How Elon Musk 'Almost' Made Me Rich: A TikTok Tale
On Instagram or TikTok, it's common to receive follow requests from random people — even if your account is private. You might see requests from a few friends, someone you met years ago at a party or the occasional bot with zero posts and an irresistible offer. But how often do you get a request from one of the richest, most famous people on the planet?
Well, guess what? I got one on TikTok!
It wasn't just anyone—it was none other than Elon Musk himself!
I mean, look at that profile! The full name, the verified blue checkmark, and of course, the classic rocket emoji (classic Elon, right?). Sure, it looked like a fairly new account — 234 following, 0 followers — but hey, maybe this was Elon’s secret side hustle account, where he connects with regular people like me. Naturally, I accepted.
It’s not every day that you get to say, “Elon Musk follows me on TikTok.” My friends will never believe this!
I must admit, I was a little disappointed when I saw the follower count shot up to 2,468 as soon as I hit “Accept.” So much for being the first! I thought we had something special, Elon! But all that faded away the moment I got a message from him — the real Elon Musk was in my DMs!
This was it — my chance to talk to one of the brightest minds of our time, and he was personally reaching out to me. Why? Who cares! I was about to chat with the guy who’s going to Mars!
At first, the conversation was casual — just some basic pleasantries, like two regular humans do. The weather? Sure, Elon. Then I thought, "Let’s spice this up a bit." I casually mentioned that I hoped to afford a Tesla someday. Full disclosure: I don’t even have a driver’s license, so it’d be pretty useless for me. But hey, I wanted to see if we could transition into the topic of finances.
Boy, did Elon bite!
He was super excited and told me how he could help me increase my wealth. That’s right — Elon Musk, the guy who could buy entire countries, was going to help me make some extra cash. How generous of him!
That’s when things got … interesting. He suddenly asked if I had an app called Zangi. I had never heard of Zangi, but after a quick search, I figured, “Why not?” This was Elon Musk asking, after all.
We switched over to Zangi, and no sooner had I blinked than he was asking me to download yet another app: Skrill. This one rang a few more alarm bells. Skrill is a payment app that deals in cryptocurrencies and money transfers — two things you really don’t want to be messing with if you don’t know what you’re doing.
Then came the moment Elon sent me a screenshot of someone else’s success story. Apparently, "Hailey M." had followed the exact same steps and made over $13,000 in no time. Wow, what are the odds? It was almost like a well-rehearsed script! 😉😉
At this point, I’d had enough, so I decided to ignore him. Funny enough, 11 days later I got a message in Zangi from a different profile claiming to be Elon Musk. It was clear the scammer was still at it — he was the only one with my contact info from our previous conversation.
As for the original TikTok account that reached out to me? It ended up exactly where it belonged: banned. Unfortunately, that’s not the end of the story.
But not all the news is good. There are tens of fake Elon Musk accounts on TikTok, amassing millions of followers. While a few are parody or fan-based accounts, most are designed with far more malicious intent.
How to Spot and Avoid Social Media Scams
Scammers are constantly evolving their tactics, but there are several red flags to watch for that can help you avoid falling victim. Here are some essential tips to protect yourself:
- Beware of Unsolicited Offers: If someone, especially a public figure or celebrity, reaches out offering investment opportunities or promises of financial gain, it's almost always a scam. High-profile individuals do not offer private deals through social media.
- Examine the Profile Closely: Look for inconsistencies, such as a lack of followers, minimal posts or unusual usernames. Scammers often create fake profiles that appear legitimate at first glance but reveal their true nature upon closer inspection.
- Private Accounts and Limited Activity: Be wary of private accounts claiming to belong to public figures. Celebrities and business leaders typically have public profiles with verified and authentic engagement.
- Watch for Pressure Tactics: Scammers will often push for a quick response or urge you to act immediately. They may also ask you to switch platforms (like moving from TikTok to a lesser-known app) to avoid detection.
- Never Share Personal Information: Never provide your phone number, email or other personal information to accounts you're not sure about. Scammers often ask for this info to escalate the scam through more direct communication methods.
- Resist Temptation of the “Too Good to Be True” Offers: Whether it's a promise of fast wealth or unbelievable returns on investment, remember that if something seems too good to be true, it probably is.
- Use Tools to Verify Scams: Before engaging with any suspicious account or offer, use a tool like Norton Genie. This AI-powered solution can help identify if you are dealing with a scam, providing you with instant feedback and peace of mind.
- Use Security Software: Always ensure you have reputable security software installed on your devices. Tools like Norton, Avast and AVG offer real-time protection against malware and phishing attempts, which will protect you if you're directed to a malicious site.
- Report Suspicious Accounts: If you suspect an account is fake or engaging in fraudulent activity, report it to the platform. Social media companies rely on user reports to identify and remove harmful accounts.
Below is an example of how Norton Genie swiftly handles this type of scams just through sending a screenshot with a fraction of the conversation. Always remember: When in doubt, trust your instincts, use trusted tools and never let the allure of fast wealth cloud your judgment. Stay safe and vigilant!
