Elon Musk’s Name Shapes Consumer Reviews—And Fuels Scams
When business leaders become public figures, their influence goes beyond their companies. Elon Musk is a prime example—his name appears in consumer reviews, linked to both trust and frustration.
Elon Musk’s name doesn’t just dominate media headlines—it shows up in consumer complaints and praise, too. From frustration over customer service provided by his companies to hope for a tech-driven fix, people mention him in online reviews on PissedConsumer.com, whether he’s involved or not.
Consumers Express Hopes and Frustrations
Many reviewers believe Musk has the power to fix systemic issues within companies. One dissatisfied customer wrote,
“I have a feeling Elon Musk will take care of this FAKE COMPANY.”
Another, upset about deceptive online booking practices, stated,
“I'm even going to personally pass along to Elon Musk - he’s cleaning up all the criminals.”
Others voice their frustrations by sarcastically linking bad experiences to Musk. After struggling to recover a lost user ID on X, a consumer commented,
“Great customer service, Elon.”
One more consumer, questioning a company’s ethics, asked,
“Is this an Elon Musk-run company? I have never encountered such sleaze.”
Consumer Complaints About Tesla and X
Musk’s businesses, particularly Tesla and X (formerly Twitter), also receive direct consumer feedback. Some complaints center on unfulfilled promises, such as vehicle trade-in values.
“I bought 2 Model Y’s, as per Elon’s promises of increasing the value… Only 2 years later, Tesla offered me $34,000 for one and $43,000 for the other,” a reviewer wrote.
Others highlight dissatisfaction with platform management on X, mentioning account suspensions and moderation issues. One reviewer shares:
“I upgraded to the premium, paid over $40, and then went to clean up my account because there was a bunch of fake Elon Musk and fake webcam girls following me. When I started unfollowing people, my account was suspended immediately.”
Scams and Misinformation Using Elon Musk’s Name
Scammers have also used Musk’s identity to mislead consumers. They impersonate Elon, promising fake investments or prizes. One reviewer described receiving GEOdb coins in their Coinbase wallet from someone claiming to be Musk, only to be asked for a fee to access the funds. Another noted,
“They say I won $100,000 and a Tesla car. But I knew something was wrong when they asked me to go buy a five-hundred-dollar Apple card.”
Scams using Musk’s name follow common patterns:
Fake investment opportunities using cryptocurrency.
Prize schemes promising Tesla cars or cash rewards.
Requests for upfront payments or gift cards to claim “winnings.”
The Role of Public Figures in Consumer Reviews
When business leaders step into public discourse, their influence extends beyond their companies. Musk’s visibility in politics and industry discussions has led consumers to reference him in ways that reflect trust, frustration, or skepticism. Whether they hope Musk will solve their issues or blame him for their experiences, the trend underscores how consumers link well-known figures to corporate responsibility.
Patterns in consumer sentiment expressed on review websites offer insight into brand reputation, trust, and emerging risks like scams. For public figures and business owners, consumer perception often extends beyond their companies, shaping brand reputation and trust.
How do you think public figures impact consumer trust? Let me know in the comments.
Jonna Clark-Simpson is the head of consumer research and marketing at the PissedConsumer.com review and reputation management platform. She analyzes consumer experiences and keeps her eye on the latest consumer alerts. Joanna assists media representatives in their investigations for news stories and writes articles with helpful tips for consumers and companies. Connect with Joanna on LinkedIn.