In a tragic case that highlights the dangers of online scams, a retiree named Alfred Mancinelli was conned out of nearly $1 million by fraudsters pretending to be WWE star Alexa Bliss. According to The New York Times, Mancinelli believed he was in a relationship with Bliss and sent money to scammers over several years, responding to their pleas for financial help.
The scammers crafted elaborate stories, even claiming that Bliss was being mistreated by WWE executives, specifically Vince McMahon, to manipulate Mancinelli into sending large sums of money. These stories included claims that Bliss was in the hospital or facing other urgent situations requiring financial aid. Mancinelli’s son, Chris, tried to protect his father’s remaining funds by moving them to a secure account, but Mancinelli went so far as to sue his son for access to the money, which eventually went to the scammers. Heartbreakingly, Mancinelli passed away following neck surgery, with plans to sell his home for additional funds to send to the fraudsters.
Alexa Bliss has consistently warned her fans to watch out for impersonators, though she has yet to respond publicly to this incident. The situation underscores the need for awareness around online scams, especially for older individuals, who can often be vulnerable targets.