In an unusual twist, a Bradenton man, 56-year-old Jeffrey Moynihan, Jr., was arrested this week for impersonating billionaire Elon Musk and scamming a 74-year-old woman out of at least $250,000. The fraud began in 2023 when Moynihan befriended the Texas woman on Facebook, using the false identity of “Elon Musk.” Over several months, the woman was encouraged by the fake Musk to invest in his businesses, with promises of a $55 million return.
The woman made a substantial transfer of $250,000 to a bank account linked to Moynihan and his business, Jeff’s Painting and Pressure Washing, LLC. However, her husband later reported that his wife had given “Elon Musk” a total of approximately $600,000. Moynihan was arrested at his Bradenton home on Wednesday night.
Bradenton police clarified that the real Elon Musk was not involved in the case, as he was engaged with his SpaceX launch. The investigation is still ongoing, and Bradenton’s elder fraud unit reported that nearly $3 million has been lost in similar scams in 2024 alone, targeting victims over 60 years old.
