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In one such distressing case highlighting the dangers of online deception, a 53-year-old French interior designer identified as Anne was defrauded of €830,000 by scammers impersonating actor Brad Pitt. The fraudsters employed AI-generated images and sophisticated narratives to convince Anne of a fabricated romantic relationship with the Hollywood star.
The scam began in February 2023 when Anne, a new user on Instagram, received a message from an individual claiming to be Brad Pitt’s mother. She said her son needed someone like her in his life. Anne soon began to receive messages from a person impersonating Pitt, and the 18-month exchange was filled with romantic overtures, including even a proposal of marriage.
At the time, Anne was getting a divorce from her husband, a successful businessman. But swindlers took advantage of her vulnerable state and convinced her to send large sums of money. They concocted stories of expensive gifts that were being held up by customs fees and even said Pitt needed money for kidney cancer surgery, claiming his accounts were frozen because of his divorce from Angelina Jolie. To further their scheme, they even sent AI-generated images of Pitt in a hospital setting.
She was so convinced that, despite her daughter’s warnings, Anne didn’t realize the relationship was a hoax until mid-2024, when she saw legitimate stories about Pitt’s romance with Ines de Ramon. Feeling betrayed, Anne stopped responding and reported the incident to police. An investigation is ongoing.
Anne’s story only gained national attention after it had been featured on the French TV program “Seven to Eight.” Following a surge of online harassment and mockery, the segment was subsequently withdrawn to protect her from further cyberbullying. Anne has since been hospitalized for severe depression.
The Incident has shown an increasingly complex online scamming environment, especially the use of AI for fake identities that can be amazingly realistic. A representative for Brad Pitt expressed dismay that “it’s awful that scammers take advantage of fans’ strong connection with celebrities,” adding that “fans should be very cautious when an actor without any social media presence reaches out through a direct message.
As AI technology becomes more accessible, such scams are increasingly likely, and the need for one to be more aware and skeptical of unsolicited communications-particularly those asking for money-becomes greater.
