A 53-year-old French interior designer has become the latest victim of an elaborate online romance scam after being deceived into believing she was in a relationship with Hollywood actor Brad Pitt. The woman, identified only as Anne, lost her life savings of €830,000 (approximately $850,000) to fraudsters who expertly manipulated her through social media.
The deception began in September 2023 when Anne received an Instagram message from someone claiming to be Jane Etta Pitt, Brad Pitt's mother. The scammers quickly escalated the situation by creating another account pretending to be Brad Pitt himself, initiating daily communications with the victim.
The fraudsters employed sophisticated tactics, including AI-generated images showing the actor in various scenarios, including hospital scenes. They sent poems, songs, and romantic messages to gain Anne's trust. At the time, Anne was experiencing personal difficulties in her relationship with her wealthy partner, making her particularly vulnerable to the scam.
The scammers convinced Anne that "Brad" needed financial assistance for kidney cancer treatment, claiming his ex-wife Angelina Jolie had frozen his bank accounts during their divorce proceedings. They even produced AI-generated photos of Pitt in a hospital bed with IV machines to support their story.
The scheme began to unravel only when Anne saw news reports about Brad Pitt's actual relationship with girlfriend Ines de Ramon. By then, she had already transferred €830,000 to the fraudsters, believing it was for medical treatment.
Following the revelation, Anne reported the incident to French police, who launched an investigation in summer 2024. The victim is currently receiving treatment in a clinic for severe depression resulting from the ordeal.
This case highlights the growing sophistication of romance scams, particularly with the emergence of AI technology that can create convincing fake images and videos. Law enforcement agencies warn that such scams frequently target vulnerable individuals, especially those experiencing loneliness or going through difficult personal circumstances.