I thought I was dating Jon Bon Jovi. Ten months later, I realized I'd been scammed out of $10,000.
A woman lost $10,000 after being targeted by a romance scammer posing as musician Jon Bon Jovi on social media. The victim is now sharing her story to warn others about the dangers of online impersonation scams.
Why it matters
Romance scams continue to cause significant financial and emotional harm, highlighting the risks of parasocial relationships on digital platforms.
Leslie Pickett said she fell in love with Jon Bon Jovi, unaware that an imposter was scamming her. National Geographic/Stuart C. Wilson/ Getty Images Leslie Pickett had been a fan of rock star Jon Bon Jovi since she was a high schooler. She thought she was texting the celebrity and fell in love. In fact, the man was an imposter. He continually asked Pickett for money, and she gave him $10K. She's now appearing in a documentary. This story is based on an interview with Leslie Pickett, 55, a mortgage lender from north Louisiana . She appears in the new National Geographic series " Super Scam Me ," out October 17. It has been edited for length and clarity. I've been a fan of Jon Bon Jovi ever since the age of 14, when I was blown away by his music during the 1980s.
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