Tatyana, a resident of Moscow, lost about 250 thousand rubles after falling for a scammer posing as a representative of Elon Musk, linked to SpaceX and Tesla. The incident underscores how quickly deception can spread online and how financial trust can be exploited through fake promises.
While browsing the web, the woman encountered material claiming that Musk was giving money to the poor. She followed a suspicious link and entered her mobile number, which opened a cascade of calls and prompts to share more sensitive information.
Initial outreach involved a young woman who first contacted her, followed by others who urged her to invest small sums, starting with 10 thousand rubles and then 5 thousand rubles, suggesting that larger returns would follow.
As the operators rotated, Tatyana found herself repeatedly downloading new money-transfer apps onto her smartphone, each one presented as a quick way to grow the initial amount. Before long, she was persuaded to take out a loan of 198 thousand rubles to facilitate these transfers.
The victim’s brother reportedly warned her that the supposed representatives were scammers, but the pressure and urgency created by the contact left little time for proper scrutiny. Police are examining the case, including whether the victim interacted with the fraudulent site Money from Mask and how information about her payments was processed.
Experts say this case reflects a broader tactic used by fraudsters who borrow the names and images of well-known figures to bolster credibility and lure unsuspecting users into cryptocurrency and money-transfer scams. Attribution: SpaceX and Tesla brand misrepresentations are a common thread in similar schemes reported by various media outlets.
In recent months, consumer protection agencies and law enforcement agencies in North America have emphasized the importance of verifying any claims about high-yield offers tied to famous personalities. They advise people to pause before sharing personal details or authorizing transfers, and to consult trusted financial resources when unsure about an online request for money. Attribution: Safety advisories from recognized consumer protection organizations highlight the risks of celebrity-endorsed cryptocurrency scams.