Brad Pitt responds to a scam where a woman, who thought she was in a relationship with him, was defrauded of $850,000.
Brad Pitt has recently made headlines after a woman was scammed out of $850,000 by someone pretending to be him online.
The victim, a French interior designer named Anne, believed she was in a romantic relationship with the actor.
This shocking incident highlights the dangers of online scams, especially those targeting fans of celebrities.
A fake Brad Pitt approached Anne via Instagram
The scam began in February 2023 when Anne received a message on Instagram from an account claiming to be Brad Pitt’s mother.
At first, she was skeptical but curious. Soon after, the account started messaging her, claiming to be Pitt himself.
The scammer sent Anne photos that combined Pitt’s face with images of other people to convince her that he was real.
Anne was taken aback by the messages.
She described her feelings as “flabbergasted” and mentioned that it felt surreal to be communicating with someone she thought was a famous actor.
Over time, they began to chat daily, and she felt a genuine connection with the person behind the screen.
The AI-generated Brad Pitt built a fake relationship with the woman
As their conversations continued, the scammer used romantic tactics to win Anne over.
He sent her poems and affectionate messages, making her feel special.
Eventually, he proposed marriage, deepening Anne’s belief that she was in a real relationship.
The scam took a darker turn when the impersonator claimed he needed money for urgent cancer treatment.
He said that he could not afford the medical expenses due to ongoing divorce proceedings with his ex-wife, Angelina Jolie.
To make the scenario more convincing, the scammer sent Anne AI-generated images of himself in a hospital.
One of the images showed him holding a sign that read, “Anne, I love you.”
The scam resulted in significant financial exploitation.
During this time, the scammer asked Anne for various sums of money, including a $9,900 USD custom fee.
Believing she was helping the man she loved, Anne sent the funds, thinking they would lead to a future together.
However, the promised luxury gifts and support never materialized.
It wasn’t until summer 2024 that Anne realized she had been duped.
This realization came when she saw photos of the real Brad Pitt with his new girlfriend, Ines de Ramon.
By then, she had lost nearly one million euros to the scammer and had reported the incident to the police.
The emotional toll on Anne has been significant.
Reports indicate that she has suffered severe depression as a result of the scam.
The financial and emotional losses have left her in a difficult situation, and it remains unclear if she will be able to recover any of the money lost.
Brad Pitt responded to the scam
In response to this distressing situation, Brad Pitt’s representatives issued a statement.
They expressed concern over how scammers exploit the strong connection between fans and celebrities.
The statement emphasized the importance of being vigilant and cautious about unsolicited online messages, particularly from individuals claiming to be celebrities.
Pitt’s team stated, “It’s awful that scammers take advantage of the strong bond between fans and celebrities.
“This is an important reminder not to respond to unsolicited online messages, especially from actors who are not present on social networks.”