French Woman Duped in Celebrity Impersonation Scam, Losing €830,000
An instance of online trickery underscores the risks posed by digital scams that involve impersonating celebrities and using AI-generated content.
In a notable example of the complexity of online scams, a 53-year-old French woman named Anne was swindled out of about €830,000 after being led to believe she was in a romantic relationship with Hollywood actor Brad Pitt.
This intricate scam unfolded over several months, highlighting the increasing global challenge of tackling cyber fraud.
The Deceptive Start
The scam began in September 2023 when Anne was contacted via Instagram by someone pretending to be Brad Pitt's mother, Jane Etta Pitt.
The impersonator suggested that Anne was the ideal partner for her 'son,' leading to direct communication with an individual claiming to be Pitt.
The communications escalated rapidly, with the fraudster sending romantic poems and AI-generated images resembling the actor.
Unaware of the complexities of social media, Anne was drawn further into the deception, which developed into a daily exchange.
Financial Manipulation
As trust was established, the impostor concocted distressing stories to request money.
Initially, Anne was informed of luxury gifts supposedly sent to her that required €9,000 in customs fees.
Subsequently, a more urgent request followed: the fraudster claimed to need €775,000 for a life-saving kidney cancer treatment, citing frozen accounts due to a claimed divorce from Angelina Jolie.
Anne, recently divorced and possessing a significant financial settlement, transferred nearly all her funds, believing she was assisting the actor in a desperate situation.
The Realization
By the summer of 2024, Anne began to suspect something was amiss when she read news reports of Brad Pitt's confirmed relationship with Ines de Ramon.
Confronted with this information, Anne realized the deception and reported the scam to French authorities.
The financial and emotional impact was overwhelming, leading to three suicide attempts and hospitalization for severe depression.
Legal proceedings have been initiated, and a police investigation continues.
A Wider Phenomenon
Anne's experience is not an isolated case.
In a related incident, Spanish authorities arrested five individuals in September 2024 for impersonating Brad Pitt and cheating two women out of €325,000.
These fraudsters carefully examined their victims’ social media profiles to exploit weaknesses, crafting elaborate romantic tales to extract substantial funds.
The growing number of such schemes points to a concerning trend in cybercrime, with scammers using AI-generated content to make their deceit more convincing.
Preventative Measures
In response to this incident, Brad Pitt's representatives emphasized that the actor does not have personal social media accounts.
They advised fans to remain wary and skeptical of unsolicited messages from those claiming to be public figures.
This intricate scam unfolded over several months, highlighting the increasing global challenge of tackling cyber fraud.
The Deceptive Start
The scam began in September 2023 when Anne was contacted via Instagram by someone pretending to be Brad Pitt's mother, Jane Etta Pitt.
The impersonator suggested that Anne was the ideal partner for her 'son,' leading to direct communication with an individual claiming to be Pitt.
The communications escalated rapidly, with the fraudster sending romantic poems and AI-generated images resembling the actor.
Unaware of the complexities of social media, Anne was drawn further into the deception, which developed into a daily exchange.
Financial Manipulation
As trust was established, the impostor concocted distressing stories to request money.
Initially, Anne was informed of luxury gifts supposedly sent to her that required €9,000 in customs fees.
Subsequently, a more urgent request followed: the fraudster claimed to need €775,000 for a life-saving kidney cancer treatment, citing frozen accounts due to a claimed divorce from Angelina Jolie.
Anne, recently divorced and possessing a significant financial settlement, transferred nearly all her funds, believing she was assisting the actor in a desperate situation.
The Realization
By the summer of 2024, Anne began to suspect something was amiss when she read news reports of Brad Pitt's confirmed relationship with Ines de Ramon.
Confronted with this information, Anne realized the deception and reported the scam to French authorities.
The financial and emotional impact was overwhelming, leading to three suicide attempts and hospitalization for severe depression.
Legal proceedings have been initiated, and a police investigation continues.
A Wider Phenomenon
Anne's experience is not an isolated case.
In a related incident, Spanish authorities arrested five individuals in September 2024 for impersonating Brad Pitt and cheating two women out of €325,000.
These fraudsters carefully examined their victims’ social media profiles to exploit weaknesses, crafting elaborate romantic tales to extract substantial funds.
The growing number of such schemes points to a concerning trend in cybercrime, with scammers using AI-generated content to make their deceit more convincing.
Preventative Measures
In response to this incident, Brad Pitt's representatives emphasized that the actor does not have personal social media accounts.
They advised fans to remain wary and skeptical of unsolicited messages from those claiming to be public figures.
