AI Bon Jovi Impostor Scams Louisiana Woman of $10K

AI Bon Jovi Impostor Scams Louisiana Woman of $10K

An AI-generated “Jon Bon Jovi” told a Louisiana woman he loved her. By the time she realized it was a scam, she had lost more than $10,000 and was at risk of losing her home.

Leslie Pickett, a lifelong Bon Jovi fan, says it started in late 2024 when she commented on the singer’s verified Instagram account. Minutes later, an unverified account using his face replied. It claimed Bon Jovi wanted to talk privately with fans, warned that his management would shut it down, and said he had quietly filed for divorce.

For about 10 months, the messages came day and night. The impostor sent flowers to her home, recorded videos saying her name, and even joined a brief live video call. When Pickett asked for a video of him pulling his ear, crossing his eyes and sticking out his tongue, it arrived within minutes. “That’s how good AI is,” she said.

About seven months in, the money requests began, starting with roughly $3,000 for a supposed meet-and-greet after a Nashville show. Payments moved to Venmo, PayPal, Cash App and cryptocurrency. In July 2025, the impostor claimed he was in Louisiana and demanded a large Bitcoin payment for a “security clearance” check. The meeting never happened, according to Fox News.

Pickett turned to National Geographic’s “Super Scam Me,” whose team worked with an ethical hacker and reportedly traced the connection to Lagos, Nigeria. A representative for Bon Jovi said the team was unaware of her situation and that artists don’t ask fans for money on social media. “My heart was shattered,” Pickett said.

As of Nov. 10, 2026, no arrest has been made, and the person behind the account hasn’t been identified. The FBI issued an alert in July 2026 warning that scammers are using AI-generated videos of public figures. If you think you’ve been targeted, report it to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov.