A family is warning others after their loved one lost hundreds of thousands of dollars to a sophisticated “celebrity” scam. The victim became convinced she was in daily contact with billionaire Elon Musk via WhatsApp, believing she was investing in exclusive, private Tesla stock.
Scammers used professional-looking letters and fake signatures to manipulate the woman for years. They convinced her that she must pay additional fees—often thousands of dollars—to “unlock” her previous investments. Despite interventions from police, doctors, and banks, the victim remains under the scammers’ influence, believing the public secrecy is part of the deal.
To protect yourself and your family, the Federal Trade Commission highlights four major red flags:
- Impersonation: Scammers pretend to be famous figures, government officials, or well-known companies.
- The Hook: They claim there is a “prize” you’ve won or a “problem” you must fix.
- Urgency: They pressure you to act immediately so you don’t have time to second-guess the situation.
- Specific Payment Methods: They often demand payment via cryptocurrency, wire transfers, or gift cards, which are nearly impossible to trace.
If a deal seems too good to be true, or a high-profile person contacts you privately for money, it is almost certainly a scam. Always verify the source through official channels before sending any funds.