A 53-year-old French woman, identified as Anne, fell victim to an elaborate scam involving artificial intelligence and impersonation, which led her to believe she was in a relationship with Hollywood superstar Brad Pitt. The scam resulted in Anne losing an estimated Rs 7.47 crore (approximately €830,000).
The ordeal began in February 2023 when Anne, an interior designer, received a message on social media from someone claiming to be Brad Pitt’s mother, she told French channel TF1, according to local media report. This initial contact came after Anne had posted about a luxurious ski trip to Tignes, which seemingly attracted the fraudster’s attention.
Shortly after, she received another message from an account impersonating Brad Pitt himself. The scammer claimed that Pitt’s “mother” had spoken highly of her. This marked the beginning of what Anne described as an unexpected friendship, filled with poetic messages and kind affirmations that gained her trust.
“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 said, as reported by BFMTV.
Initially suspicious, Anne’s doubts were eased when the scammer sent AI-generated photos and videos of Brad Pitt, making the deception appear more genuine. Over time, the imposter proposed to Anne, promising her luxurious gifts. However, she was told she would need to pay customs fees to receive them. These initial requests amounted to Rs 8.09 lakh (€9,000), but the financial demands soon escalated.
When Anne revealed to her “friend” that she was anticipating a substantial divorce settlement from her millionaire husband, the fraudster increased their requests. They claimed to need urgent funds for kidney cancer treatment, explaining that they could not access their own money due to a supposed ongoing divorce from Angelina Jolie.
To lend credibility to the story, the scammer sent AI-generated images of Brad Pitt appearing ill in a hospital bed. Despite their regular exchanges of messages and photos, the impersonator avoided all phone or video calls, further delaying Anne’s suspicions.
The scam unravelled when Anne, who had already lost nearly Rs 7.47 crore (€830,000), saw media reports of Brad Pitt with his new girlfriend, Ines de Ramon. Realising the truth, she approached authorities, prompting an investigation into the fraud.
Anne is now hospitalised in a clinic, suffering from severe depression following the ordeal, according to BFMTV.
Also Read: New Research Links Obesity to Lower Survival Rates in Children with Cancer
