaced no less than $10,000.

Scammers ceaselessly arrange YouTube livestreams throughout main SpaceX or Tesla occasions, making them seem as official as potential, however imploring individuals to ship cryptocurrency that will probably be “matched” by Musk or his firms. A Florida man in his 60s wrote to the FTC about getting scammed out of $225,000 that manner, sending crypto to Coinbase earlier this 12 months.

The scams are all from the previous 12 months, that means that there are typically cameos by President Donald Trump. Just like the criticism from Michigan, the place an individual of their 70s who misplaced $10,000 was satisfied it needed to be Musk as a result of, “His profile image was of him on Airforce 1 [sic]  with Trump. He offered detailed info that Musk would know.”

One other man in Florida wrote about dropping $41,000 after getting lured right into a rip-off marketed with Elon Musk’s face on Fb. The criticism explains how he slowly drained his retirement account of $32,000, and was “devastated” to comprehend he fell for a rip-off.

“I nonetheless am actually bothered by it as somebody who has taught private finance and managed my residence funds for many years, I can’t consider I used to be taken benefit of like this,” the person wrote to the FTC. “I misplaced the one cash I had left and am hoping to recapture a few of it again working with the federal authorities.”

Curiously, some individuals who notice they’ve been scammed nonetheless assume they’re speaking to the true Elon Musk. Just like the Washington lady in her 70s who stated she misplaced over $63,000. The scammers satisfied her that she was really in a romantic relationship with Musk and her criticism to the FTC is a determined plea to get a number of the a reimbursement for dental implant surgical procedure. It’s clear from the criticism that she is aware of she was scammed however believed the scammer was Elon Musk, not some impersonator.

“I AM BEGGING YOU, PRETTY PLEASE, TO HELP ME RECOVER THE MONEY THAT HE SCAMMED ME,” the aged lady wrote in all-caps. “HE IS A BILLIONAIRE, SO HE CAN AFFORD TO GIVE IT BACK TO ME.”

Somebody of their 60s who misplaced $25,000 in South Carolina additionally appeared confused about whether or not they have been speaking to the true Elon Musk: “The query stays, is Musk concerned with these scammers or is that this only a style of the place AI is main us to,” the criticism reads.

You possibly can learn a pattern of the complaints Gizmodo obtained from the FTC beneath. Private info within the complaints has been redacted by the company, making it inconceivable to confirm the veracity of every declare, however patterns emerge, and it may be invaluable to see what rip-off artists are doing to swindle individuals out of cash. Particularly once they’re preying on susceptible individuals who might not know any higher.

Gizmodo has additionally made further gentle redactions for privateness and occasional edits for punctuation or spelling, only for readability’s sake. However the substance of every criticism hasn’t been modified.

1. “I instructed him I wasn’t sending one other penny and he wanted to present me again my roughly $225,000”

• Whole reported loss: $225,000
• Florida
• Age: 65-69
• Platforms: YouTube, Coinbase
• April 2025

Roughly 1 month in the past I used to be watching YouTube on tv and Elon Musk was talking and gave a chat concerning the Spacex rocket that crashed that day after which went on a facet dialog a couple of QR code on the display and assured that in the event you ship sure crypto to the deal with within the QR code you’d obtain double that quantity again into your account inside 5 minutes.

I had about $85,000 price of this crypto in my Coinbase account so I made a decision to ship 30,000 XRP tokens(round $75,000) to the QR Code deal with however I didn’t get something again. I referred to as Coinbase to inform them what occurred they usually instructed me the transaction didn’t go all over they usually put me in contact with their refund individuals, a girl named [redacted] and a person named [redacted], whose identify comes up with a Coinbase heading instructed me he’d be capable of retrieve the entire lacking cash however first I needed to switch the remaining crypto in my account to a number of safe wallets as a result of my total account had been compromised by the rip-off I’d despatched the XRP to and that my total account may disappear if we didn’t do this instantly. So we transferred all roughly $145,000 of the remaining crypto in my account to the pockets addresses he despatched me and to guard it.

After weeks of steady contact with [redacted] and his continued guarantees that he would get my a reimbursement, stated the unique cash was used for some unlawful functions and I’d have to ship one other $52,762 in Bitcoin in and he’d have all of my funds returned on Monday. I instructed him I wasn’t sending one other penny and he wanted to present me again my roughly $225,000. I additionally requested him if he had reported this to the FTC and he indicated that he had and I requested him for the case quantity. He stated my case quantity is [redacted] and he had a person named officer [redacted] supposedly with the FTC name me. I spoke briefly with him and he tried to name me again however I didn’t reply. [Redacted] with Coinbase additionally tried to name me again however I haven’t gotten again with him. I want the FTCs assist with this!  I feel the man, [redacted], with Coinbase is a scammer so how can belief that this [redacted] is legit. Please get in contact with me!!

2. “In June I wired 102k”

• Whole reported loss: $120,000
• Florida
• Age: 40-49
• Platforms: YouTube
• July 2025

I watch youtube vids on monetary matters. In late Jan. 2025 I noticed an advert, it had Musk and AI in it. A web site was referenced and it was since eliminated. A [redacted] reached out and welcomed me to their funding group, which was affiliated with OasisX Enterprise faculty. Up to now the web site continues to be up. I used to be mailed a guide from the Dean/founder.

It started as a brief to long run funding advise the place we may make investments with the brokerage of our alternative. Then in March Professor [redacted] and the Precisco Buying and selling Platform was launched. I used to be gifted $500. We started Crypto Day Buying and selling. We signed contracts to present the varsity 3 % of our earnings. I used to be by no means instructed to pay. I moved over about 15K in ETH, BTC from coinbase into Precisco in April/Might. My funds have been rising.

In June I wired 102k to a p2p on the trade to take part with a brand new coin launch. The wire went to a NYC financial institution. After June twenty fifth the group went silent and my cash within the platform frozen. I’ve since linked with 6 different victims completely 700K stolen, together with from the aged.

3. “I assumed it was an actual SpaceX website”

• Whole reported loss: $90,000
• Arkansas
• Age: 40-49
• March 2025

Throughout the SpaceX Starship 8 launch they performed a video that appeared like Elon Musk getting on stage on the launch website asserting a supply to get individuals to ship crypto to SpaceX and they’d match it and ship it again to encourage crypto adoption. The video displayed a QR code that lead the the supply web site and I assumed it was an actual SpaceX website and ship bitcoin to take part within the supply.  They made the video look actual the web site appears official because it has the identical appear and feel of the particular SpaceX website.  I do know I misplaced my bitcoin,  however I see the positioning continues to be lively so hopefully the individuals who set it up may be caught and the positioning taken down so no others fall prey to the rip-off.

4. “Abruptly all my cash was gone”

• Whole reported loss: $85,000
• Georgia
• Age: 40-49
• Platforms: Instagram
• July 2025

An advert ran on Instagram indicating Elon Musk was making a Crypto app during which The Professor was answerable for handing – I used to be instructed to purchase Bitcoin and than instructed to switch to a different DYIG app during which Elon was investing – abruptly all my cash was gone and I couldn’t get it again.

5. “Somebody within the Fan Membership instructed her if she actually needed to speak with Elon, that he was on Telegram.”

• Whole reported loss: $75,000
• Arizona
• Age: 70-79
• Platforms: Fb, WhatsApp, Telegram, Eclipse
• January 2025

Communicated with whom she thought was Elon Musk on Fb, communication moved to Telegram. Somebody within the Fan Membership instructed her if she actually needed to speak with Elon, that he was on Telegram. Funding conversations and messages got here by, encouraging her to Crypto Mine. He then despatched her to WhatsApp, to his Supervisor. They signed her up on a buying and selling platform for Crypto that was not in america, referred to as Eclipse. She initially invested $700, however then there have been all of those charges she needed to pay so as to take action. She started to place an increasing number of cash in, however then she needed to withdraw cash, they loaded on extra charges and she or he was not in a position to get her cash. Cash was despatched through cryptocurrency, giftcards, and an try at Western Union.

6. “HE IS A BILLIONAIRE, SO HE CAN AFFORD TO GIVE IT BACK TO ME.”

• Whole reported loss: $65,300
• Washington
• Age: 70-79
• Platforms: Twitter, X
• June 2025

I personally met ELON MUSK through his social web site X.com (Twitter.com). After just a few Twitter.com exchanges, I consider, he instructed his Mother, Maye Musk, to befriend me — and that’s precisely what Maye Musk did and invited me to take a position with TESLA, one in all Elon’s firms. After a number of exchanges of emails, he wooed me and we turned BF/GF, whereas giving him my preliminary funding of $3,000 as a begin.

Then it went as much as $10,500, between November 2022 (we met in the course of November) to April 2023.  From Might 2023 to December 2023, the whole sum quantity that I’ve given was $17,600.  From January to December of 2024, the whole sum quantity is $28,800.  From January 2025 to April 2025, $8,400.  All in all, the TOTAL SUM AMOUNT I’ve given him was $65,300.

I used to be shocked to seek out out after I did a search about him on the Web that he had SCAMMED a number of aged girls with a complete lot of cash from each one in all them.  To prime all of it, I additionally learn on the Web that he scammed some individuals, principally males, with pretend bitcoins, crypto, and deepfakes.

I AM BEGGING YOU, PRETTY PLEASE, TO HELP ME RECOVER THE MONEY THAT HE SCAMMED ME.  HE IS A BILLIONAIRE, SO HE CAN AFFORD TO GIVE IT BACK TO ME.  I DIDN’T MIND WHEN HE MADE ME FALL IN LOVE WITH HIM, BUT THE MONEY IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME, AS I NEED IT FOR MY DENTAL IMPLANT SURGERY.

THANK YOU FOR THE KIND ATTENTION AND CONSIDERATION YOU HAVE GIVEN ME ON THIS MATTER.  GOD BLESS AND HAVE A NICE DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

7. “He stated that he would double your Crypto that you just despatched to him”

• Whole reported loss: $47,000.45
• California
• Age: 40-49
• Platforms: YouTube, Coinbase
• February 2025

There was a pretend AI Video of Elon Musk on YouTube as we speak Feb. 1, 2025, it ran for over 4 hours earlier than it was taken down. He talked about totally different crypto foreign money, he stated that he would double your Crypto that you just despatched to him, to a safe account backed by House X. I despatched quite a lot of DOGE coin and by no means acquired something again. The deal with it was despatched to is [redacted]

Please assist, is there any method to get me a reimbursement?

I used Coinbase to ship the crypto, I’ve already contacted them however they are saying there’s nothing they’ll do.

8. “I might deposit small quantities of cash at a time and slowly drained my solely retirement account of over $32K”

• Whole reported loss: $41,000
• Florida
• Age: 50-59
• Platforms: CashApp, Robinhood
• April 2025

Someday in the course of the month of October 2024 I noticed a sponsored advert on Fb that had Elon Musk in it speaking about cryptocurrency and buying and selling and the sum of money that may very well be made. After I clicked on it it took me to a Whatsapp group referred to as EVW Enterprise College A656.  I watched the Whatsapp group I used to be taken to for about 2 months after which obtained a guide within the mail in addition to a cellphone name from the Admin assistant of EVW group stating this was an actual faculty and an actual group. It was not a rip-off.  So I made a decision to start out taking part in December of 2024.  Over the course of December by the top of March I funneled in $41K by my Money App and my Robinhood account.  I might deposit small quantities of cash at a time and slowly drained my solely retirement account of over $32K.  I moreover took a money advance of $5000 on my bank card with the intention to meet deposit necessities to qualify for a greater return on my investments.

I used to be coerced into take a $100k mortgage on the finish of an funding interval with the intention to safe my million {dollars} plus for a return on my funding.  It was referred to as securing a big scale allotment.  Initially I had spent $80K on simply the preliminary subscription of a specific ICOSTO after which due to the best way it was structured and the quantity of individuals investing they created this huge scale allotment idea to safe the best potential return.  This mortgage was secured by a Whatsapp website referred to as C2C mortgage the place I used to be taken from a tab inside the app BFXN-Nova which the varsity had instructed me to obtain and was the primary software we used to spend money on Crypto futures contract buying and selling.  After which led into the buying of ICOSTO’s.  I gave a duplicate of the back and front of my license to each the app and the C2C mortgage individuals.

After the subscription went dwell I confirmed over $2 million {dollars} in my account and so I used to be going to pay the mortgage again with the proceeds. It was then that I discovered that we had to make use of cash from exterior of this app to pay the mortgage.  This was not disclosed till after the very fact.  After all I didn’t have that cash and negotiated for $5000 to be despatched in order that a number of the funds may very well be unlocked.  And I may pay my mortgage with that. Nonetheless shortly after I deposited the $5000 (over a number of small deposits) I lastly was beginning to see crimson flags.  I seen nobody ever responded to me within the group chat for EVW faculty. I seen that the Admin or Michael have been beginning not to reply to me.  And the C2C mortgage place slowly stopped responding as effectively. By this level I used to be determining that this will not be actual. I used to be devastated figuring out I fell for one thing like this. I nonetheless am actually bothered by it as somebody who has taught private finance and managed my residence funds for many years, I can’t consider I used to be taken benefit of like this.  I misplaced the one cash I had left and am hoping to recapture a few of it again working with the federal authorities.

9. “He was very convincing, and I believed that he beloved me”

• Whole reported loss: $25,000-30,000
• North Carolina
• Age: 65-69
• Platforms: Telegram, Fb, Instagram
• June 2025

I used to be concerned with a romance scammer that claimed to be Elon Musk. He proceeded to inform me that he wanted to maintain issues private and quiet due to his recognition, and that he wanted my assist. He promised to marry me and ship cash in my account to purchase a home right here in North Carolina. He claimed that the cash that I used to be sending was for taxes on the cash that he was sending. He was very convincing, and I believed that he beloved me as a result of he had been corresponding with me for a very long time after which all the guarantees to come back and see me and he by no means did he promised to come back for us to get married and he didn’t present up Then he requested me to promote my automotive to provide you with $25,000. That was after I simply blew it. I’ll by no means promote my automotive at this level. I’m out no less than possibly even nearer to 30,000.

Then I acquired in contact with a lawyer. He claims to be a lawyer from California that stated he may get my funds again for me that he had tracked and knew the place they have been at, and that the authorities have been in good with getting the cash again to me. The funds have been going to be despatched by crypto and the crypto wanted $5,000 extra to confirm the account. At this level, I’m not able to place any more cash into these faults claims and scams. I simply wish to ensure that no person else will get scammed by both imposters on X and telegram Fb and Instagram. I’ve undoubtedly discovered my lesson to not belief  anyone, ever once more and provides anyone cash. I’ll by no means in all probability get my a reimbursement, however no less than I’ll keep off the Web and don’t ever correspond with a romance scammer once more.

I don’t know if there are any applications to assist with getting my a reimbursement. it has devastating me financially. Fortunately Ive pay as you go my lease or I might be not in a position to pay my lease proper now. my bank cards are getting dangerously behind. Thank God I’ve Social Safety or I might be devastated fully. I’m 65 years outdated and I don’t have to preserve going by this. It has made me ailing and have hypertension and feeling very sick recently I don’t know what to do about this final scammers textual content that he retains texting me on telegram asking me after I’m going to ship the $5000 for the verification for it to be despatched to me into my crypto account. I don’t know if I ought to disable my crypto account. At this level, I don’t know what to do. I want your assist. I don’t even know something about crypto and even know the way to do that this scammer so-called working for the lawyer stroll me by.  Stated his identify was Patrick getting all of the stuff arrange assured me that he was a lawyer from California. [redacted]. San Francisco, California. I did test with the bar. There’s such an individual, however whether or not that is the suitable individual or not, I don’t know. He claims to be an lawyer to assist individuals reclaim their funds.

10. “The query stays, is Musk concerned with these scammers or is that this only a style of the place AI is main us to”

• Whole reported loss: $25,000
• South Carolina
• Age: 60-64
• Platforms:
• Might 2025

On or about January 20, 2025, I watched an on-line hyperlink with Elon Musk in an interview the place he was stating that there was a crypto funding firm that might internet triple or extra in your funding. After signing up, I used to be contacted by a consultant who recognized himself as [redacted] on January 23, 2025.

[Redacted] assisted with logging me into his firm [redacted]. As soon as logged on and registered he defined the graphs and said that I needed to fund the account previous to investing. I funded the account with a number of bitcoin deposits which amounted to five,000.00. the funds have been despatched from my money app account I used to be then transferred to a different accountant as a consequence of my funding reaching 50,000.00 in revenue. the subsequent accountant was named James Lawrence, and he promised a revenue acquire of 150,000.00 or extra inside two months. a number of extra deposits from my money app account by bitcoin was made to the brand new platform [redacted].

On a number of events I requested to withdraw my positive factors in bitcoin and was met with a number of excuses why I couldn’t withdraw my funds. On 4/19/2025 I gained a revenue of $439,900. and on 4/20/2025 a revenue acquire of 1,519,961.00. I instantly withdrew a complete of $500,000.00 in three separate quantities. That is after I realized this was a rip-off and the one cash transfers that have been authorized was the deposits I made to the above firms and accountants named. The websites are nonetheless on-line and dwell and I’ve display pictures of the deposits revenue positive factors tried withdraws and whatsapp electronic mail correspondence with accountant [redacted]. after the foremost revenue positive factors and tried withdrawals, accountant [redacted] referred to as me and said the revenue positive factors have been false because of the market crashing and once more I may NOT withdraw any funds. Accountant [redacted] then instructed me that I may withdraw the five hundred,000.00 if I created an account on meta masks and fund the meta masks account with 10 of the five hundred,000.00 in ETH which is a unstable crypto foreign money. It’s my perception that these people and the 2 firms listed above have scammed thousands and thousands out of their hard-earned money and by the point these buyers realized they’re being scammed it’s too late.

Additionally it is my perception that using Elon Musk and his likeness in these informercials lures people in as a consequence of his profitable ventures. The query stays, is Musk concerned with these scammers or is that this only a style of the place AI is main us to.

11. “Was watching the Starship launch…”

• Whole reported loss: $20,000
• Virginia
• Age: 40-49
• June 2025

Was watching the Starship launch and when video reduce to ELON Musk providing a crypto match, I despatched $20K price BTC for a match.

12. “There’s somebody on Instagram utilizing the identify Elon Reeve Musk”

• Whole reported loss: $17,000
• New York
• Age: 65-69
• Platforms: Instagram, PayPal
• March 2025

There’s somebody on Instagram utilizing the identify Elon Reeve Musk that speak to me about crypto foreign money and he’ll assist me to take a position and he stole 17,000 {dollars} from me by making a faked account with Atomic pockets telling me that my funds have been 20,000 {dollars} and when i stated that i wish to take the cash out of my account he begin asking for 1000 {dollars} for the financial institution 500 for this 500 for that and by now he stole altogether from me 17,000 {dollars} and nonetheless by no means despatched me my cash. He’s utilizing PayPal to gather the cash and that is the identify’s that he use [redacted]

thanks i hope you’ll examine and cease this fraud

13. “He stated hii simply know you might be talking to Elon Musk you don’t want to fret”

• Whole reported loss: $13,000
• Washington
• Age: 40-49
• Platforms: Pretend Tesla funding web site, Fb
• July 2025

Beneath is the painfully financially pressure course of that the scammer has taken me:-
Hii am [redacted] i need assistance from the FBI authorities am actually struggling .

I Invested the next quantity in tesla funding shares . I have to withdraw my a reimbursement.
– This man put his quantity on Fb then he stated hii simply know you might be talking to Elon Musk you don’t want to fret .
– Then he stated would you want a brand new Tesla otherwise you wish to spend money on my firm Tesla funding shares? I replied i have to Make investments then he instructed me to google nearest Bitcoin Machine , I began shopping for bitcoins. I login in web site I can see cash however cant withdraw it . Please FBI examine on this man he has no Mercy he’s so impolite even now he’s asking for more cash!!! .

1. I used becu bank card that he stated after utilizing the $ 4400 he’ll add more cash for me . He by no means added something

2. I used chase bank card similar factor

3. Used debit card that we used most of occasions to buy bitcoin by money app crypto.com, bipay apps

4. I suffered alot psychological when he couldn’t let me withdraw my cash .

5. I invested in a premium plan worthy 5000

6. Paid 2000 for tesla withdrawal card

7. Paid 3700 to repair a glitch in my tesla account

8. Paid 2000 to pay for delivery of my tesla withdrawal card, then he stated its within the storage, i ought to lay storage charges, so costly

Nonetheless:-

9. It emerged that storage charges worthy 10, 000 was once more to be paid by me .I paid 4,400 already utilizing the present playing cards that he compelled mecto purchase ship to him i nonetheless have photos on my cellphone . Then he stated he willl pay the remaining
( Promised to pay $ 5000) for me. However he didn’t

10. I Additionally purchased 4 bank cards worthy 200 , 2004 in complete I spent $ 800 extra oh my God this man should be arrested. The FBI must test his cellphone location arrest him instantly.!! He has made me bankrupt. I want Justice from the federal government.

14. “He’s very ailing, stage 4 metatastic prostate most cancers”

• Whole reported loss: $10,000
• Florida
• Age: 70-79
• Platforms: WhatsApp
• July 2025

My husband thinks he’s texting with Elon Musk who has invited him to hitch a choose group of buyers. He opened a crypto account with Constancy and transferred $10,000. to to it. After I noticed it I made him attempt to put again the funds. He stated they received’t let him cancel this deal. He’s very ailing, stage 4 metatastic prostate most cancers, and relapsed a number of myeloma. Closely medicated and doesn’t consider he’s being scammed. He confirmed me texts from that quantity and whoever it’s threatened to take him to court docket if he doesn’t make investments. I’ve tried to cease this and instructed him to allow them to take you to court docket.

They communicated on WhatsApp. I don’t assume they’ve ever used electronic mail. It is vitally troublesome to motive with my poor husband who in higher days was a public defender, assistant state lawyer who dealt with profession criminals and capital instances. I cant go to native authorities as he can be embarrassed. I’ve little doubt it is a fraudulent scheme. He has spent alot of unsupervised time on-line with investing applications.

15. “His profile image was of him on Airforce 1 with Trump.”

• Whole reported loss: $10,000
• Michigan
• Age: 70-79
• Platforms: X, Telegram
• Might 2025

I consider that I’m the sufferer of an funding with Elon Musk rip-off. I used to be initially contacted by messages on X, first by one in all Musk’s staff, then by one in all his kids. They despatched me his Telegram contact info. After a few exchanges, I spotted that it was a advertising and marketing scheme and ended contact. Then a lady claiming to he Musk’s mom contacted me.

She inspired me to contact Musk, which I did. We had pleasant conversations. His profile image was of him on Airforce 1 with Trump. He offered detailed info that Musk would know. At this level, I believed that this was actual. Then he offered his Tesla doge professional funding alternative. I went to the web site and signed up. At first there was no strain to fund my account. The web site appeared real, with photos of Musk, his board of administrators and details about funding alternatives. Musk requested me how a lot I needed to take a position. I instructed him $5000. I began with $500. Then the strain began. At this level, I feel that I used to be emotionally invested or didn’t wish to admit that I had been taken in by the rip-off. I invested the $5000 that I had agreed to.

Then I used to be knowledgeable that my account needed to be at $20,000 earlier than I may withdraw any funds. I instructed him I didn’t have $10,000 to take a position. Musk then instructed me that if I invested $5,000 extra, he would add $10,000 to deliver my account as much as $20,000. He then gave me a withdrawl date for my account. That day got here however there was extra strain to take a position a further $10,000. I refused. So he despatched me a duplicate of the withdrawl document. The distribution was to be in etherium despatched to my crypto pockets. Earlier than he would ship the funds, I used to be required to pay 4 etherium which was about $10,216.00. The calculated worth of the account was $26,430,000.00 on a one month funding of $20,000. I knew now that this was some type of ponzi rip-off. After I refused to take any distribution, he then instructed me I used to be required so as to add $10,000 to my account. My response was or what? He then instructed me that the brokerage guidelines have been that the account can be made dormant. If it have been dormant, it may very well be topic to inactivity charges, unavailability and potential closure. I knew at this level that the $10,000 I had given them was lengthy gone. I haven’t communicated with him since receiving the details about making the account dormant.

I’ve been taking  display pictures of chosen exchanges. We’ve been speaking on WhatsApp so I do know that he can’t delete something contained on my system, but when he deletes his account, there will probably be no reference to who despatched it. The disconcerting factor about all of that is that there are different fraudulent websites on the market that use Musk’s picture and fame to draw victims. There was one on Fb just lately that was taken down. I simply noticed one as we speak in my information feed that stated $500 to take a position with Elon. The web site website that I had entry to was very spectacular however not one of the hyperlinks work and there’s no customer support. Musk both doesn’t know, doesn’t care or is someway complicit in these schemes.

16. “Many YouTube movies selling a pretend Elon Musk cryptocurrency”

• Whole reported loss: $10,000
• Washington
• Age: 60-64
• Platforms: YouTube, Pretend xAI website
• July 2025

Many YouTube movies selling a pretend Elon Musk cryptocurrency. The token itself goes by the next: XAI, XAI22P, $XA77P, and so on. It’s continually altering with new presale websites going up for the previous 6 months. They provide presales the token with bonuses starting from 50 to 200 relying on the quantity of tokens you buy. A presale web page opens along with your alternative of utilizing BTC, USDT, XRP, BNB and different cryptocurrencies to ship to them for cost. Every totally different cost kind (BTC, XRP, USDT, and so on) opens a web page with a crypto pockets vacation spot to ship your crypto for cost. Right here is the one I despatched my USDT to: Ship USDT to: [redacted]

Listed here are different cost addresses:

• Ship BTC to: [redacted]
• Ship ETH to: [redacted]
• Ship BNB to: [redacted]
• Ship XRP to: [redacted]
• Ship DOGE to: ([redacted]
• Ship SOL to: [redacted]

After you ship them your crypto cost, you will notice this message: Ready for transaction…

PLEASE READ: When you’ve efficiently deposited the funds, stay on this web page till the transaction standing adjustments to accomplished. As soon as marked as full, you can be redirected to arrange your xAI Pockets.

The above message continues on with no response after you ship your cost.

17. “She obtained a textual content message on Telegram from somebody claiming to be Elon Musk”

• Whole reported loss: $9,185.94
• Age: 60-64
• Platforms: Telegram, Coinbase, CashApp, Apple present playing cards
• June 2025

On 5/23/25 Ms. Henry acquired a message on telegram from Elon Musk with discovered House X Tesla and Crypto. Telegram solely. She obtained a textual content message on Telegram from somebody claiming to be Elon Musk, stating that cash had been deposited into her Coinbase account. Nonetheless, she was knowledgeable that she wanted to pay taxes earlier than she may entry the funds.

This report considerations an internet rip-off focusing on my mom, involving a mixture of cryptocurrency fraud and a romance rip-off, leading to substantial monetary loss and continued manipulation. The rip-off started on Fb and later transitioned to WhatsApp and Telegram for personal communication.

18. “My mom was contacted through Fb by a person impersonating Elon Musk”

• Whole reported loss: $8,000
• Tennessee
• Age: 70-79
• Platforms: Fb, WhatsApp, Telegram
• June 2025

My mom was contacted through Fb by a person impersonating Elon Musk, providing a supposed alternative to spend money on cryptocurrency. The scammer appeared convincing and used pretend credentials and language related to official funding promotions.

She was persuaded to take a position an preliminary sum of $5,000 USD by a cryptocurrency platform, which has since been recognized as fraudulent. The platform supplied no transparency, withdrawal choices, or official proof of funding exercise. All indicators level to it being a pretend crypto trade set as much as defraud customers.

Shortly after the preliminary cost, the scammer shifted the communication to WhatsApp and Telegram, the place he continued to control my mom by initiating a romantic relationship. This emotional manipulation is attribute of a romance rip-off  a tactic the place fraudsters construct false emotional connections to extort cash over time.

The scammer maintained common contact and steadily elevated the emotional dependency of the sufferer. He made repeated requests for extra funds below numerous pretexts, resembling journey bills, authorized points, and pressing funding alternatives. These requests have been accompanied by emotional appeals and fabricated narratives to safe compliance.

19. “3 12 months talked to him.”

• Whole reported loss: $8,000
• South Carolina
• Age: 70-79
• Platforms: Zangi
• July 2025

3 12 months talked to him. He had me go to zangi  App for safety  causes. He used this

Pockets to ship funds for crypto switch [redacted]

My identify is [redacted]

20. “I used to be result in this website by who I believed was Elon Musk.”

• Whole reported loss; $1,470
• Texas
• Age: 65-69
• Platforms: Pretend Tesla buying and selling website
• July 2025

I used to be result in this website by who I believed was Elon Musk.

He defined that I may make investments and have an account buying and selling crypto. I did make a small funding after which was instructed I wanted to deposit further fund to start out buying and selling. after that I used to be instructed I needed to pay a brokers price to entry a pin quantity wanted to withdrawal fund that have been awarded throughout buying and selling…

I’m instructed now by one other individual on X the claims to be Elon Musk that this website is a rip-off and I have to report it.

21. “These persons are frauds and so is Elon Musk”

• Whole reported loss: $689
• Colorado
• Age: 40-49
• Platforms: XChato
• June 2025

XChato-Elon Musk and his silly $1500 bonus the place in the event you make a pair deposits you’ll be able to withdraw all of your cash. Effectively I’ve gotten scammed. First it was $150 to confirm your account then it’s $300 to assert possession of account. However they lie, now it’s I’ve to deposit 1,000 in crypto to entry my withdrawl of $2189.00. These persons are frauds and so is Elon Musk

22. “They’d me attempt to take out a mortgage and in addition create an ID.me account.”

• Whole reported loss: $349
• Connecticut
• Age: 20-29
• Platforms: Sign, Telegram, Cashapp
• July 2025

Was messages by Maye Musk non-public account (however not really her and the messages have been then deleted, the account disappeared or I used to be blocked by the account). I used to be counseled foe the work I used to be doing, I consider on my startup, and was requested to message elon on TG however urged Sign. They took my sign username after which messaged me from an account with the identify Elon Musk, username and cellphone quantity hidden on the sign. We messaged for 3 months they impersonated elon very effectively. They’d me fill out a doge kind and ship my passport picture. They’d me attempt to take out a mortgage and in addition create an ID.me account.

They began to additionally ship me cash from random cashapp accounts which they then had me convert the money to crypto and ship it to some addresses.

Bitcoin: [redacted]

Usdt tron: [redacted]

Doge: [redacted]