this post was submitted on 29 Oct 2024
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Gizmodo filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request with the FTC to get complaints sent to the federal agency about crypto scams that pretend to be affiliated with Musk. We obtained 247 complaints, all filed between Feb. and Oct. of this year, and they’re filled with stories of people who believed they were watching ads for authentic crypto investments sanctioned by Musk on social media.

The ads sometimes featured the names of Musk’s various companies, like SpaceX, Tesla, and X, while other times they utilized Musk’s association with neo-fascist presidential candidate Donald Trump.

...

Some people in the complaints believed they were talking directly with Musk, a sadly common story that has popped up in news reports before. But they weren’t talking with Musk, of course. They were communicating with scammers engaging in what’s called pig butchering—the name for a type of fraud popularized in the mid-2010s where scammers extract as much money as possible through flattery and promises of tremendous profits if the victim just “invests” where they’re told.

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[–] Matthew_Gasoline@lemmy.world 5 points 3 weeks ago

"A fool and their money will soon be parted."

[–] Snapz@lemmy.world 5 points 3 weeks ago

The registered republican voter records are available for purchase - that list is such a gold mine of warm, qualified leads of the dumbest people. Cross reference above a certain threshold for affluent zip codes and split by age and you're now holding the keys to hate-filled grandma's pension.

Some people in the complaints believed they were talking directly with Musk, a sadly common story that has popped up in news reports before.

I remember when I thought I was talking directly to a celebrity online… when I was 13. It didn’t take long to realize how stupid that idea was. To be a grown adult and still think there’s a chance a celebrity is sending messages to random people is mind-boggling.

I cringe at the memories now, but at least I can take comfort in having learned about catfishing long before I had money to lose from it.

[–] NotMyOldRedditName@lemmy.world 4 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (1 children)

There are a lot of scams out there pretending to be Musk. If you want to watch a SpaceX launch, there's probably at least 1 scam youtube stream out there that looks legit with thousands of viewers and then turns into a scam before the launch.

After all of the send me crypto and i'll send double back.... I find it hilarious that he's now telling people to do things and he'll pay them... and it'll be even funnier when they realize they don't get it and were scammed into giving him their info for no money.

[–] echodot@feddit.uk 4 points 3 weeks ago

If it's on YouTube then it's a scam, spaceX don't have a YouTube channel, I assume for some stupid petty musk reason.

[–] dog_@lemmy.world 3 points 3 weeks ago
[–] DogPeePoo@lemm.ee 3 points 3 weeks ago

Dork Maggot.

[–] Reptorian@lemmy.zip 3 points 3 weeks ago

Oh no! Anyways, what are y'all cooking?

[–] Vaggumon@lemm.ee 3 points 3 weeks ago
[–] SulaymanF@lemmy.world 3 points 3 weeks ago

There previously were scams that invoked Bill Gates’ name, but I guess crypto made it much easier, especially since anyone can watch Musk gush on about crypto on YouTube, thus validating the ideas for the gullible.

[–] Buddahriffic@lemmy.world 2 points 3 weeks ago

They didn't realize that his "joke" on SNL was actually him being honest.

[–] h3mlocke@lemm.ee 2 points 3 weeks ago

Don't it just break your heart?

[–] Evotech@lemmy.world 1 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

I always thought people with crypto was at least a bit technical and security minded

[–] zephr_c@lemm.ee 2 points 3 weeks ago

They were at first, and if you find someone going on about Monero they still might be, but most of the crypto bubble was the dumber, less successful finance bros trying to go to the moon or whatever. They don't actually understand crypto, they just use buzzwords to try to sell it to people.

[–] inb4_FoundTheVegan@lemmy.world 1 points 3 weeks ago

But they weren’t talking with Musk, of course.

😆😆😆😆😆

[–] cupcakezealot@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 3 weeks ago

the first good thing elon has done for humanity.

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