In a shocking case of online identity theft and fraud, a Florida man has been arrested for allegedly posing as tech billionaire Elon Musk and scamming an elderly woman out of nearly $600,000. Jeffrey Arthur Moynihan Jr., 56, was taken into custody Tuesday evening and charged with grand theft. The victim’s husband revealed he initially had doubts about his wife’s interactions with the imposter, but only acted when he discovered she had sent a significant amount of money to the suspect under the pretext of investing in Musk’s companies.
According to reports from the Bradenton Police Department’s Elder Fraud Unit, Moynihan had been sending messages pretending to be Elon Musk since 2023. The 56-year-old businessman used Facebook as a platform to bond with friendship with the unsuspecting victim, a 74-year-old Texas resident. Detective Jim Curulla noted that the victim genuinely believed she had formed a friendship with Musk and communicated with him daily. Curulla told Fox 13, “She really thought she was friends with him. »
The elaborate plan orchestrated by Moynihan involved convincing the victim that she could get huge returns on an investment in Musk’s companies. Under this pretext, she transferred $250,000 to an account that she believed belonged to Elon Musk himself. However, financial records obtained by police revealed that these accounts actually belonged to Moynihan and his companies.
“Investment scams are unfortunately common in today’s digital age,” Curulla said. He advised people not to trust individuals they meet online and warned against sending money or engaging in commercial transactions over the Internet.
The total amount of money sent by the victim was an incredible $600,000, as her husband revealed during the investigation. It is unclear whether any funds have been recovered at this point. The Bradenton Police Department became aware of the situation when Texas authorities alerted them to suspicious money transfers to accounts in Bradenton.
As the investigation continues, Moynihan has maintained that his girlfriend was the mastermind behind the scheme and has denied any personal involvement. He is currently being held in the Manatee County Jail under a $250,000 bond. Meanwhile, Moynihan’s neighbors expressed shock and disbelief at his alleged actions, describing him as a hard-working individual.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers lurking online and highlights the importance of vigilance when interacting with strangers on social media platforms. Older adults, in particular, are vulnerable targets for scammers due to their limited knowledge of technology and tendency to trust others. Law enforcement agencies continue to work tirelessly to combat fraud and protect potential victims of such scams.
