In a meticulously planned cyber fraud, a retired teacher from Chakeri, Kanpur, was duped of ₹1.57 crore by cyber criminals who posed as social media and tech giants. The fraudsters initially impersonated Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and later claimed association with American singer Josh Turner and Tesla owner Elon Musk, manipulating the victim into depositing large sums into multiple accounts over a period of 13 months. The Cyber Crime Police have since frozen ₹30.42 lakh following the complaint.
How Mark Zuckerberg Impersonator Targeted Retired Teacher
The victim, Allyson Weems, a retired teacher from Methodist High School, resides in Anandnagar, Chakeri. She reported that the fraud began when she was contacted through social media by a person claiming to be Mark Zuckerberg. The alleged impostor engaged her in conversation, gaining her trust by promising to help her set up a school business in the city.
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13-Month Scam: Fake Elon Musk & Josh Turner Lure Victim for ₹1.57 Crore
From January 25, 2025, to February 20, 2026, the fraudsters managed to divert money from her personal savings, retirement funds, and mutual fund investments into various bank accounts under the pretext of processing fees, investment charges, and other administrative costs. After securing her trust, additional impostors contacted her via Facebook and WhatsApp, this time claiming to be Josh Turner and an associate of Elon Musk. They offered assurances of profitable school ventures and high-paying job opportunities, prompting her to transfer further funds.
Escalation with ‘Miracle Givers’ and Fake Trading Account Deception
Subsequently, an individual identified as “Miracle Givers” contacted her, claiming that her money had been shipped in packages via FedEx. She was told to pay additional charges including shipping, customs, vehicle repair, package release, and operational compliance fees. As the victim became suspicious, she ceased contact with “Miracle Givers.”
Shortly thereafter, she was contacted by a person claiming to be an advocate, Ashok Suresh, from the “Lead India” office (Delhi), through an account titled “Cyber Reporting Assistance Online Scam Reporting Centre India.” He told her that her funds had been invested with a company called Wisdom Capital and opened a trading account in her name under the username AllysonW-000817. The account balance was shown as ₹2,23,15,520 after supposed tax deductions. To access the funds, she was asked to pay further amounts for taxes, verification fees, stamp duty, and rebalancing charges. The culprits promised that the full sum would be available by February 20, 2026, along with an interest of ₹18.86 a month.
Police Action: ₹30.42 Lakh Frozen, Ongoing Probe into Celebrity Impersonation Scam
Believing these assurances, the victim deposited substantial amounts over time. After the last transaction, the fraudsters ceased all communication. The victim estimated that she had transferred ₹1.57 crore from her retirement fund, lifelong savings, and mutual fund investments.
The retired teacher finally filed a complaint with the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal on February 27, 2027. Following this, cyber authorities froze ₹30.42 lakh from the accounts linked to the fraudulent transactions.
Authorities described the fraud as highly planned, exploiting the victim’s trust through multiple layers of deception. The police have registered a case based on the teacher’s complaint, and the investigation is ongoing. Officials continue to trace the remaining funds and identify all members of the criminal network involved in this prolonged scam.
“Such cases show that cyber criminals are increasingly using impersonation of high-profile personalities to exploit unsuspecting victims. Awareness and verification of contacts are key to prevention,” said Shrawan Kumar Singh, DCP Crime.
The Cyber Cell has urged citizens to verify any investment or business proposal received online and avoid transferring money to unverified accounts, particularly when unsolicited assistance is promised by alleged high-profile figures.
Authorities stress that even small initial amounts or procedural fees in such schemes are often a prelude to much larger financial losses, and vigilance is essential to prevent prolonged exploitation.
About the author – Ayesha Aayat is a law student and contributor covering cybercrime, online frauds, and digital safety concerns. Her writing aims to raise awareness about evolving cyber threats and legal responses.
