Scammer posing as Brad Pitt tricks French woman into sending €800,000

UPDATED: Jan 15, 2025 21:40 IST

A scammer impersonating Brad Pitt successfully tricked a French woman into sending over 800,000 euros for fake medical treatment. Over the course of a year, the fraudster used AI-generated photos and sweet talk to convince 53-year-old Anne that she was in a romantic relationship with the actor. She believed his claims of needing financial help for medical procedures due to his divorce from Angelina Jolie, ultimately transferring large sums of money to a foreign account in the process.

Fake Love Leads to Financial Ruin Anne fell deeper into the illusion as the fraudster promised marriage and even sent fake pictures of himself in a hospital bed. The scam continued, and she was convinced that helping "Brad Pitt" would save his life.

When Reality Strikes Annes bubble burst when she saw Brad Pitt with his real partner, Ines de Ramon, in the news. The scammer tried to salvage the situation by claiming the relationship reports were fake. Anne eventually realised the deception but had already sent hundreds of thousands of euros.

Emotional Toll and Legal Actions The emotional toll of being conned was devastating for Anne. She attempted suicide several times and was diagnosed with depression. She finally reported the fraud to the police in the hope of bringing justice to her ordeal.

Anne, who was navigating a divorce from her wealthy husband, initially met the scammer through Instagram. The scammer first posed as Brad Pitts mother, Jane Etta Pitt, and then quickly transitioned into the actor himself. The fraudster charmed Anne with sweet messages, poetic declarations of love, and frequent AI-generated videos, building a false sense of trust. Anne was convinced that she was helping the actor, who claimed his bank accounts were blocked due to his ongoing divorce and required money for kidney surgery. The scammers manipulation intensified, leading her to transfer significant sums