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Online scam: a French woman loses €830,000 to a fake Brad Pitt 🎭

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A French interior designer fell victim to a sophisticated scam orchestrated by fraudsters using AI, losing €830,000. Following her appearance on TF1 and the viral nature of the story, representatives of the « real » Brad Pitt have spoken out. This case raises concerns about the risks associated with new technologies and cyberharassment.

An effective digital trap 🕵️‍♀️

Anne, a 53-year-old woman, was contacted by scammers pretending to be Brad Pitt. Using AI-generated images and fake profiles on social media, the fraudsters targeted her during her divorce from a millionaire. She was wooed with romantic messages and promises of eternal love.

Anne initially received a message from someone claiming to be Jane Etta Pitt, the actor’s mother, who told her she was exactly the kind of woman her son needed. Though skeptical at first, she said she gradually fell for the virtual charm of the scammer. « He knew how to talk to women; it was very convincing, » she confessed.

Well-orchestrated financial requests 💸

Once trust was established, the fraudsters began asking for money under various pretexts, including customs fees for luxurious gifts and medical expenses for Brad Pitt’s alleged kidney cancer.

Despite her daughter’s warnings, Anne continued transferring funds, believing she was saving her « lover’s » life. The requests escalated, with claims that his ex-wife Angelina Jolie had frozen his bank accounts. Even as doubts arose, Anne was reassured by the « doctor » of the fake star, who emailed her about Brad Pitt’s fight for survival. In total, she transferred €830,000 to accounts in Turkey before realizing the truth after seeing the actor in the media with his official partner. « I wonder why they chose me to do such harm, » she told TF1. « I’ve never hurt anyone. These people deserve hell. »

A victim turned target of cyberharassment 💻

Since her story aired on TF1’s Sept à Huit, Anne has faced a wave of cyberharassment. Mockery, satirical sketches, and indecent messages have flooded social media.

Institutions like Toulouse FC and even Netflix France made jokes about her ordeal before issuing public apologies following significant backlash. For instance, on X (formerly Twitter), Toulouse FC posted: « Hi Anne, Brad told us he’d be at the stadium on Wednesday for #TFCLAVAL. What about you? Here’s the link to get your ticket. See you Wednesday! » The team later apologized in another post after widespread indignation. The situation prompted TF1 to remove the episode from its platforms.

In response, Brad Pitt’s representatives expressed their dismay.

« It’s appalling that scammers exploit fans’ deep connection with celebrities. This serves as an important reminder not to respond to unsolicited online messages, especially from actors who are not active on social media, » a spokesperson for the actor stated.

An ongoing investigation, lessons to learn 🔍

Police have launched an investigation to track down the perpetrators of this elaborate scam. Meanwhile, Anne, who has been hospitalized for depression, speaks out against the double punishment she has endured: the scam and public humiliation.

The case raises numerous questions about online scams and how to better protect vulnerable individuals. With the growing use of AI technologies, such practices are unlikely to disappear anytime soon.

 

What do you think ?  
How can we better protect internet users from digital scams and the misuse of AI? Let us know in the comments. 😨

 

 


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