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A representative for Brad Pitt has reacted to an online scam where people impersonated as the actor and allegedly defrauded two women of over $350K. The statement comes after the Spanish Ministry of the Interior announced on September 25, 2024, about the arrest of five people connected to the scam.
In a statement made to The New York Times, the Pitt's publicist named Matthew Hiltzik reminded people that the Fight Club actor is not on any social media platforms. He further commented:
"It’s awful that scammers take advantage of fans’ strong connection with celebrities. But this is an important reminder to not respond to unsolicited online outreach, especially from actors who have no social media presence."
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Per the Spanish authorities (press release translated by Google), the five scammers ran a "criminal organization," along with ten others still under investigation. They posed as "fake Brad Pitt" and contacted women on social media. They promised a romantic relationship and later swindled them out of their money.
Men impersonating Brad Pitt are facing multiple charges including fraud, money laundering, and forgery
Three of the five suspects were previously arrested in November 2023 and the remaining two were arrested in July. According to the press release, they are currently facing multiple charges, including fraud, money laundering, and forgery.
The scammers reportedly made psychological profiles of all the possible victims, identifying the two most vulnerable targets. They found the victims on online forums dedicated to Brad Pitt.
The scammers began exchanging messages with the two women on social media and email. They built trust by promising the victims a future together with the Once Upon a Time in Hollywood actor. After this, they asked the women to transfer money to invest in "various commercial projects" with him.
Per the Spanish authorities, in a series of "money transfers," one woman gave away almost $167,000, while the other sent about $195,500. Authorities recovered $94,000 during their investigations, which began in August 2023 after a woman reported the scam.
The suspects allegedly opened bank accounts registered using falsified documents of people of African nationalities where the money was received. They then hired "mules," who would transfer the money to other accounts to launder it.
Pitt is not the only celebrity to have his identity used in online scams. Whoopi Goldberg, Tom Hanks, Florence Pugh, and many others have been impersonated to solicit money from fans.
Currently, Brad Pitt has no official social media accounts. The actor has previously asserted his disinterest in having one. In his September 2014 interview with GQ, the actor explained:
"Because I felt quite used, and completely misunderstood, and misread, and not given the benefit of the doubt. You know, I felt that a lot in my first years. I would have brought some logic to the table, and brought it immediately. But now, at this point, I don't want to bother with it."
He mirrored the sentiments in his July 2019 interview with E! News. When questioned what would get him to join Instagram, Brad Pitt quipped, "Never gonna happen." He later expressed that life was pretty good without it, adding that he didn't see the point in it.
Brad Pitt will be next seen in the crime comedy Wolfs, which will stream on Apple TV+ starting September 27.
