{"id":360253,"date":"2026-09-11T03:56:23","date_gmt":"2026-09-11T08:56:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.etrafficlane.com\/60dollarmiracle\/he-thought-elon-musk-was-sending-him-a-tesla-and-3-million-now-he-faces-eviction"},"modified":"2026-09-11T03:56:27","modified_gmt":"2026-09-11T08:56:27","slug":"he-thought-elon-musk-was-sending-him-a-tesla-and-3-million-now-he-faces-eviction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.etrafficlane.com\/60dollarmiracle\/he-thought-elon-musk-was-sending-him-a-tesla-and-3-million-now-he-faces-eviction","title":{"rendered":"He Thought Elon Musk Was Sending Him a Tesla and $3 Million. Now He Faces Eviction"},"content":{"rendered":"

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A Victoria, British Columbia, man who believed Elon Musk was sending him a Tesla and millions of dollars instead spent nearly two years buying Apple gift cards for an impersonator and now faces eviction.<\/p>\n

Fodie Karim, 61, encountered the account on TikTok in 2024 while recovering from cancer surgery and chemotherapy. He told the person about his illness and his longtime goal of completing a six-bedroom house for extended family members in Sierra Leone.<\/p>\n

The impersonator claimed a new Tesla and $3 million in cash were being sent to Karim. To keep a supposed shipment tracker active, he was repeatedly instructed to buy Apple gift cards and send the card information.<\/p>\n

Karim is now about C$3,600 behind on rent at View Towers and has received an eviction notice from his landlord, Westsea Construction Ltd., according to Times Colonist<\/a> reporting republished by Castanet.<\/p>\n

Gift Cards Were Supposed to Keep the Shipment Moving<\/h2>\n
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Victoria man faces eviction after falling for \u2018Elon Musk\u2019 scam (BC) https:\/\/t.co\/Gb9S6MVhAU<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Castanet (@CastanetNews) September 10, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

During his recovery, Karim was spending much of his time in his one-bedroom apartment. The account began by asking about his life. His family home in Sierra Leone was already close to completion before his cancer diagnosis interrupted those plans.<\/p>\n

The account sent Karim images of a car and money, along with supposed tracking information, in September 2024. He sent the first Apple gift card through WhatsApp that fall. More demands followed, each presented as necessary to keep the tracking number active.<\/p>\n

The impersonator also used fabricated paperwork. Emily Rogers, director of operations at Together Against Poverty Society, described mock-ups of identification purportedly belonging to Musk and a supposed Tesla \u201ccertificate of possession\u201d for Karim. She said he was unfamiliar with the digital technology used to create the images.<\/p>\n

The Promised $3 Million Became $5 Million<\/h2>\n

At one point, Karim was told the Tesla had reached the Canada-U.S. border but could not be released without a $20,000 payment. He questioned why a supposed government-connected process was being handled through WhatsApp.<\/p>\n

The story then changed: the money he was promised increased from $3 million to $5 million. More gift cards were still demanded before he could receive it.<\/p>\n

Karim retired in the winter of 2025 after complications from his illness prevented him from returning to full-time work. He told the newspaper he focused on the promised money because he hoped receiving it would help him get ahead financially.<\/p>\n

By the time he recognized the fraud, nearly all of his approximately C$1,300 monthly pension was going toward Apple gift cards. He had not added up the payments made over almost two years, but described losing a substantial amount.<\/p>\n

He Sent the Scammer His Eviction Notice<\/h2>\n

Together Against Poverty Society has been advocating for Karim and communicating with his landlord. Rogers told the newspaper she was optimistic he could remain in his apartment if the outstanding rent was paid. Karim said finding another home he could afford on his pension and disability benefits would be difficult.<\/p>\n

With the society\u2019s help, Karim reported the fraud to Victoria police. Rogers said the use of encrypted messaging platforms and gift-card payments would make the case difficult to solve.<\/p>\n

Karim had sent the impersonator a photograph of his eviction notice, but the messages continued. Another arrived while he was speaking with the newspaper: \u201cI don\u2019t know why you don\u2019t want to answer me.\u201d The account was still presenting itself as Musk.<\/p>\n

Karim said it was difficult to come forward publicly, but he wanted to prevent others from falling victim to a similar scam. Describing how the contact developed, he said: \u201cStep by step, they got me wrapped up.\u201d<\/p>\n

Police Warn That Payment Demands May Come Later<\/h2>\n

Victoria Police Sgt. Brent Keleher, who heads the department\u2019s economic crimes unit, told the newspaper that scammers often impersonate famous people and organizations. He warned that a request for money may not appear immediately. A clearing fee, tax or activation charge can be introduced later in the conversation.<\/p>\n

Keleher urged people to question whether the request makes sense. In Karim\u2019s case, that meant asking why someone supposedly offering a vehicle and millions of dollars would need Apple gift cards to release the gift. He also warned about suspicious payment requests arriving through social media and messaging apps such as WhatsApp and Telegram.<\/p>\n

What to Do if Someone Demands Gift Cards<\/h2>\n