In a disturbing case of cyber deception, a retired pilot from Faridabad has been cheated of a staggering ₹72 lakh by fraudsters pretending to be Elon Musk, his mother Maye Musk, and assistant Anna Sherman. The scam unfolded over six months, using fake social media profiles and clever manipulation.

It all began when the victim was approached by two seemingly genuine accounts on X (formerly Twitter) named MayeMuskXOfficials and IamAnnaSherman. These profiles interacted with him regularly, building rapport. The pilot, an admirer of Elon Musk, was eventually promised a personal introduction to the Tesla CEO if he invested in Tesla and SpaceX shares.

Once the scammers gained his trust, they shifted their conversations to WhatsApp, claiming to connect him directly to Elon Musk. Under this false identity, they persuaded him to transfer ₹2.9 lakh initially. After each transaction, he was asked to send more, with promises of owning Tesla vehicles and high returns on his investments.

Over the next several months, the pilot made a total of 22 bank transfers, amounting to ₹72 lakh. The fraudsters also used Telegram and another fake X account named ElonMuskXAI to continue duping him.

Realizing he had been conned, the victim lodged an FIR. Authorities are now investigating.

Stay alert: Scammers are using celebrity names to target unsuspecting individuals. Always verify profiles and never transfer funds based on online promises.