A man in Florida was arrested after orchestrating an elaborate scheme that involved impersonating billionaire Elon Musk to defraud a 74-year-old woman in Texas.
Jeffrey Moynihan Jr., 56 years old, a resident of Bradenton (population 55,698) in Manatee County, used Facebook to carry out a scheme that ultimately cost the victim a total of $600,000.
According to the Elder Fraud Unit of the Bradenton Police Department, Moynihan created a fake profile on Facebook impersonating Musk, known for being the owner of companies like Tesla and SpaceX.
For several months in 2023, he built a trust-based relationship with the victim, promising exorbitant investment returns in supposed businesses linked to the entrepreneur.
The woman, persuaded by the promises and the credibility of the profile, made initial transfers of $250,000 to bank accounts associated with Moynihan and his company, Jeff’s Painting and Pressure Washing, LLC.
As the scam progressed, the total losses reached $600,000, according to reports from the victim's husband.
Police intervention
On Wednesday, November 20, Moynihan was arrested at his residence in Bradenton. Local police led the operation, recovering evidence such as financial records and bank accounts used in the scheme.
Moynihan faces charges of grand theft, identity theft, and financial fraud.
This case highlights a growing issue that particularly affects older adults in the United States. According to the FBI, losses from online fraud reached $12.5 billion in 2023, with $652 million stemming from romance and confidence scams.
Elderly individuals, often facing isolation and reduced technological proficiency, are easy targets for this type of crime. The police emphasize the importance of education and caution in the digital environment, especially for the most vulnerable sectors.
The story of Jeffrey Moynihan highlights the need for stricter measures to combat online fraud and to protect citizens, particularly the elderly, from such devastating criminal tactics.
Cuban scammers targeting the elderly in the United States.
At the end of July, a Cuban resident in Miami was arrested after defrauding an elderly couple of thousands of dollars, in addition to being involved in multiple fraud incidents in Florida and North Carolina, according to police reports.
Agustín García Marsán, 38 years old, faces charges that include organized scheme to defraud, theft from the elderly, fraudulent use of identification information, communications fraud, and unlawful use of a communication device, according to Miami-Dade jail records.
According to a report from NBC Miami, on July 3, the victims, aged 87 and 82, received a call from a man who pretended to be their grandson and told them he had been in a car accident.
The so-called "grandparent scam" has become a common form of fraud in recent years in the U.S.
Those involved in this type of crime investigate elderly victims, their family connections, and other relevant information before proceeding with the scam.
Many Cubans living in Florida and other states have been arrested for defrauding elderly individuals.
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