A 55-year-old American woman has reportedly lost more than $10,000 after spending months in an online romantic relationship with a scammer who allegedly used artificial intelligence (AI) to impersonate rock star Jon Bon Jovi.
The case came to public attention after Leslie Pickett, a mortgage lender from northern Louisiana, shared her experience in interviews and the National Geographic documentary Super Scam Me, which examines online romance scams and the growing use of technology to deceive victims.
According to reports, Pickett first encountered the impersonator in late 2024 after commenting on a post on Bon Jovi’s verified Instagram account. She subsequently received a message from an unverified account using the singer’s identity and photographs.
The person behind the account allegedly claimed that the real musician wanted to communicate privately with fans but needed to keep the arrangement secret from his management. The explanation reportedly persuaded Pickett to continue communicating with the account.
Over the following months, the impersonator allegedly built trust by exchanging frequent messages, discussing personal interests and sending videos that appeared to show the singer addressing Pickett directly. The communication eventually included a video call, further convincing her that she was speaking to the celebrity.
However, the person was allegedly using AI-generated videos and other deceptive techniques to maintain the false identity. Pickett said she believed the relationship was genuine and did not initially suspect that the person communicating with her was attempting to defraud her.
The requests for money reportedly began after several months of communication. The impersonator allegedly told Pickett she could arrange a private meeting with Bon Jovi through his management, despite a concert in Nashville having sold out.
She was subsequently asked to pay for a supposed meet-and-greet arrangement and related security clearance. The requests reportedly involved different payment methods, including online payment services and cryptocurrency.
The amounts initially requested were relatively small, but the payments accumulated over time. According to Pickett’s account, the impersonator repeatedly claimed that transactions had failed or that additional payments were required to complete the arrangements.
The deception became more apparent when the person allegedly claimed to have travelled to Louisiana for a meeting but failed to meet her. After a video call ended abruptly, the impersonator reportedly claimed that a security breach had occurred and demanded additional money to arrange another clearance.
The demand prompted Pickett to question the authenticity of the relationship. She eventually contacted investigative journalist Mariana van Zeller, whose documentary team examined the case and worked with a former hacker to investigate the online account.
The investigation reportedly traced the account’s internet protocol address to a residence in Lagos, Nigeria. The team used digital investigative methods and location information to identify the reported address. However, no suspect had been publicly identified or arrested in connection with Pickett’s case at the time of the reports.
Pickett said she lost more than $10,000 and experienced serious financial difficulties as a result of the scam. She reportedly fell behind on bills and came close to losing her home.
Beyond the financial losses, she described the experience as emotionally devastating. The prolonged communication had led her to believe that she had developed a genuine relationship, making the discovery of the deception particularly painful.
The case highlights how romance scammers can exploit emotional trust and use AI-generated material to make celebrity impersonation more convincing. Unlike older scams that rely primarily on photographs and written messages, newer techniques can create videos and voice recordings that appear to show a well-known person communicating personally with a victim.
Cybersecurity experts and law enforcement agencies have repeatedly warned people to be cautious when unfamiliar social media accounts claim to represent celebrities. Genuine public figures generally do not require fans to send cryptocurrency or make private payments to establish romantic relationships or secure personal meetings.
The case also demonstrates the difficulty of investigating online fraud that crosses international borders. Although the documentary team reportedly traced the account to Lagos, that finding alone does not establish the identity of the person responsible or prove that any particular individual committed the offence.
Pickett has since spoken publicly about her experience in an effort to warn others about online romance fraud. Her case serves as a reminder that convincing videos, frequent communication and apparent personal attention are not sufficient proof that an online identity is genuine.
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