Elon Musk Impersonator Scammed A Businesswoman Into Selling Her House And Taking Out Loans To 'Refuel His Jet'

A 71-year-old woman from Goiás, Brazil, lost more than R$150,000 (around $25,900) after falling for a scam where someone pretended to be Elon Musk. The con artist tricked her into taking out loans and almost selling her property to pay him money by making her feel as though they were in a romantic relationship.

Fake Love, Real Losses

According to Brazilian news outlet G1, the fraudster, posing as Musk, spoke with the victim daily, sending her affectionate messages and promises of a luxurious future together. He persuaded her to take out two loans—one for $15,640 and another for $11,050—and even pushed her to sell her home, valued at over $85,000. She believed she was supporting his supposed business ventures and personal expenses, including refueling “his” private jet.

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The scammer also tried to get her to invest $170,000 in a made-up digital currency. He told her she would make $3.4 million in just five days. When she hesitated, he kept pushing her to send smaller amounts, even asking for $102. After she said she could only afford $85, he insisted she send the full amount.

Manipulation and Emotional Control

The con artist messed with her emotions in addition to stealing her money. He referred to her as “my love” and informed her that he had never been happier than he was after meeting her. He told her that people were observing them and that’s why their relationship had to be a secret. The scammer also attempted to distance her from her family, making her feel isolated and more dependent on him.

Perhaps the most disturbing part of it all is that he convinced her to cut her own hand as a “blood pact” to prove her love and trust. Later, she told the police she cut herself by accident while cooking, but investigators found messages where the scammer clearly told her to do it.

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How The Scam Was Uncovered

For months, no one knew what was happening. But her children got suspicious when she talked about selling her house for much less than it was worth. After checking her phone and seeing the messages, they promptly called the police to report the incident.

Authorities are now investigating the case and believe the scammer is part of an organized crime network. His real identity remains unknown, but police have already identified some of the bank accounts used in the scheme. They also discovered evidence that the scammer made himself look more convincing by using AI-generated voice messages and images and believe he is operating in another part of the country since similar scams have happened in other areas.

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The Scam's Impact and Investigation

They warn that many romance scams are carried out by well-organized criminal groups, where different people play roles like the scammer, the person handling the money, and the one who builds trust with the victim.

Sadly, scams like this are happening more often. In Brazil, four out of 10 women have been affected by online romance scams, as scammers use emotional manipulation to exploit their victims financially.

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