A 20-year-old Washington County woman and her mother are warning others after they say scammers posing as Pittsburgh Steelers personnel gained her trust and stole $2,000.
Meredith Bongiorni is a devoted Steelers fan.
Her favorite player is rookie Eli Heidenreich.
“Get some playing time, because you’re on my team and I have to win,” Meredith said in a message to Heidenreich.
Her mother, Penny Bongiorni, said the scam began in July when Meredith exchanged messages on TikTok with someone she believed was Heidenreich.
“It sounded very formal. ‘Oh, thanks for being a fan,’ kind of that stuff,” Penny said.
Over time, the conversations appeared to develop into a friendship.
“They would talk about really just random things, and she would say how grateful she was for the friendship, that she doesn’t really have any friends,” Penny said.
Penny believes the person gained Meredith’s trust by expressing sympathy for challenges she has faced.
Meredith has a nonverbal learning disability and a medical condition that affects her height, known as Achondroplasia.
“The person was very good at it,” Penny said. “They basically said no one should have to be judged. ‘I am sorry you go through these things.’”
Between July and August, Meredith said she was instructed to email another person who claimed to be Steelers General Manager Omar Khan.
She was told she could receive an all-access pass.
The emails included what appeared to be an official headshot, helping make the exchange seem legitimate.
Meredith and her mother said over various transactions, she ultimately sent the scammers $2,000.
“It was crushing. She was devastated,” Penny said. “She thought he was her friend. Even after the policemen were here, she still was not sure it was fake.”
The family said Meredith worked hard for the money and is still processing the betrayal.
“If they’re that desperate to bother people, they need to find another hobby,” Meredith said.
Pennsylvania State Police are investigating and searching for whoever is behind the scam.
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