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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[–] [email protected] 19 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Sure, the scams like pig butchering look dumb from the outside, but never think shit like this can't happen to you. There's TONs of ways scammers can trick you, but usually they'll seek out vulnerable people. Sure the gullible are vulnerable, but just because you're not vulnerable right now, doesn't mean you won't be at some point in the future. Desperation can make scholars into fools.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Can agree. I used to think I was savvy enough to avoid getting scammed, until I followed a link that a person who was pretending to be a mechanic gave me to purchase parts for my car. I ended up spending $1300 on parts that didn't exist.

Long story short, I eventually got my money back after arguing with my bank's fraud department for several months. I wish I could afford a lawyer so I could sue this guy for pain and suffering + the thousands I spent in Uber/Lyft/Waymo getting to work while I didn't have a car.

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[–] [email protected] 34 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I mean it makes sense to target these people. If you're stupid enough to believe the shit Musk or Trump spout, you're also stupid enough to not see these very obvious scams.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 day ago

there was a story here recently about a lot of scamming happening on truth social. so yeah.

[–] [email protected] 22 points 1 day ago (3 children)

Maybe a hot take, but those currently into crypto and Musk aren't that bright.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 day ago (1 children)

That is the coldest take I've ever heard.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Yep - It was found in the frozen food section

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 day ago

Tossed it in the microwave and here we are

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[–] [email protected] 20 points 1 day ago

When these scams first started featuring Musk, it was clear that he was a common lead because of his wealth. Pretty much just "Get rich quick, and be rich like [insert rich guy here]". I've seen scams in the past with Buffet, Gates, or Bezos on it before, because the kind of people who fall for a get-rich-quick scam are the kinds of people who idolize wealth.

But now it seems that Musk fans are a uniquely exploitable group. They are easily fooled by wild claims, and quickly subscribe to magical thinking. At this point, they're just low-hanging fruit.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 day ago

Who would think that Musk fans are gullible people susceptible to scams?

[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 day ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 day ago

SKISSUE says chat lol

[–] [email protected] 26 points 1 day ago (1 children)

This is pretty sad.

I have a number of elderly relatives. The one thing I keep telling them is if they ever get approached, to contact their kids, or check with another family member before responding. So far, there haven't been any problems.

But I heard an in-law's parents in a different state lost a big chunk of money to one of these scams and may now lose their home.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 day ago

My elderly dad called me a few years ago to let me know that we'd have to change up all the security stuff for our family phone plan because he gotten scammed. He said he got a call from someone claiming to be a representative of the phone company who said they'd like to lower our monthly bill. I stopped him and said "well, that should have been your first clue... when in the last decade of us using them has that ever happened? When was the last time our bill went down instead of up?"

[–] [email protected] 238 points 2 days ago (2 children)
[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I want a water bear as a pet so bad but the fact that they're microscopic might be an issue

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 day ago (1 children)

the fact that they're microscopic might be an issue

Why? All that means is you may already have one without knowing it.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 day ago

YOU'RE SO RIGHT OH MY GOD

[–] [email protected] 63 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Who taught this Tardigrade to play the Cello? Its all wrong. He's not going to get any notes out of it playing it under the bridge.

[–] [email protected] 39 points 2 days ago

He's doing the best he can, show a little respect.

[–] [email protected] 181 points 2 days ago (2 children)

There's a simple explanation for this. Elon Musk fans are fucking idiots.

[–] [email protected] 120 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

They might also just be the target demographic for pig butchering.

  • Middle Class
  • Over 40
  • Conservative Male (lonely)
  • Greedy / Self-serving

But yeah there is definitely correlation with low cognitive ability.

[–] [email protected] 27 points 2 days ago (3 children)

You also have to be the sort of person that genuinely believes you can get something for nothing. You have to have a relatively low IQ for that to be the case.

You also have to have a relatively low IQ to continue to listen to anything Musk says, so the group are Self-Selecting.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 day ago

You need to believe that you can get ahead in society by being smarter than the competition, instead of just being luckier.

They are naive if anything.

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[–] [email protected] 112 points 2 days ago

while other times they utilized Musk’s association with neo-fascist presidential candidate Donald Trump.

I love that they called him what he is. I wish more in media would.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 day 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.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 day ago

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.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 day ago

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

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day 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.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 day 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.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 day ago

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

[–] [email protected] 51 points 2 days ago

Tech bros are tech broing?!

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 day 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.

[–] [email protected] 17 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I'm so glad they're losing it to these scams instead of to leon.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 day ago

The people that end up cashing in from those scams are the same people that end up supporting Trump & Musk.

[–] [email protected] 25 points 2 days ago (4 children)

Can we take NASA contract away from SpaceX? Let's bring it back in house. Space should not be for profit .

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[–] [email protected] 17 points 2 days ago

I feel like they don’t even need to be crypto schemes affiliated with Musk for that Venn diagram to work

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 day ago

Don't it just break your heart?

[–] [email protected] 31 points 2 days ago (4 children)

If only they had a safe place to put their money that was protected by law and insured against losses.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 day ago

Protected‽ Then their exes can get it for child support!

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 day ago
[–] [email protected] 25 points 2 days ago (5 children)

I saw one of these and it took me a second to realize it was a scam. I'm a spaceflight geek and as much as a tool as Musk is, there's heavy overlap in spaceflight and SpaceX.

On Youtube there was a purported "live launch update" livestream. I was confused because I knew there were no launches scheduled that day of any kind much less SpaceX. What I saw was Musk on a stage outdoors apparently talking about a new SpaceX crypto product and the voice, which sounded exactly like Musk's talked about giving away free crypto the only thing you had to do was buy it, then share you wallet info and Musk would double it.

Besides this smelling very suspect, I realized that there were never close shots when musk was talking, so you couldn't see the lips match the words being said audibly and I knew it was a scam.

I can absolutely see how the greedy would get scammed by this.

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 day ago

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

[–] [email protected] 31 points 2 days ago (5 children)

Schadenfreude popcorn 🍿 time.

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[–] [email protected] 20 points 2 days ago

Idiots who fall for Elon Musks genius persona and think they are smart also fall for crypto scams? Shocking I tell you, shocking

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