Bradenton man arrested after posing as Elon Musk to steal $250K from woman, police say
Bradenton police arrested a local man accused of defrauding a Texas woman of $250,000 in a scheme where he posed as the richest man in the world.
Officers took Jeffrey Arthur Moynihan Jr., 56, a Bradenton resident and owner of a local pressure washing business, into custody Tuesday night at his home after police say he posed as billionaire Elon Musk on Facebook, convincing a 74-year-old woman to invest in Musk’s businesses with promises of a $55 million return.
According to investigators, Moynihan’s deception began in 2023 when they said the woman friended “Elon Musk” on Facebook. Over several months, the two exchanged messages and Moynihan encouraged the woman to “invest in Musk’s businesses,” promising a multimillion-dollar return, investigators say.
During that time, police say the woman transferred $250,000 to Moynihan’s bank accounts. However, the woman’s husband told investigators she had sent around $600,000 in total.
The Bradenton Police Police Department’s Elder Fraud Unit arrested Moynihan, who is facing grand theft charges, according to a news release. Police say the real Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has no involvement in this case.
BPD’s Elder Fraud Unit reports that, so far this year, it has investigated cases involving victims aged 60 and older resulting in nearly $3 million in losses.
To learn more about protecting yourself and loved ones from scams, visit the BPD’s Elder Fraud Unit online at BradentonPD.com/elder-fraud-unit.
