Chicago man loses $10,000 to cryptocurrency scam involving Elon Musk impersonation via AI voice memos and fake investment site

Summary

A Chicago-area man named Richard Lyons lost $10,000 in a cryptocurrency scam after being impersonated by someone posing as Elon Musk. The scammer used fake social media messages, AI-generated voice memos, and a fake investment website to convince Lyons to send cryptocurrency. The fraudster sent Lyons a fake picture of a Cybertruck and claimed he would receive one if the investment was successful. After several months, Lyons realized the investment was fake and could not recover his money. The FBI reported that cryptocurrency scams, including those involving celebrity impersonation, cost victims over $9 billion in 2024. Lyons said the loss has left him in financial hardship, struggling to pay bills and other expenses.