YouTube is being criticised for failing to tackle a network of cyber-criminals streaming fake Elon Musk videos to scam viewers.
The criminals are hijacking YouTube accounts and using the videos to promote bogus cryptocurrency giveaways.
BBC News found dozens of these streams being watched by tens of thousands of people over four days this month.
On Tuesday, Elon Musk said YouTube was not tackling “scam ads”. YouTube says it removes channels that are reported.
For many months, the streams have been fooling thousands of people into sending cryptocurrency to criminals, thinking they will receive a prize from Mr Musk.
One of the most common links to website https://elon-x2.live/, which invites people to double their money by sending Bitcoin or Ethereum to the digital-wallet addresses advertised.
Wallet transaction history shows the scammers made $243,000 (£194,000) in just over a week:
- 23 transfers of bitcoin totalling 7.68923261 coins worth $234,000
- 18 transfers of ethereum totalling 5.016 coins worth $9,000
Analysts at Whale Alert say giveaway scammer wallets they track show profits of:
- $98m in 2021
- $30m so far this year

Every few days, the hackers change the name and picture of dozens of YouTube channels to make them look like official Tesla channels, the electric-car manufacturer of which Mr Musk is chief executive.
They are thought to buy email-and-password pairs from previous data breaches online – or simply try common passwords with known email addresses.
Chilean urban-music artist Aisack had YouTube channel hacked and hijacked two weeks ago.
“My followers on other social networks started asking me what is going on with the name of my channel and were very confused about why I was streaming Tesla content,” he said.
“It is very frustrating that your YouTube channel is hacked after dedicating so many years of work to it.
“I feel completely violated and insecure.
“The hacking of my channel has hurt me a lot, since I am a few days away from releasing a new music video and now I am creating a second channel as a back-up and re-uploading more than 10 years of work on YouTube.
“YouTube is not doing enough on security issues to prevent hacker attacks, since many users are in the same situation as me.”

YouTube said it had removed one of the channels BBC News had alerted it to, adding: “We have strict Community Guidelines prohibiting scams, including Impersonation and hacking.”
Last year, one man hoping to double his money sent scammers $400,000 worth of bitcoins, after seeing a fake advert on Twitter.
So far this year, scammers are having less success, Whale Alert founder Frank van Weert said, but still making millions and set for a boost if the price of Bitcoin rises.

“The numbers are going down compared to 2021 – but there are still plenty of victims falling for it, as they evolve their tactics,” Mr Van Weert said.
“Right now, they have been overfishing the sea a bit, especially with Bitcoin prices going down, but that will change as not enough is being done to stop them.”
The scammers could be stopped if cryptocurrency exchanges blocked their wallets to prevent them cashing out their stolen coins, he added.
The vast majority of the fake livestreams show financial firm ARK Invest’s July panel with Musk and then Twitter chief executive Jack Dorsey
An spokeswoman told BBC News ARK “is aware of hacked third-party YouTube channels fraudulently posing as ARK”.
“These accounts are impersonators and not affiliated with ARK Invest in any way,” she said.
“ARK Invest will never use YouTube or other social media to solicit money, including cryptocurrency.”
COVID-19 hospitalizations, deaths increase among older adults
Coronavirus-related hospital admissions are climbing again in the United States, with older adults a growing share of U.S. deaths and less than half of nursing home residents up to date on COVID-19 vaccinations. These alarming signs portend a difficult winter for...
UK, Italy and Japan team up for new fighter jet
Rishi Sunak is set to announce a collaboration between the UK, Italy and Japan to develop a new fighter jet that uses artificial intelligence. The prime minister says the joint venture aims to create thousands of UK jobs and strengthen security ties. The nations will...
Santander UK fined £108m over money laundering failings
Santander has been fined £107.8m over "serious and persistent gaps" in its anti-money laundering controls which opened the door to "financial crime". The financial watchdog said the bank "failed to properly oversee and manage" systems aimed at verifying information...
Lebanon fails to elect new president in ninth electoral session
Lebanon's divided parliament failed for the ninth time to elect a successor to former president Michel Aoun, extending the power vacuum ― the country has been without a president and been ruled by a caretaker government with limited powers since May. The parliament...
Byblos Christmas tree brings comfort to Lebanese despite uncertain future
This year in Lebanon, hope and perseverance are symbolised by a Christmas tree. The holidays in Byblos are a dazzling sight, despite the country entering the fourth year of a financial crisis that has paralysed state institutions, caused basic services to collapse...
Mega Millions, Powerball jackpots nearly $500 million combined; Thursday’s Ohio Lottery results
The Mega Millions jackpot for the Friday, Dec. 9, 2022, drawing is an estimated $379 million, the top lottery prize this weekend. The Saturday, Dec. 10 Powerball jackpot is an estimated $116 million and Classic Lotto jackpot is $2.4 million. Thursday’s winning Ohio...
Former Ohio ICE deportation officer accused of sexually assaulting immigrants
A former U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer is facing multiple federal charges after he was accused of sexually assaulting immigrants while he was working for ICE. Andrew Golobic, 51, who reportedly lives in Cincinnati and Mason, Ohio, was arrested...
Submit your event
We will be happy to share your events. Please email us the details and pictures at publish@profilenewsohio.com
Address
P.O. Box: 311001 Independance, Ohio, 44131
Call Us
+1 (216) 269 3272
Email Us
Publish@profilenewsohio.com