How a Woman’s Online Romance with “Elon Musk” Led to a ₹16 Lakh Financial Nightmare
A Mumbai woman lost ₹16.34 lakh in a sophisticated romance scam after a man impersonating Elon Musk promised marriage and a U.S. life, extracting money via Amazon gift cards.
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The New Scam Trend: Using Celebrity Impersonation to Steal Hearts and Money
The digital landscape of finance and investment is constantly evolving, and so are the scams targeting emotionally vulnerable individuals. A recent case from Mumbai serves as a stark warning. A fraudster, impersonating none other than billionaire Elon Musk, allegedly built an elaborate online relationship with a 40-year-old woman, leading to the financial fraud of over ₹16.34 lakh (approx. $19,600). This is a sophisticated example of a Romance Scam where criminals groom victims over weeks before making their move.
The scam followed a familiar pattern: the perpetrator moved conversations from platform X (formerly Twitter) to the encrypted messaging app Signal, introduced a fake visa agent named “James,” and persistently requested payments for travel and visa formalities. The victim was instructed to purchase Amazon gift cards under the guise of security and confidentiality, a major red flag. Between October 2025 and January 2026, she complied, draining her savings based on promises of marriage and relocation to the United States, only to be ghosted when she could no longer pay.
Protecting Your Finances: The Crucial Takeaway For Savvy Americans
For a U.S. finance-focused audience, this case is less about the geographical location of the victim and more about universal cybersecurity principles. It underscores that legitimate entities—be they celebrities, visa agents, or government bodies—will never demand payment via gift cards or vouchers. These are untraceable currency for criminals. The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) consistently warns that romance and confidence fraud are among the most costly online crimes. This incident reinforces the importance of extreme caution when forming online relationships that involve financial discussions or requests. Always verify identities independently, be wary of avoiding video calls, and never share financial information or purchase gift cards for strangers, regardless of their purported identity or promises of a better life.
Short Summary: This Mumbai case highlights a global threat: sophisticated romance scams using celebrity impersonation to enable financial fraud. Criminals exploit emotions, shift to private platforms, and demand untraceable Amazon gift cards as payment. The key takeaway for financial safety is clear: legitimate individuals or agencies will never ask for payments via gift cards. Always verify digital identities independently and guard personal finances against these manipulative online tactics.
