A French interior designer lost $850,000 in a sophisticated romance scam involving an AI-generated Brad Pitt impersonator.
AI poses a huge threat to people all over the world!
At a Glance
- French woman “Anne” scammed out of $850,000 by fake Brad Pitt using AI technology
- Scammer claimed Pitt needed money for kidney treatment and couldn’t access funds due to divorce
- Anne divorced her husband, believing she would be with Pitt
- Scam lasted over a year with personalized AI-generated photos and messages
- Anne faced cyberbullying after her story was broadcast on French TV
Elaborate Scheme Targets Unsuspecting Victim
In a shocking case of digital deception, a French interior designer named “Anne” fell victim to an elaborate romance scam orchestrated by a fraudster posing as Hollywood star Brad Pitt. The scammer employed cutting-edge AI technology to create convincing images and messages, ultimately swindling Anne out of a staggering $850,000.
The scam began when Anne was contacted through a fake social media account purporting to be Pitt’s mother, Jane. The impersonator carefully laid the groundwork for the deception, telling Anne that “her son needed someone like me.” This initial contact paved the way for direct communication with the fake Brad Pitt, who spun a tale of financial distress and medical emergencies.
Over the course of more than a year, the scammer wove an intricate narrative, claiming that Pitt urgently required funds for kidney treatment but couldn’t access his bank accounts due to his ongoing divorce from Angelina Jolie. The fraudster used AI-generated photos and personalized messages to maintain the illusion, gradually building Anne’s trust and emotional investment in the fake relationship.
“At first I said to myself that it was fake, that it’s ridiculous,” Anne said.
Despite initial skepticism, Anne’s unfamiliarity with social media left her vulnerable to the scammer’s tactics. As the deception deepened, Anne made the drastic decision to divorce her husband, believing she would soon be united with the real Brad Pitt in person.
The illusion finally shattered when Anne came across news about Pitt’s actual girlfriend, Ines de Ramon. Confronted with the truth, Anne filed a police report and began to grapple with the devastating emotional and financial consequences of the scam.
“I ask myself why they chose me to do such harm like this? I’ve never harmed anyone. These people deserve hell,” Anne said.
Adding insult to injury, Anne faced a barrage of cyberbullying after her story was broadcast on French TV channel TF1. The public reaction was so severe that TF1 removed the interview from its programming, facing criticism for not adequately protecting Anne from harassment. The ordeal took a severe toll on Anne’s mental health, resulting in her hospitalization for severe depression.
A Growing Trend in Celebrity Impersonation Scams
This incident is not isolated. The Federal Trade Commission has received nearly 200 complaints related to similar scams involving fake Johnny Depp accounts, highlighting a disturbing trend in celebrity impersonation fraud. As AI technology becomes more sophisticated, scammers are finding new ways to exploit people’s trust and admiration for public figures.
The Brad Pitt impersonation scam serves as a stark reminder of the dangers lurking in the digital world.
We’re now at the stage where we can’t trust anybody unless we see them in real life.
That’s the terrifying future in which we live right now.