Leslie Pickett deepfake video — Oct 2026

What happened

Leslie Pickett, a Louisiana resident, was targeted in a sophisticated romance scam by an individual posing as Jon Bon Jovi. The interaction began on Instagram in late 2024 after Pickett commented on a post from an unverified account. Over seven months, the scammer built a rapport by messaging Pickett daily, sharing personal details, and eventually sending recorded videos and participating in live video calls. The attacker utilized generative AI to create convincing video content, including custom requests where the impostor would perform specific physical actions on command to prove his identity.

To facilitate the fraud, the scammer claimed he wanted a private relationship away from fame and eventually requested money for an exclusive meet-and-greet. He directed Pickett to use various payment methods, including Venmo, PayPal, Cash App, and cryptocurrency, claiming that traditional banking was insecure. When Pickett attempted to meet the impostor in person in Louisiana, the scammer staged a fake security breach to demand additional Bitcoin payments. By the time the deception was uncovered, Pickett had lost over $10,000 and faced the potential foreclosure of her home. An investigation involving journalist Mariana van Zeller and a former hacker traced the scammer's IP address to Lagos, Nigeria, confirming the entire persona was a fabrication.