A pensioner from Florida has revealed how an elaborate online scam, which used a convincing AI-generated deepfake of billionaire Elon Musk, led him to lose his life savings of $45,000 – and potentially his marriage.
The Costly Deepfake Deception
George Hendricks, a 69-year-old from Leesburg near Orlando, told local news outlet ClickOrlando that he was targeted after commenting on a post in a Facebook group that advertised car giveaways. Shortly after, he received a message congratulating him on winning a new car and $100,000.
The scam escalated when the fraudsters contacted Hendricks on WhatsApp, sending a video message that appeared to feature Tesla and SpaceX founder Elon Musk. The digitally altered clip, known as a deepfake, was sophisticated enough to convince Hendricks it was genuine.
In the video, the AI-generated Musk said, "My good friend Mr. George, I just want you to listen to what I’m telling you. I promise that you’re going to receive your package."
How The Scam Unfolded
The criminals first instructed Hendricks to pay $7,500 in cash for shipping costs for his supposed prize car. They then persuaded him to make a $10,000 investment, promising a massive $120,000 return.
Despite expressing concerns to the scammers, Hendricks was reassured by a second deepfake video. In it, the fake Musk implored, “I’d never take advantage of you or your funds. Trust me with your whole heart. God knows I have no bad intentions.”
Over a series of exchanges, Hendricks drained his accounts, sending the criminals nearly $37,000 on top of the initial payments, bringing the total loss to $45,000.
Personal and Financial Fallout
The financial devastation has had severe personal consequences. Hendricks disclosed that his wife now "wants to get a divorce" over the incident. "I know it’s going on all the time, you just never think it’s going to be you," he told reporters.
This case is not isolated. Security experts warn that fraudsters are increasingly exploiting the credibility of high-profile figures like Elon Musk to lend legitimacy to their schemes. The AARP Fraud Watch Network has reported a rise in similar scams, often targeting retirees with fake cryptocurrency investment opportunities backed by deepfake videos.
"Scammers know that he is well-known and the richest person in the world, so they use the allure of his success to try and manipulate you with FOMO, the fear of missing out," said Amy Nofziger, director of victim support for the AARP.
A Growing Threat from Advancing Technology
Cybersecurity professionals emphasise that the threat is evolving rapidly. Kieran Human, a security lead at ThreatLocker, warned that as AI technology improves, these deepfake videos will become even more realistic and harder to detect.
"It’s just going to be a matter of time until people do start adding that breathing to the videos, and people are just going to have to be more cautious," he told ClickOrlando. The incident, reported on Monday 15 December 2025, serves as a stark reminder for the public to exercise extreme scepticism towards unsolicited online offers, no matter how convincing the accompanying evidence may appear.
