A French woman reportedly lost $850,000 (approximately RM4 million) and her marriage after falling victim to scammers who used AI-generated images and fake messages to impersonate actor Brad Pitt.
In a report by Entertainment Weekly, a spokesperson for Pitt said that scammers exploit fans' strong connection with celebrities. "This is an important reminder not to engage with unsolicited online outreach, especially from actors without a social media presence."
The warning follows a similar scam in September involving Pitt impersonators.
The victim, a 53-year-old interior designer named Anne, shared her ordeal during an interview with TF1's Seven to Eight program. She explained that the scam began with an Instagram message from someone claiming to be Pitt’s mother, who told Anne that her son needed someone like her.
Days later, another account, purported to be Pitt himself, reached out. Although initially skeptical, Anne—who admitted to being unfamiliar with social media—eventually believed she was speaking to the actor.
The scammers claimed that Pitt was unable to access his funds due to divorce proceedings and needed financial help for kidney treatment. They sent Anne doctored and AI-generated images of Pitt in a hospital bed to convince her of their story.
Believing she was in a romantic relationship with Pitt, Anne sent $850,000 (approximately RM4 million) and even divorced her husband to pursue the supposed relationship. "I was in love with the man I was chatting to," Anne said. "He knew how to speak to a woman."
Anne realized the deception only after seeing news of Pitt’s real-life relationship with Ines de Ramon. She subsequently filed a police report, expressing anguish over being targeted: "I ask myself why they chose me to do such harm. I’ve never hurt anyone. These people deserve hell."
TF1 later pulled the Seven to Eight episode to prevent further cyberbullying after Anne faced ridicule online. Reports indicated that she suffered from depression and other mental health struggles following the incident.
This scam is one of several incidents involving Brad Pitt impersonators. In 2024, Spain's Interior Ministry arrested five scammers who defrauded two women out of $350,000 (approximately RM1,575,000) in a similar scheme. It remains unclear whether the French and Spanish cases are connected.
The Moneyball actor recently settled his high-profile divorce from Angelina Jolie, which had been ongoing since 2016. This cautionary tale underscores the dangers of online scams and the importance of staying vigilant against fraudulent impersonation schemes.
Source: Entertainment Weekly
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