AI-Powered Deepfake Scam Deprives Woman of $10,000

A woman in Louisiana lost more than $10,000 to a romance scam that employed artificial intelligence to create deepfake videos of rock star Jon Bon Jovi. The deception, which lasted for months, involved daily communication and eventually led the victim, Leslie Pickett, to send money through various online platforms and cryptocurrency. Pickett's story is featured in the National Geographic documentary special "Super Scam Me."

Pickett, who had been a fan of Bon Jovi since she was 14, began interacting with an unverified Instagram account that appeared to belong to the musician in late 2024. The scammer, posing as Bon Jovi, engaged in frequent messaging, shared convincing videos, and even sent flowers. The scammer claimed to be in a private divorce and communicated the need for discretion regarding a secret fan account.

The scam escalated when the impostor requested money, initially for a meet-and-greet in Nashville. Pickett was instructed to use cryptocurrency apps, as the scammer claimed they were more secure than traditional online payment methods. Over time, the requests for money grew larger, with Pickett sending funds through Venmo, PayPal, Cash App, and Bitcoin. The scammer consistently manipulated Pickett by suggesting payment failures and guiding her to use alternative methods.

According to Mariana van Zeller, the journalist behind "Super Scam Me," the scam developed over seven months before any money was requested. Van Zeller noted that the AI-generated videos were highly sophisticated, making them difficult to distinguish from genuine content. In her own experiments for the documentary, van Zeller encountered similar AI-generated videos, some of which were described as professional and believable.

As the deception continued, the impostor sent Pickett photos appearing to be from a hotel in Louisiana, claiming to be there for a meet-and-greet. When Pickett attempted a video call, the scammer abruptly ended it, citing a security breach. He then requested a larger sum of Bitcoin for a second security clearance check, which ultimately led Pickett to realize she was being scammed.

With the help of a cybersecurity expert, Pickett and van Zeller traced the scammer's IP address to Lagos, Nigeria. The investigation suggested the scammer was operating from a specific location in the city. By the time the deception was uncovered, Pickett had incurred over $10,000 in debt, putting her home at risk of foreclosure.

Pickett shared that the emotional toll of the scam has been significant, impacting her ability to trust others. She has since become an advocate for scam victims, using social media to warn others about the dangers of engaging with unverified online accounts and urging them to be vigilant against such predatory schemes.