AI Bon Jovi Impersonator Swindles Woman Out of $10K, Threatens Her Home

WHO:

NY Post - A woman was scammed by a crook posing as Jon Bon Jovi.

Fox News - The woman was identified as Leslie Pickett.

Fox News - The impersonator used a fake Jon Bon Jovi account on Instagram.

WHAT:

NY Post - The woman was scammed out of $10,000.

Fox News - Pickett lost more than $10,000 in a deepfake scam.

Fox News - The scam nearly cost Pickett her home.

NY Post - The article described the scammer as giving “love” a bad name.

HOW:

Fox News - The fake Instagram account used AI videos to build trust with Pickett over several months.

NY Post - The scammer posed as Jon Bon Jovi.

Fox News - The impersonator used AI-generated videos in the scam.

(UPDATED October 24, 2026 20:04 UTC)

A woman named Leslie Pickett lost more than $10,000 to a scammer posing as rock star Jon Bon Jovi, in a scheme that nearly cost her home. The impersonator contacted her through a fake Jon Bon Jovi account on Instagram. Over several months, the account used AI-generated videos to build Pickett’s trust. The videos made the scam feel personal, helping the fraudster maintain the false identity. Pickett ultimately sent money to someone she believed was Bon Jovi. The loss was described as $10,000, with reports saying the total exceeded that amount. The financial damage was so severe that Pickett came close to losing her home. The case highlights how AI-generated videos can help scammers make celebrity impersonations more convincing.