French woman falls victim to €830,000 scam involving fake Brad Pitt
A French interior designer was swindled out of €830,000 (approximately $900,000) in a complex scheme orchestrated by scammers impersonating actor Brad Pitt.
The case drew significant attention in France, leading broadcaster TF1 to cancel a program on the incident after it became the target of ridicule online.
Anne, a 53-year-old woman, believed she was in a romantic relationship with someone claiming to be Brad Pitt for nearly 18 months. In a recent interview, she shared her ordeal:
"I am not foolish or unstable. I was deceived, and I admit it. But that’s precisely why I decided to tell my story. I’m not alone in this."
The deception began in early 2023 when Anne opened an Instagram account. She was soon contacted by someone pretending to be Brad Pitt’s mother, claiming the actor was searching for “a woman like her.”
Shortly afterward, Anne received a message from someone posing as Pitt himself, which initially raised her suspicions.
With little familiarity with social media, Anne was drawn into the fraud. The imposters started by requesting small sums of money, claiming they were needed to pay customs fees for gifts the actor had supposedly sent her.
Later, the demands escalated, with claims that Pitt needed funds for kidney cancer treatment. To make their story convincing, they provided AI-generated images showing the actor in a hospital bed.
"I searched online for those photos and couldn’t find them anywhere. That made me believe they were taken just for me," Anne explained.
During her divorce proceedings, Anne received a €775,000 settlement, but she eventually transferred the entire amount to the scammers.
"I genuinely thought I was saving someone’s life," she said, noting that she is a cancer survivor herself.
Anne’s daughter, 22, tried repeatedly to warn her over the course of a year but was unable to convince her.
"It was heartbreaking to see my mother being taken advantage of," her daughter said.
When Anne saw news of the real Brad Pitt dating jewelry designer Ines de Ramon, she began to question the situation.
However, the scammers sent her a fake AI-generated video featuring a “news anchor” reporting that Pitt was in an “exclusive relationship” with her, temporarily restoring her trust.
Once she uncovered the truth, Anne severed contact with the fraudsters. Yet, they persisted, this time pretending to be an “FBI agent.” This harassment finally led her to seek help from the authorities.
The emotional and financial devastation drove Anne to attempt suicide three times. She now lives with a friend under modest circumstances.
"My entire life fits into a single small room filled with boxes. That’s all I have left," she said.
Despite facing widespread ridicule online, Anne has also received support from some who recognize the sophisticated nature of the scam.
"This is a 50-year-old woman who fell prey to deepfakes and AI trickery. Many people, especially older generations, wouldn’t be able to spot these kinds of scams," a social media user commented.
The French publication **Libération** labeled Anne a “whistleblower,” warning about the increasing risks of AI-powered digital fraud:
"We live in an age filled with cyber traps, and the rise of artificial intelligence only worsens the issue."
Anne ended her interview with a heartfelt plea:
"Why did this happen to me? These criminals need to face justice. Please, help bring them to account."
