A Florida man is behind bars after allegedly impersonating Elon Musk online to scam a 74-year-old woman out of more than $250,000.
Jeffrey Moynihan Jr., 56, befriended the victim on Facebook in 2023 and promised her a $55 million return on investment if she backed his business ventures, Fox 4 reported.
Moynihan’s deceitful scheme targeted the elderly woman over several months, building trust through regular online communication where he posed as Musk. The victim, convinced she was investing in Musk’s businesses, transferred significant amounts of money to accounts linked to Moynihan’s own company, Jeff’s Painting and Pressure Washing LLC.
According to police, the victim’s husband reported the scam after learning she had been defrauded of $600,000. Financial records show at least $250,000 of this sum was transferred to Moynihan’s accounts, leading to his arrest.
Moynihan initially denied any wrongdoing, claiming he was also a victim of a scam orchestrated by his online girlfriend. However, investigators have linked him to the fraudulent transactions, including the large sum that was funneled through his personal accounts.
The authorities were tipped off by police in Frisco, Texas, where the victim resides. Moynihan’s arrest in Bradenton follows an ongoing investigation into the full extent of the scam.
Moynihan faces grand theft charges, while the real Elon Musk remains uninvolved in the investigation. Police continue to track the remainder of the victim’s stolen funds.