A WWE fan was scammed out of millions by an imposter posing as three-time Raw Women's Champion Alexa Bliss, reports claim.
The New York Times have been running a series focusing on online scams targeting older adult Americans and the latest installment reveals that Alfred Mancinelli, a man in his 70s, was convinced he was in a romantic relationship with Bliss.
Mancinelli, who died earlier this year, ended up giving up $1 million in retirement savings and his granddaughter’s college fund to the imposter.
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For the first time since his passing, Mancinelli's son Chris visited his late father's home and was stunned to see that on the refrigerator, a picture of Bliss joined an image of Alfred's three granddaughters at a swimming pool.
He became completely smitten and according to Chris, "there was nothing" the family could do to convince him that he was in fact not talking to the WWE superstar.
Alfred opened up to the imposter about losing his first child with his wife to leukemia at just three years old as well as the passing with his wife. The manipulative con artist, meanwhile, made claims that former WWE chief Vince McMahon humiliated them and that led to Alfred providing financial support - as well as stating they needed funds to cover hospital during difficult menstrual periods.
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Son Chris got involved and set up a trust and financial plan involved after finding out that his dad's google account was linked to two Nigerian IP addresses.
When it did not work, he moved his father's final $100,000 to a safe account, only for Alfred to sue him in February 2023 and give the money away within a month of it returning.
Alfred never spoke to the fraudulent individuals through video or audio and once received a pizza for his birthday after giving his address out.
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Chris later found documents suggesting his father was preparing to sell his house before his passing, while he had also taken out personal loans.
All three granddaughters became aware of the scammers, with the youngest threatened and gift cards demanded.
Bliss, real name Alexis Cabrera, previously sent out a warning to fans who have been accosted by people posing as her online.
On X, she posted: "I hate that I have to KEEP saying this. I only have ONE acct on Twitter, IG & Tik Tok. I DO NOT talk to people on google hangouts or any “personal pages” or “personal #” if you think you are talking to me I PROMISE YOU you are not. & I would never ask for $ or gift cards."
Topics: WWE
Josh Lawless