Cyber Crime

Fake Elon Musk romance scam leaves Mumbai woman ₹16 Lakh poorer

A 40-year-old woman from Mumbai has fallen victim to an elaborate online romance scam after a cyber fraudster impersonating billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk allegedly cheated her of ₹16.34 lakh. The accused reportedly gained the woman’s trust over months, promised marriage and relocation to the United States, and siphoned off money before abruptly cutting off contact.

The case came to light earlier this month after the woman, a resident of the Chembur–Tilak Nagar area, approached the cyber police. An FIR has been registered against two unidentified individuals on charges of online financial fraud and identity impersonation, police said.

Online Friendship Turned Emotional Manipulation

According to the complaint, the woman was previously employed in the accounts department of an insurance company and has been a homemaker since October 2025. Her interaction with the accused began in late September 2025 on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. The man introduced himself as Elon Musk and initially engaged her in casual conversation.

Over time, the exchanges became frequent and personal. The accused allegedly portrayed himself as lonely and interested in a serious relationship before proposing marriage. He assured the woman that he would take care of her visa, travel, and relocation to the United States.

The conversation was later shifted to the encrypted messaging platform Signal, where the accused introduced another individual claiming to be a visa agent named “James”. The woman was told that payments were required to process visa documentation and travel formalities.

Payments via Gift Cards Raise Red Flags

Trusting the promises, the woman was instructed to purchase Amazon gift cards and share the codes via email, citing security and confidentiality reasons. Between October 2, 2025, and January 7, 2026, she purchased gift cards worth ₹16.34 lakh in multiple instalments, using her savings.

The fraud unravelled when the accused demanded an additional ₹2 lakh in mid-January for flight tickets. After she refused, communication became sporadic, prompting suspicion. Following discussions with her family, the woman realised she had been deceived.

She lodged complaints with the National Cyber Crime Helpline 1930 on January 17 and 19. Based on transaction records and digital evidence, the East Region Cyber Police Station has launched an investigation, analysing IP addresses, email accounts and messaging platforms.

Cyber officials have warned that no legitimate individual or organisation seeks payments through gift cards and urged citizens to remain cautious of online relationships involving sudden financial demands, especially those linked to celebrity identities or promises of marriage and overseas travel.