Leslie Pickett

“He said he wanted to meet someone normal. He didn't want somebody that wanted fame, money and things like that. So, we didn't really talk about stuff like that. We talked about everyday life. I had my doubts, but I was praying it was him.”

Leslie Pickett · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-24

Pickett recounted what the impostor told her about wanting a normal relationship.

“In the videos, he would say my name,”

Leslie Pickett · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-24

Pickett described how the AI-generated videos were personalized with her name.

“Nothing felt abnormal until I realized the money wasn't coming back into my account,”

Leslie Pickett · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-24

Pickett described when she began to realize the payments were not being returned to her account.

“He would send me videos all the time. One time, I told him, 'Pull on your right ear, cross your eyes and stick your tongue out.' He would send me that within five minutes. That's how good AI is.”

Leslie Pickett · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-24

Pickett described testing the AI videos by requesting specific gestures, which were fulfilled within minutes.

“And I wasn't too knowledgeable about those check marks. I had doubts, but hey, a girl can dream.”

Leslie Pickett · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-24

Pickett acknowledged she had doubts about the unverified account but hoped it was genuine.

“He had an exclusive performance in Nashville, where he only let a thousand people buy tickets,”

Leslie Pickett · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-24

Pickett recalled the scammer's story about an exclusive Nashville performance that preceded his first request for money.

“It was like talking to my best friend,”

Leslie Pickett · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-24

Pickett described her months-long conversations with the person she believed was Jon Bon Jovi.

“The show was legitimate. Unfortunately, I tried to buy tickets, but they sold out in four minutes. When I told him about it, he suggested a meet and greet. He had never asked me for money before. He said, 'To get you in the meet and greet, you're going to have go through management since there are no tickets left.’ He gave me emails to his management, and he walked me through how to do everything. I've never even heard of the word 'crypto.’”

Leslie Pickett · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-24

Pickett described how the scammer convinced her to send money for a meet and greet through crypto.

“That was a red flag, but the money was given with intent,”

Leslie Pickett · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-24

Pickett acknowledged the crypto payment was a red flag but said she expected something in return.

“My heart was shattered,”

Leslie Pickett · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-24

Pickett described her emotional reaction after discovering the months-long deception.

“I was still willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. But there was nothing but ill intent. That's what hurt the most.”

Leslie Pickett · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-24

Pickett reflected on the scammer's intentions after the deception unraveled.

“He gave very thoughtful answers to my questions, so I genuinely thought it was him,”

Leslie Pickett · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-24

Pickett explained why she initially believed the impostor's account belonged to the real Jon Bon Jovi.

“I was supposed to get something in return. Meet and greets are also a common thing with famous people so I didn't see it as scammy at all. The bitcoin and crypto were the only things that made me go, 'Why am I not logging into a regular site?' He said, 'Those get hacked all the time. This is the safest way to do it.' He put me at ease.”

Leslie Pickett · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-24

Pickett explained how the scammer reassured her about using cryptocurrency for payments.

“That's when my heart sank because I knew I had been duped. That's when I decided to reach out to Mariana for help.”

Leslie Pickett · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-24

Pickett recounted her decision to contact Mariana van Zeller after realizing she had been scammed.

“At that point, I thought, 'Oh my God, this is just not real,'”

Leslie Pickett · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-24

Pickett described the moment she realized the scam was not real after being asked for more Bitcoin.

“By then I was starting to suspect he was fake. But when Mariana got confirmation, it rocked my world. He could have just come clean, but he just took advantage of my kindness. That's what crushed me.”

Leslie Pickett · said date not stated · reported 2026-10-24

Pickett described her devastation after van Zeller confirmed the scammer's identity and location in Nigeria.