AI Scammer Poses as Jon Bon Jovi, Dupes Woman Out of Over $10,000

A sophisticated romance scam, amplified by artificial intelligence, has left a Louisiana woman devastated after she lost over $10,000 and faced the potential foreclosure of her home. Leslie Pickett believed she was in a months-long relationship with rock star Jon Bon Jovi, only to discover the man she confided in was an AI-generated impostor.

Pickett, who had recently joined Instagram, was introduced to the platform by her daughter. In late 2024, she commented on a post by what appeared to be Bon Jovi's verified account. Within minutes, she received a message from an account claiming to be the musician. Although the account was not verified, Pickett was initially convinced due to the scammer's detailed responses.

The impostor told Pickett that Bon Jovi wished to connect with fans more personally and warned that their communications would be shut down if management discovered the secret account. Over several months, the scammer engaged Pickett in frequent messages, discussing music and common interests. Pickett reported that the scammer remembered details from their early conversations, expressed affection, and even sent flowers. The deception escalated with recorded videos and eventually a live video call, convincing Pickett she was communicating with the real Bon Jovi.

The scammer also fabricated a narrative of a private divorce from his wife to protect his public image, further building Pickett's trust. She showed photos and videos to a cousin who, despite initial skepticism, eventually exclaimed, "That's him! There's no doubt about it."

Escalation to Financial Demands

After establishing a strong emotional connection, the scammer began requesting money. Pickett recounted an instance where the impostor claimed to be arranging a meet-and-greet with an exclusive performance in Nashville, for which tickets had sold out. When Pickett couldn't secure a ticket, the scammer offered a private meet-and-greet, guiding her through an unfamiliar process involving cryptocurrency payments. While hesitant about the use of Bitcoin and crypto, Pickett was assured it was the safest method, as regular online sites were prone to hacking.

Initially, the requests were for small amounts, but they quickly escalated. Pickett sent money through various platforms including Venmo, PayPal, Cash App, and cryptocurrency. When one payment method failed, she was instructed to try another, often spending nights trying to complete the transactions. She realized she had been duped when she noticed the money was not being returned to her account.

Journalist Mariana van Zeller, featured in the National Geographic documentary special "Super Scam Me," highlighted the gradual nature of such scams. "It took him seven months before he asked Leslie for money," van Zeller told Fox News Digital. "Many people think, ‘How can you give money to a stranger?’ But for Leslie, and many other victims, this was at a point when he wasn’t a stranger."

The Role of AI in Deception

Advances in artificial intelligence significantly aided the scammer's deception. Van Zeller described watching videos created by the fake Bon Jovi, noting their high quality and believability. "These weren’t the old deep fake videos of the past that are full of distortions. These looked professional, believable," she explained. Pickett recalled how the impostor could incorporate her name into the videos and perform specific actions, such as pulling an ear or crossing eyes, within minutes of her request, showcasing the power of AI.

In July 2025, the scammer claimed to be flying to Louisiana for a meet-and-greet and sent Pickett photos of himself in a hotel setting. When Pickett attempted to join a video call for a security clearance check, the scammer abruptly ended the call, citing a security breach. He then requested a larger sum of Bitcoin for another security check.

It was at this point that Pickett's suspicions were confirmed, and she contacted van Zeller for assistance. With the help of a former hacker, they traced the scammer's IP address to Lagos, Nigeria. Using Google Earth, they identified what they believed to be the house from which the messages were sent.

Pickett has since become an advocate for scam victims, sharing her story on social media to warn others about the dangers of unverified accounts. "My ultimate goal today is to slow it down and eventually stop this industry," Pickett stated. "It devastated my family. It devastated me. It put me in financial dire straits. It affected me emotionally."