AI generated images of Brad Pitt and sent to the subject of this story.
A French woman fell victim to an elaborate scam that cost her over $800,000 after being tricked into believing she was in a romantic relationship with Hollywood star Brad Pitt. The shocking story, which surfaced recently, unfolded over several months and left the woman, identified only as Anne, financially and emotionally devastated.
Anne revealed her ordeal to French television outlet TF1, though the interview was later removed due to a surge of online ridicule and harassment. According to reports from U.K. newspaper The Times and French outlets AFP and BFM TV, Anne was initially contacted by someone pretending to be Pitt’s mother. The impersonator told her, “It’s a woman like you that my son needs,” setting the stage for a sophisticated con.
Anne admitted she was skeptical at first but eventually continued the correspondence. The scam escalated when she was contacted by someone posing as Pitt himself. “At first, I said to myself that it was fake, that it’s ridiculous,” Anne recounted in her interview. However, being unfamiliar with social media and online scams, she struggled to navigate the situation and fell deeper into the deceit.
The fraudsters played their roles with precision, convincing Anne that the Hollywood star was smitten with her. They sent charming messages and claimed to have sent her expensive gifts. When Anne was asked to cover nearly €10,000 in customs tariffs for these fictitious gifts, she obliged, believing in the sincerity of the relationship.
Anne, who had recently divorced her husband, found solace in the attention she believed she was receiving from Pitt. She described the fake Brad Pitt as someone who “knew how to talk to women” and said the communication felt “very well done.” This emotional connection made her more vulnerable to the scam’s increasingly brazen demands.
The scammers fabricated an elaborate tale, claiming that Pitt was facing financial difficulties due to his divorce from actress Angelina Jolie. They even went as far as generating AI-edited images of the actor appearing sick and bedridden, purportedly battling kidney cancer. Using these fabricated visuals, they convinced Anne to send almost her entire €775,000 divorce settlement—approximately $798,000—to support him.
Anne eventually became suspicious when news broke of Pitt’s real-life relationship with jewelry designer Ines de Ramon. She confronted the scammers, who continued to deny the reports. Despite their efforts, Anne’s growing doubts led her to research more about Pitt, ultimately realizing she had been deceived.
Upon accepting the painful truth, Anne filed a police report and launched a lawsuit against the unidentified scammers. French authorities have since opened an investigation, but no arrests have been made as of now.
The fallout from Anne’s public account of her experience has been severe. Following the airing of her interview, she faced a barrage of online mockery and criticism, prompting TF1 to remove the segment. A spokesperson for the station explained that the decision was made to protect Anne from further harassment.
This case has reignited discussions about online scams and the dangers they pose, particularly for individuals unfamiliar with digital platforms. Experts warn that such scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated, with con artists using AI-generated images and emotionally manipulative tactics to exploit their victims.
Anne’s story is a stark reminder of the need for vigilance in online interactions, no matter how genuine they may appear. As scams grow more advanced, authorities and cybersecurity experts urge the public to verify the identities of those they interact with online and to remain cautious when asked for financial assistance under any circumstances.
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