Fake Brad Pitt scam costs woman $850,000 in shocking online fraud

In a shocking case of online deception, a French woman lost €830,000 (approximately $850,000) to scammers posing as Hollywood actor Brad Pitt. The 53-year-old victim, identified as Anne, fell for an elaborate scheme that began with a message on Instagram from someone claiming to be the actor's mother, Jane Etta Pitt, as per a report by Metro.co.uk.

What initially seemed like a casual conversation soon spiraled into an elaborate fraud, leaving Anne emotionally and financially devastated.

This is not an isolated incident, as scammers using Brad Pitt's name have targeted victims in the past, with similar cases reported in Spain in 2024. These scams prey on people's vulnerabilities, leveraging sophisticated techniques to extract money, including AI-generated photos, fake stories, and emotional manipulation.

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How did a woman get duped in the name of Brad Pitt? Details explored

The scam began in September 2023, when Anne, an interior designer from France, received a direct message on Instagram from an account claiming to belong to Jane Etta Pitt, Brad Pitt's mother, as per Metro.co.uk. The account quickly turned the conversation toward Anne's potential compatibility with the Hollywood actor, suggesting she was exactly the type of woman he needed.

Shortly after, Anne was contacted by another account, this time claiming to be Brad Pitt himself, the outlet reported. Initially skeptical, she was eventually convinced by the scammer's smooth and calculated tactics. The fraudster posed as Pitt, sending poems, songs, and even AI-generated photos that appeared to depict the actor in intimate and vulnerable moments.

“At first, I thought it was fake, but I couldn’t understand what was happening to me,” Anne later told French channel TF1.

Anne was dealing with personal challenges at the time, including the collapse of a relationship with a wealthy entrepreneur nearly two decades her senior, as per the French newspaper Sud Ouest. Her emotional vulnerability made her an easy target for the scammer, who capitalized on her desire for companionship and trust.

The impersonator began building a relationship with Anne, contacting her daily and creating an illusion of genuine affection. The fraudster began sending her luxurious gifts, including designer handbags, to gain her trust. However, Anne was asked to cover customs fees for these items, leading her to send an initial payment of €9,000 ($9,500).

The scam escalated when the fake Brad Pitt claimed he had been diagnosed with kidney cancer and needed money for treatment. To add credibility to the story, the scammer claimed that his ex-wife, Angelina Jolie, had frozen his bank accounts, leaving him unable to access his money.

He even sent Anne fabricated photos of himself in a hospital bed, connected to an IV machine, to bolster the ruse.

Believing she was helping the real Pitt, Anne transferred a staggering €830,000 overtime to cover his alleged medical expenses. It wasn't until she saw pictures of the actor with his actual girlfriend, Ines de Ramon, in the media that she began to suspect she had been scammed.

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Aftermath and investigation details of the Brad Pitt scam explored

Anne eventually reported the scam to French authorities in the summer of 2024. The emotional toll of the deception has been severe, and she is currently hospitalized for depression as a result of the betrayal, per French news network BFM TV. French police have launched an investigation into the incident, though the scammer remains at large.

Unfortunately, Anne's case is not unique. In September 2024, authorities in Spain arrested five individuals accused of scamming over $350,000 from two women by impersonating the actor, as per a report by People. These cases highlight a disturbing trend of scammers exploiting the names of high-profile celebrities to manipulate and defraud unsuspecting victims.

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On the other hand, Brad Pitt and Angeline Jolie finally settled their divorce after eight years on December 30, 2024.