A Florida conman who impersonated billionaire Elon Musk stole $600,000 from an elderly woman, promising her millions in return, according to police reports.
Jeffrey Moynihan, 55, posed as the world’s richest man and befriended a 74-year-old woman from Texas through Facebook. After exchanging messages for several months in 2023, he convinced her to invest $600,000 into what he claimed were Elon Musk’s business ventures, promising a return of $56 million.
The fraudster was arrested shirtless at his home in Bradenton last year after the woman’s husband reported the crime to local authorities.
Last week, Moynihan pleaded no contest to fraud charges. He was sentenced to one year in jail followed by nearly 30 years of probation, WWSB reported.
Florida’s Senior Friendship Centers highlighted this case as a classic example of elder fraud. A spokesperson explained, “A lot of times, people that are older may not have such a large social group. If you’re home alone for a day or two and someone calls you or sends a very friendly email, it can really trick people.”
The center is actively working to raise awareness and warn older adults about similar scams targeting vulnerable individuals.
https://nypost.com/2025/10/20/us-news/florida-man-posing-as-elon-musk-stole-600k-from-elderly-woman/
