Amid a wave of public ridicule, a woman shares her harrowing journey of deception at the hands of scammers who impersonated celebrity Brad Pitt, highlighting the dangers of deepfake technology and online deception.
**French Woman Scammed €830,000 by Imposter Using AI Technology of Brad Pitt**
**French Woman Scammed €830,000 by Imposter Using AI Technology of Brad Pitt**
A French interior designer becomes a victim of a sophisticated scam involving fake representations of the Hollywood star.
In a shocking incident that highlights the darker side of celebrity worship and the rise of AI technology, a 53-year-old French interior designer, known only as Anne, found herself duped out of €830,000 (£700,000; $850,000) by scammers impersonating actor Brad Pitt. The tale took a dramatic turn after French broadcaster TF1 cancelled an airing about Anne, following public backlash and ridicule surrounding her plight.
Anne recounted her year-and-a-half-long ordeal on a popular YouTube show, declaring, “I just got played, I admit it,” clarifying that her actions did not stem from insanity but from a deep emotional connection she believed she had formed with Pitt. This sentiment was echoed by a spokesperson for the actor, emphasizing, “It’s awful that scammers take advantage of fans’ strong connection with celebrities.”
The scam began when Anne downloaded Instagram in February 2023, in the midst of her marriage to a wealthy entrepreneur. Shortly thereafter, she received a message from someone purporting to be Pitt’s mother, claiming that her son was in need of someone like her. The next day, she began chatting with a person claiming to be Pitt himself. Despite her initial skepticism, Anne fell deeper into the scheme as the fake Pitt persisted in his emotional manipulations.
The deception escalated as the imposter claimed to be unable to access his bank accounts during divorce proceedings, leading Anne to send €9,000 for supposedly frozen luxury gifts. As requests for funds continued, the fake Pitt fabricated a story about needing money for kidney cancer treatment. Correspondence included AI-generated photos of the actor appearing ill in a hospital bed, which Anne interpreted as genuine, further ensnaring her in the scam.
With her marriage ending, Anne resorted to utilizing her divorce settlement of €775,000 to satisfy the scammers' ongoing financial demands under the pretense of helping "save a man's life." Her daughter's attempts to intervene and reason with Anne went unheeded, as she expressed her naivety and excitement over the supposed relationship.
The ruse shattered when real photos of Pitt with his new girlfriend appeared in tabloids, suddenly prompting Anne's realizations. Even after confronting her feelings, and facing new communications from the scam artists, she finally contacted the police for help.
In a heartrending interview, Anne referred to her struggling state of living nearly homeless with minimal belongings, reflecting on the emotional toll the situation has taken on her. Despite the mockery she faced online, some voices defended her, highlighting the naivety and vulnerability that can stem from emotional exploitation. An op-ed in Libération argued that Anne serves as a “whistleblower” in this cyber age where AI advancements can lead unsuspecting individuals into traps.
As investigations continue, Anne's story raises crucial discussions about the need for awareness regarding online scams and the everyday impacts of technology on emotional and financial stability.
Anne recounted her year-and-a-half-long ordeal on a popular YouTube show, declaring, “I just got played, I admit it,” clarifying that her actions did not stem from insanity but from a deep emotional connection she believed she had formed with Pitt. This sentiment was echoed by a spokesperson for the actor, emphasizing, “It’s awful that scammers take advantage of fans’ strong connection with celebrities.”
The scam began when Anne downloaded Instagram in February 2023, in the midst of her marriage to a wealthy entrepreneur. Shortly thereafter, she received a message from someone purporting to be Pitt’s mother, claiming that her son was in need of someone like her. The next day, she began chatting with a person claiming to be Pitt himself. Despite her initial skepticism, Anne fell deeper into the scheme as the fake Pitt persisted in his emotional manipulations.
The deception escalated as the imposter claimed to be unable to access his bank accounts during divorce proceedings, leading Anne to send €9,000 for supposedly frozen luxury gifts. As requests for funds continued, the fake Pitt fabricated a story about needing money for kidney cancer treatment. Correspondence included AI-generated photos of the actor appearing ill in a hospital bed, which Anne interpreted as genuine, further ensnaring her in the scam.
With her marriage ending, Anne resorted to utilizing her divorce settlement of €775,000 to satisfy the scammers' ongoing financial demands under the pretense of helping "save a man's life." Her daughter's attempts to intervene and reason with Anne went unheeded, as she expressed her naivety and excitement over the supposed relationship.
The ruse shattered when real photos of Pitt with his new girlfriend appeared in tabloids, suddenly prompting Anne's realizations. Even after confronting her feelings, and facing new communications from the scam artists, she finally contacted the police for help.
In a heartrending interview, Anne referred to her struggling state of living nearly homeless with minimal belongings, reflecting on the emotional toll the situation has taken on her. Despite the mockery she faced online, some voices defended her, highlighting the naivety and vulnerability that can stem from emotional exploitation. An op-ed in Libération argued that Anne serves as a “whistleblower” in this cyber age where AI advancements can lead unsuspecting individuals into traps.
As investigations continue, Anne's story raises crucial discussions about the need for awareness regarding online scams and the everyday impacts of technology on emotional and financial stability.
