A 53-year-old French woman became the victim of a cruel scam involving someone pretending to be Hollywood star Brad Pitt.
She lost hundreds of thousands of euros before realizing the truth, OddityCentral writes. The story highlights the dangers of online deception and how easily people can fall prey to manipulation.
Anne, an interior decorator, joined Instagram in February 2023 to share photos from a skiing trip.
Shortly after, someone claiming to be Jane Pitt, Brad Pitt’s mother, contacted her.
This individual told Anne that she would be a great match for her son. Soon, someone posing as Brad Pitt reached out to her directly.
They started chatting daily, and over time, Anne developed strong feelings for him.
The fake Brad Pitt seemed caring and interested in Anne’s life. He asked her about her passions, her work, and her family.
He sent her songs, poems, and even photos. These photos were later revealed to be AI-generated.
At the time, Anne believed she was falling in love with the real Brad Pitt.
The scammer’s strategy became clear once he learned about Anne’s financial situation.
She had recently divorced a wealthy entrepreneur and received a substantial settlement.
The fake Brad Pitt claimed he was suffering from serious kidney issues and had been hospitalized.
He even sent photos of himself in a hospital bed to make the story convincing.
The scammer said he couldn’t pay his medical bills due to a messy divorce with Angelina Jolie.
Believing his story, Anne began transferring money. Over several months, she sent more than 830,000 euros, including her entire divorce settlement.
Anne only realized it was a scam last summer when she saw news reports about Brad Pitt dating Ines de Ramon. By then, it was too late to recover her money.
“I can’t believe this happened to me,” Anne told reporters. “These people deserve hell for what they’ve done.”
She has filed a police report, but it’s unclear if authorities have made progress.
Meanwhile, Anne faces ridicule on social media for believing she was in a relationship with Brad Pitt.
