Brad Pitt’s spokesperson recently addressed a disturbing scam targeting a French woman, who was manipulated into believing she had been in a romantic relationship with the actor for over a year. The woman, a 53-year-old interior designer identified as Anne, was tricked by scammers posing as Brad Pitt and his associates. They used AI-generated images and fake social media profiles to deceive her into sending large sums of money.
The scam began in February 2023 when Anne, who was married to a wealthy entrepreneur, received a message from someone pretending to be Pitt’s mother. This was followed by communication with an account claiming to be the actor himself. The scam continued for over a year, with the impersonator using various tactics to gain Anne’s trust, including sending AI-generated images that appeared to show Pitt in personal settings. The situation escalated when Anne was told that the actor needed financial support for cancer treatment, as his accounts had allegedly been frozen due to a divorce with Angelina Jolie.
Despite the fraudulent nature of the messages, Anne believed she was communicating with Pitt and transferred substantial amounts of money to cover the supposed medical expenses. She eventually realized she had been deceived when she saw a photograph of Pitt with his partner, Inés de Ramón, later in the summer. By that time, Anne had already sent hundreds of thousands of euros to the scammers.
The story went viral after being featured on the French news program Seven to Eight on TF1. The broadcast sparked a mix of concern and ridicule, with many viewers mocking the situation while others expressed sympathy for the victim. After the broadcast, the show’s producers removed the episode from its online replay services, citing Anne’s ongoing mental health struggles, which included severe depression that led to her hospitalization.
Brad Pitt’s representative condemned the scam, emphasizing the emotional toll such deceptions can take on fans who develop a connection with celebrities. The spokesperson also offered a cautionary message, warning against engaging with unsolicited online messages, particularly those claiming to be from actors who do not have social media profiles. This situation underscores the growing risks of online impersonation and fraud, particularly involving high-profile public figures.
For more on how AI technology is being used in online scams, visit BBC News Technology Section.
