Louisiana woman loses $10,000 to Jon Bon Jovi AI impersonator

Leslie Pickett, a resident of Louisiana, lost more than $10,000 to a romance scammer impersonating rock star Jon Bon Jovi. The scam began in late 2024 after Pickett commented on the singer's verified Instagram account and received a response from an unverified profile claiming to be the artist.

The impersonator maintained contact with Pickett day and night for months, using convincing videos and personal details to build trust. The scammer even utilized artificial intelligence to simulate live video calls with the singer. Pickett reported that the perpetrator sent flowers to her home and expressed affection to deepen the deception.

The financial loss nearly resulted in the loss of Pickett's home. Her experience is featured in the National Geographic documentary special “Super Scam Me,” where journalist Mariana van Zeller investigates the rise of devastating online financial crimes.