A tale of deception has unfolded as a woman was swindled out of $850,000 by an online scammer posing as the famous actor Brad Pitt.
Meet Anne, a 53-year-old woman who fell prey to an internet fraud scheme. It all started with a message on social media from an account claiming to be Brad Pitt’s mother. Despite her initial skepticism, Anne found herself entangled in an emotional web.
Just a day later, in February 2023, another message popped up, supposedly from Brad Pitt himself, which read: “Hello Anne, my mother told me a lot about you. I would like to know more.” Anne spoke candidly in an interview with French TV station TF1, admitting her disbelief and confusion. “At first, I tell myself it’s fake, but I don’t really understand what’s happening to me. After that, we will contact each other every day, and we become friends,” she shared.
For Anne, this was no ordinary conversation. “There are so few men who write you this kind of thing. I liked the man I was talking to. He knew how to talk to women, it was always very well done,” she explained, detailing her infatuation.
The fraudulent account spun a tale of woe, claiming Brad was battling cancer and financially strained due to his divorce from Angelina Jolie. To bolster their story, they sent AI-generated images of the supposed actor in a hospital setting. Curious about their bond, Anne requested to speak over the phone, but the mysterious contact always found convenient excuses to avoid calls.
The dialogue stretched over several months, building to a point where the scammer even proposed marriage. This virtual romance led Anne to divorce her husband and gain a settlement of €775,000 (approximately $798,894), which she then sent to the scam artist, enticed by promises of extravagant gifts, such as Chanel and Hermès purses. The scammer pushed further, convincing Anne to pay a €9,000 (about $9,277) customs fee.
Skepticism arose when Anne saw news of the real Brad Pitt being seen publicly with a new partner, Ines de Ramon. This provoked Anne to contact investigators to scrutinize her distressing situation. According to reports from BFM TV, Anne is presently undergoing treatment in a hospital clinic, suffering from severe depression. It’s unclear if she’s managed to retrieve any of the funds lost to the scammer.
Understanding and Preventing Online Scams
Stories like Anne’s are not uncommon, especially in the digital age where imposters can craft believable personas. Such situations highlight the need for increased awareness about online scams. Prudence and caution should be paramount when approached by unfamiliar contacts, especially those making grand promises or unusual requests.
For those who fall victim, it is crucial to report the incident to authorities and seek support to handle the emotional fallout. Meanwhile, education and awareness remain our best defenses against these crafty cyber tricksters.
