French Woman Defrauded in Romance Scam Involving Fake Brad Pitt
A French interior designer named Anne, 53, was swindled out of €830,000 ($850,000)
after falling victim to a romance scam involving someone impersonating Brad Pitt.
The scam unfolded over months, leveraging AI-generated images and elaborate stories to exploit Anne’s trust and emotions.
The Scam Unfolds
The deception began in February 2023 after Anne shared vacation photos on Instagram.
She received messages from accounts posing as Pitt’s mother and later Pitt himself.
The scammer’s charm and convincing communication left Anne captivated, despite avoiding phone or video calls.
AI-generated photos and videos, including one of “Pitt” in a hospital bed, strengthened
the illusion. Over time, the scammer proposed marriage, promised extravagant gifts,
and fabricated stories, including claims of financial trouble tied to a divorce from
Angelina Jolie. Anne, already divorcing her husband, shared personal details and funds with her “new friend.”