Trystan Casey
Elon Musk has been in the news for various reasons, including a massive cyberattack on his social media platform, X, and allegations that his X messages are being monitored by the UK's homeland security. Threat actors have been taking advantage of this media frenzy by launching scam attacks using Musk as bait. One such scam involves the false claim that Musk invented a gadget that can save 90% of your electricity bill just by plugging it in. These scams have spread across social media, search engines, and even spoofed news sites, with fake articles designed to mimic legitimate news outlets. The devices are often marketed as revolutionary and secretly developed but banned or silenced by greedy energy companies. However, there is no verifiable lab testing, peer-reviewed data, or electrical engineering explanation for how these devices work, and they have been debunked by multiple reputable sources.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Promise | Slash electricity bill by 90% |
| Product names | Stop Watt, Miracle Watt, Real Watt, Pro Power Save, ESaver Watt, eSaver Energy Saver, Watt Saver, Powersave, Pro Power Save, Power Factor Correction, Noise Suppression |
| Spread | Social media, search engines, spoofed news sites, SMS messages, email newsletters |
| Fake articles | CNN, Fox News, Bloomberg, TechCrunch |
| Fake customer service | Non-working customer service numbers, bouncing emails, leading to empty buildings or foreign warehouses |
| Ads | Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, Google, Reddit |
| Scam target | Older people |
| Intention | Collecting credit card information to start charging fraudulent charges |
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What You'll Learn
How the scam works
The scam works by exploiting people's desire to save money on their electricity bills and their trust in Elon Musk's reputation as a tech entrepreneur. It is a typical bait scheme where people are lured in by the promise of a revolutionary energy-saving device that will drastically reduce their electricity bills. The device is supposedly endorsed and backed by Elon Musk and Tesla.
The scam is spread through online ads on social media platforms such as Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, and Google, as well as email newsletters. These ads often feature fake interviews or AI voiceovers to add credibility. They lead to pages that mimic legitimate news outlets, such as CNN, Fox News, Bloomberg, and TechCrunch, with sensational headlines. The articles claim that Musk or Tesla secretly developed this product, but it was "banned" or "silenced" by greedy energy companies.
The product websites feature fake testimonials with smiling customer photos and before-and-after power bills, which are photoshopped and recycled across different sites. The contact information provided is often fake, with non-working customer service numbers, bouncing emails, and return addresses leading to empty buildings.
The devices themselves are cheaply made with basic components and have no legitimate energy-saving capabilities. They may provide minor power factor correction, but this does not reduce total energy consumption. Electrical engineering experts have debunked the devices' claims of stabilizing voltage, curbing waste, and providing surge protection.
In some cases, these scams are used to collect credit card information for fraudulent charges. They take advantage of people's trust in Elon Musk and his association with innovative technology to trick them into purchasing worthless gadgets.
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Fake reviews and articles
Scams involving fake endorsements from Elon Musk are widespread and have been propagated through social media, search engines, and spoofed news sites. These scams often involve fake reviews and articles that make sensational claims about a revolutionary energy-saving device that can slash electricity bills by up to 90%. The reviews are fabricated, using stock photos or AI-generated faces with names like "Dorothy Smith" and "James Allen", which are frequently recycled across different product sites. Even the before-and-after power bills shown in ads are manipulated, with inconsistent dates, suspicious fonts, and impossible numbers.
The scam articles often mimic reputable news outlets such as CNN, Fox News, Bloomberg, and TechCrunch, but they are filled with typos, broken links, and sensational headlines. These articles typically claim that Elon Musk or Tesla secretly developed an energy-saving product that was then “banned” or “silenced” by greedy energy companies. The product websites also feature fake testimonials and reviews, creating a false sense of credibility.
Additionally, there are fake reviews on e-commerce platforms like Amazon and eBay, where scammers sell devices with names like "Stop Watt", "Miracle Watt", "Real Watt", "Pro Power Save", "eSaver Watt", and "Watt Saver". These devices are marketed as reducing electricity consumption and protecting electronics, but they are cheaply constructed from low-quality parts and pose potential shock and fire hazards.
It is important to be vigilant and verify any claims directly with trusted sources, such as energy providers or reputable review websites. Remember, if an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is.
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Safety hazards
The "Elon Musk electricity-saving device" is a scam. It is a cheaply made, low-quality product that poses potential shock and fire hazards. Buckinghamshire and Surrey Trading Standards, an English local government product safety team, tested four such devices and found that they were constructed from low-quality parts, which could cause shock and fire hazards. The UK charity Electrical Safety First also tested four such devices and found them to be poorly manufactured fire hazards. One device even threatened to damage its socket.
These devices are not just useless; they are dangerous. They are made from cheap, basic components with no legitimate energy-saving capabilities. The onboard capacitor may supply minor power factor correction, but this does not lower total energy draw. The LED light is merely an illusion that the device is "working" when plugged in. Across the board, electrical engineering experts have debunked the efficiency claims. These gadgets cannot actively "stabilize" voltage, curb waste from other electronics, or deliver meaningful surge protection as advertised.
The scam is spread via social media, search engines, and spoofed news sites. The product websites feature glowing testimonials with photos of smiling customers who supposedly saved hundreds of dollars. These reviews are entirely fabricated, often using stock photos or AI-generated faces. Even the before-and-after power bills shown in ads are photoshopped, with inconsistent dates, suspicious fonts, and impossible numbers. To make the scam seem credible, fake articles are created on websites designed to mimic CNN, Fox News, Bloomberg, and TechCrunch. These articles are loaded with typos, broken links, and sensational headlines like "Elon Musk Destroys Utility Companies With New Invention."
Scam websites often hide or fake their contact information. The "customer service" numbers don’t work, emails bounce back, and return addresses lead to empty buildings or foreign warehouses. The scam begins with an eye-catching promise: a revolutionary energy-saving device that slashes your monthly utility bills, allegedly backed by tech mogul Elon Musk. However, there is no verifiable lab testing, no peer-reviewed data, and no electrical engineering explanation for how these devices supposedly work. Multiple reputable sources, including Consumer Reports and the Better Business Bureau, have debunked these claims.
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Similar scams
In addition to fake celebrity endorsements, these scams employ other deceptive tactics. They use aggressive SEO strategies to ensure their websites appear in search results related to the celebrity's name and energy-saving topics. The scam websites also feature fake testimonials, with photos of smiling customers and before-and-after power bills that are photoshopped. To further lend credibility to the scam, fake articles are created on websites designed to mimic reputable news outlets, with sensational headlines attributing the invention of the device to the celebrity.
Some of the devices associated with these scams include Pro Power Save, eSaver Energy Saver, Miracle Watt, Watt Saver, Powersave, Stop Watt, Real Watt, and ESaver Watt. These devices are widely available for purchase on popular online shopping platforms, making it easier for unsuspecting consumers to fall victim to the scam.
It is important for consumers to be vigilant and skeptical of such claims. Legitimate energy-saving solutions are available through reputable sources, but they do not involve miracle devices or exaggerated claims of savings.
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How to spot the scam
It is important to be vigilant and cautious when it comes to scams, especially those that leverage the names and reputations of celebrities and well-known figures, such as Elon Musk, to lend credibility to their fraudulent schemes. Here are some ways to spot and avoid falling victim to the "Elon Musk Electric Saver" scam:
Be Wary of Outlandish Claims: Scams often prey on people's desires for quick and easy solutions to their problems. In the case of the "Elon Musk Electric Saver," the promise of slashing your electricity bill by up to 90% just by plugging in a small device is simply too good to be true. Remember that if a claim seems overly extravagant or unrealistic, it is likely a scam.
Check for Verifiable Evidence: Genuine products and inventions are typically backed by verifiable lab testing, peer-reviewed data, and scientific explanations. In the case of the "Elon Musk Electric Saver," there is a notable absence of any legitimate electrical engineering explanation for how these devices function. Always look for independent reviews and analyses from reputable sources before believing bold claims.
Beware of Fake Testimonials: Scam websites often feature glowing customer testimonials with smiling photos to add credibility to their claims. However, these reviews are often entirely fabricated. Be cautious if you see recycled names like "Dorothy Smith" or "James Allen" across different product sites, as these are common signs of fake testimonials. Even before-and-after power bills shown in ads may be photoshopped, with inconsistent dates, suspicious fonts, and impossible numbers.
Look Out for Spoofed News Sites: Scammers create fake articles on websites designed to mimic reputable news outlets like CNN, Fox News, Bloomberg, and TechCrunch. These articles often contain sensational headlines, such as "Elon Musk Destroys Utility Companies With New Invention." However, they are filled with typos, broken links, and unreliable information. Always verify the authenticity of the website and the information presented before believing any claims.
Be Cautious of Aggressive SEO Tactics: Scam pages often use aggressive SEO tactics to ensure their websites appear at the top of search results when people search for terms related to the scam, such as "Elon Musk electricity device." Be cautious when clicking on these top search results, as they may not always be legitimate.
Verify Contact Information: Scam websites often hide or fake their contact information. Non-working customer service numbers, unresponsive email addresses, and return addresses that lead to empty buildings or foreign warehouses are all red flags. Legitimate businesses will provide accurate and responsive contact information.
Remember, if something seems suspicious or too good to be true, it's always best to trust your instincts and avoid providing any personal or financial information. Stay vigilant and help protect yourself and others from falling victim to scams.
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Frequently asked questions
The Elon Musk Electric Saver is a scam that claims to be a revolutionary energy-saving device that slashes your monthly utility bills.
The scam begins with an eye-catching promise of a device that can save up to 90% on electricity bills. The device is supposedly backed by Elon Musk and Tesla. Ads for the device lead to fake articles on spoofed news sites that claim the product was secretly developed but was banned or silenced by greedy energy companies.
There is no verifiable lab testing, peer-reviewed data, or electrical engineering explanation for how these devices work. The product websites feature fake testimonials and reviews, and before-and-after power bills are often photoshopped. Scam websites often hide or fake their contact information. The devices themselves contain only cheap, basic components with no legitimate energy-saving capabilities.
Do not click on any links or provide any personal or financial information. Verify any energy-saving claims directly with your energy provider and report suspicious messages to your phone carrier and law enforcement.
