Leslie Pickett believed she was building a private relationship with rock star Jon Bon Jovi after an unverified social media account contacted her in late 2024. The impersonator used frequent messages, gifts, videos and artificial intelligence to maintain the deception for months. Pickett eventually lost more than $10,000 and said her debt left her home facing foreclosure. The case is featured in a documentary investigation into romance scams and the technology behind them.
| 1) | How the impersonator established trust |
| 2) | How artificial intelligence strengthened the deception |
| 3) | How small payments became a major financial loss |
| 4) | How the scam unraveled and was traced |
| 5) | How the victim is rebuilding and warning others |
How the impersonator established trust
Pickett, a Louisiana resident and longtime Bon Jovi fan, encountered the impersonator after commenting on the singer’s verified Instagram account in late 2024. About five minutes later, an unverified account replied and claimed to offer Bon Jovi a more personal way to communicate with fans. The account warned that management would shut it down if it were discovered, creating a sense of secrecy and urgency.
The two exchanged messages several times a day and often at night. Pickett said the impersonator remembered details from earlier conversations, declared his love and sent flowers to her home. He also claimed that Bon Jovi and his wife had quietly filed for divorce. A relative questioned the relationship, but the photos and videos appeared convincing enough to reinforce Pickett’s belief that the account was genuine.
How artificial intelligence strengthened the deception
The impersonator sent recorded videos and participated in a live video call, using generative artificial intelligence to appear as the musician. Pickett said he could respond to unusual requests quickly, including pulling his ear, crossing his eyes and sticking out his tongue. Those personalized actions made the videos seem spontaneous and helped overcome her doubts.
Investigative journalist Mariana van Zeller said modern romance scams can use highly realistic videos rather than the visibly distorted deepfakes associated with earlier technology. She described the approach as a gradual process that can last months or years before money is requested.
“It took him seven months before he asked Leslie for money,” van Zeller said, explaining that victims may no longer view the scammer as a stranger when financial requests begin.
How small payments became a major financial loss
The financial requests began after Pickett was unable to obtain tickets to a legitimate exclusive performance in Nashville. The impersonator offered to arrange a meet and greet through supposed management contacts and directed her to use cryptocurrency. He told her conventional systems were vulnerable to hacking, which helped make the unusual payment method appear safer.
Pickett initially sent $100 or $150 at a time. When she was told payments had failed, she used other services, including Venmo, PayPal, Cash App and cryptocurrency. The requests became larger, and she sometimes stayed awake trying to complete the transfers. She said she did not fully recognize the loss until the money failed to return to her accounts.
How the scam unraveled and was traced
In July 2025, the impersonator claimed he was flying to Louisiana for a meeting. He sent photographs from a hotel that appeared familiar to Pickett, including matching furnishings and table settings. Before the meeting, however, he required a security clearance through Google Chat. When Pickett tried to join the video call, he ended it abruptly and blamed a supposed security breach.
He then demanded more money in Bitcoin for another security check. At that point, Pickett concluded the relationship was not real and contacted van Zeller. With help from former hacker and cybersecurity expert Arman Sadri, the team traced the scammer’s internet protocol address to Lagos, Nigeria. They used online mapping tools to identify a property they believed was connected to the messages.
How the victim is rebuilding and warning others
Pickett said she had lost more than $10,000 and accumulated enough debt for her home to face foreclosure. The financial damage was accompanied by grief, embarrassment and difficulty trusting other people. She continues to work full time while rebuilding her finances and has used social media to warn people about unverified accounts and celebrity impersonation scams.
“It devastated my family. It devastated me. It put me in financial dire straits,” Pickett said. “No one should ever feel that way.”
The investigation was presented in the documentary special “Super Scam Me,” which examines romance scams, artificial intelligence and the psychology of manipulation. The program is available to stream on Disney+ and Hulu.
| Number | Key Point |
|---|---|
| 1 | The scammer used an unverified account and claimed to be Jon Bon Jovi. |
| 2 | AI-generated videos and personalized interactions helped sustain the deception. |
| 3 | Pickett sent more than $10,000 through several payment services and cryptocurrency. |
| 4 | A digital investigation linked the suspected scammer to Lagos, Nigeria. |
Summary
The case illustrates how romance scammers combine emotional manipulation, celebrity impersonation and increasingly realistic AI-generated media. Pickett’s experience also shows how modest initial payments can escalate after trust has been established. Unverified accounts, secrecy, pressure to use cryptocurrency and repeated claims that payments failed are significant warning signs that should prompt independent verification and immediate caution.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much money did Leslie Pickett lose?
Pickett said she lost more than $10,000, and the resulting debt left her home facing foreclosure.
How did the scammer impersonate Jon Bon Jovi?
The scammer used an unverified social media account, ongoing messages, flowers, recorded videos, a live call and generative AI to appear to be the singer.
Where was the suspected scammer traced?
A digital investigation traced the internet protocol address to Lagos, Nigeria, where investigators identified a property they believed was connected to the scam.
What warning signs appeared in the case?
Warning signs included secrecy, an unverified account, requests involving supposed management, pressure to pay through cryptocurrency and claims that previous payments had failed.
