For years, Alfred Mancinelli believed he was in a relationship with WWE star Alexa Bliss. The 79-year-old grandfather, a retired electronic technician from New York, spoke about her with admiration, sent her affectionate messages, and—most devastatingly—wired her nearly $1 million.
But Bliss never received those messages or those funds. The person on the other end of the screen was not the professional wrestler but an online fraudster, part of an elaborate romance scam operation that preyed on Alfred’s trust and loneliness.
By the time his son, Chris Mancinelli, uncovered the full extent of the deception, most of his father’s savings—including his granddaughter’s college fund—were gone. Attempts to intervene were met with resistance. When Chris moved his father’s last $100,000 to a protected account, Alfred sued him. His loyalty, it seemed, lay not with his family but with “Lexi.”
The Rising Tide of Romance Scams
Alfred’s story is part of a growing crisis of elder fraud, where scammers manipulate victims into financial ruin by posing as romantic partners or financial advisers. According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, Americans lost an estimated $652 million to romance scams in 2023 alone, though experts believe the true number is far higher.
While scams often target the elderly—who may have retirement savings and limited digital literacy—victims are frequently sharp-minded individuals who fall prey to the sophisticated emotional manipulation of fraudsters.
“These scammers don’t just ask for money,” said Marti DeLiema, a gerontologist who studies elder fraud at the University of Minnesota. “They create a reality for their victims, isolating them from their families and embedding themselves as the most important person in their lives.”
The Making of a Million-Dollar Deception
Alfred’s descent into fraud began in 2018 with small wire transfers to an online acquaintance. By 2021, his once-substantial nest egg had dwindled to $128,000. The most significant portion went to an impostor using the identity of Alexa Bliss, a popular WWE personality whose likeness has become a common tool for online scammers.
The con followed a familiar pattern. The fraudster claimed to be Bliss, trapped in a controlling contract with WWE and in need of financial assistance. There were elaborate stories—tales of mistreatment by WWE executives, mysterious medical emergencies, and urgent financial troubles. Each time, Alfred sent money.
Despite never speaking to “Bliss” on the phone or seeing her on video, Alfred remained devoted. The scammers maintained the illusion by mailing small gifts and even ordering him pizza on his birthday. These small, tangible gestures deepened his belief that the relationship was real.
But the ultimate sign of control came when Alfred turned on his son.
Chris, a chemical engineer in Pennsylvania, sought professional help from financial planners and elder care specialists, but nothing could break the hold the fraudster had on his father. In early 2023, after learning that Alfred had less than $100,000 left, Chris took drastic action—moving the funds to a separate account to prevent further losses.
Alfred’s response was swift and heartbreaking. He filed a lawsuit against his son, demanding his money back. Within a month, after Chris returned the funds, it was gone.
A Devastating End
In the final months of his life, Alfred’s financial troubles worsened. Documents found after his passing suggested he had been preparing to sell his home to continue sending money to the scammer. He had also taken out personal loans, using his car and televisions as collateral.
The fraudsters didn’t stop with Alfred. After draining his accounts, they turned their sights on his family—sending his granddaughter unsettling messages and demanding gift cards.
Alfred passed away following complications from neck surgery after a fall, never realizing the depth of the deception he had suffered.
“I loved him. I wanted a close relationship with him, but the scam ruined everything,” Chris said. “He lost his money, his family relationships, and in the end, he lost himself.”
A Difficult Battle Against Scams
The psychological grip scammers exert on their victims makes intervention incredibly difficult. Families who try to warn their loved ones are often met with anger, denial, or, as in Alfred’s case, legal action.
Financial institutions have begun to take a more aggressive stance, with some banks blocking suspicious transactions or freezing accounts when fraud is suspected. But victims often resist these efforts, convinced their scammer is real.
“Shutting down the pipeline is tough because the victims themselves will fight to keep it open,” said Darius Kingsley, head of consumer banking practices at JPMorgan Chase.
For Chris, the warning to others is clear: It can happen to anyone.
“We always think of scam victims as gullible or naive, but my dad was smart. He just wanted to believe in something,” he said. “And they took everything from him.”
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