Scammer Dupes Woman of Over $800,000 by Posing as Brad Pitt with AI-Generated Videos and Images
A French woman known as Anne has revealed a shocking tale of online deception in which she was scammed out of over $800,000 by someone pretending to be Hollywood actor Brad Pitt. The intricate scheme involved not only social media messaging but also AI-generated videos and digitally altered images, all used to convince Anne that she was in fact communicating with the famous movie star.
From Flirtation to Fraud
Anne, who was already going through marital troubles, was contacted in February 2023 via Instagram by an account claiming to be Brad Pitt. What began as pleasant conversation evolved into a whirlwind online romance, replete with tender poems and near-daily texts. Initially suspicious, Anne was eventually convinced by a string of purported “proofs,” including AI-generated videos and doctored images portraying Pitt in various lifelike scenarios—sometimes in a hospital bed, sometimes simply sending personal greetings.
The scammer also timed his approach perfectly: Anne had mentioned she was expecting a large sum from her millionaire husband as part of her divorce settlement. The scammer, portraying Pitt, used this knowledge to extract increasing amounts of money, citing urgent circumstances.
False Proposals and Soaring Costs
The imposter soon proposed to Anne, promising her luxury gifts on the condition she pay “customs fees” to receive them. The initial sum came to about €9,000 ($9,231). Over time, these demands ballooned, as the scammer continually invented new, urgent excuses for financial help, such as kidney cancer treatment.
In an outlandish twist, this fake Brad Pitt claimed he was unable to access his own bank accounts due to ongoing divorce proceedings with actress Angelina Jolie. Whenever Anne requested a direct phone call, he avoided it, yet he repeatedly sent AI-generated images and videos showing himself undergoing medical treatment, further manipulating her emotions.
$850,000 Lost to an Illusory Hollywood Star
Anne eventually found herself transferring a total of €800,000—over $850,000—through various wire transactions, each time believing she was assisting the famed actor. She only realized the extent of the fraud upon seeing genuine news that the real Brad Pitt was dating Ines de Ramon, rendering all of “his” messages and romantic promises a complete fabrication.
At 53 years old, and now hospitalized due to severe depression caused by these events, Anne is left facing the grim reality that she may never recover her lost savings. Although local authorities have launched an investigation, scam artists often cleverly conceal their tracks, leaving little hope for victims who have been so thoroughly deceived.
How do you think we can protect vulnerable people from high-tech, AI-driven scams like this? Share your thoughts and any helpful tips in the comments below.
