Fraud with AI images

Woman Divorces For Fake Brad Pitt and Loses 830,000 Euros

A French interior designer fell victim to a scam in which a fraudster tricked her with AI-generated images of Brad Pitt and extracted 830,000 euros from her. The scam began with a message on Instagram and escalated into claims for alleged cancer treatment costs. Despite growing doubts, the woman paid up until the truth came to light.

Brad Pitt scam begins with an Instagram message
AI images reinforce the illusion
Victim loses almost one million euros

Without warning, 53-year-old French woman Anne was caught up in a sophisticated scam that robbed her of hundreds of thousands of euros. The fraudster, posing as Brad Pitt, used social media to gain the interior designer's trust. The scam began innocuously with a message purporting to be from the actor's mother after the woman shared photos of her luxury ski vacation in Tignes on Instagram.

Brad Pitt scam begins with an Instagram message

A day after the first message, another followed from an Instagram account pretending to be Brad Pitt. The supposed acquaintance quickly developed into a friendship that began in February 2023. Anne, who was going through a difficult period with her millionaire husband, was drawn to the poetic messages and kind affirmations she was receiving. "I was in love with the man I was chatting to. He knew how to speak to a woman," she said on 'Seven to Eight'.

Although she was initially skeptical, her doubts were dispelled by daily communication and the receipt of AI-generated photos and videos of the star. The deception reached its peak when the fake Brad Pitt asked for financial support for an alleged kidney cancer treatment. The fraudster claimed he could not access his funds due to his ongoing divorce from Angelina Jolie. Anne eventually transferred 830,000 euros.

Victim loses almost one million euros

The relationship took a turn when the fake Brad Pitt proposed to her and promised expensive gifts, but these required customs fees, as reported by the 'Daily Mail'. These fees quickly added up to 9,000 euros. The deception went undetected until Anne saw photos of the real Brad Pitt with his new girlfriend, Ines de Ramon, in the media. She then contacted the authorities, who launched an investigation. It is currently unclear whether she has received any of her money back. According to BFMTV, she is in a clinic due to severe depression.