A woman who believed she was in a relationship with Brad Pitt has been conned out of £700,000 an elaborate AI-driven scam.
The 53-year-old French woman, identified only as Anne, gave over the cash thinking the Hollywood actor needed treatment for cancer.
Anne, who had been going through marital troubles with her millionaire husband, was lured into the scam through romantic gestures, poetry, and AI-generated images and videos that convinced her she was communicating with the real Brad Pitt, reports the Mirror.
The scam began in February 2023, when she received a message, allegedly from the actor’s mother, after she posted photos of a ski holiday in Tignes on Instagram. The following day, a fake Brad Pitt account contacted her, initiating daily communication that quickly escalated.
Initially skeptical, Anne was won over by the scammer’s charm and consistent efforts. “There are so few men who write you this kind of thing. I liked the man I was talking to. He knew how to talk to women; it was always very well done,” she told BFMTV .
The scammer even promised her lavish gifts but insisted she pay upfront for customs fees, amounting to over £7,500. After receiving initial payments, the fraudster became bolder, asking for larger sums, especially after learning that Anne was expecting a significant divorce settlement.
The scam reached its peak when the imposter claimed that Brad Pitt needed financial help for kidney cancer treatment. The fraudster explained that his assets were frozen due to his ongoing divorce with Angelina Jolie and even sent AI-generated images of “Pitt” lying in a hospital bed. In total, Anne transferred £697,000 to the scammer. Despite her growing attachment, the so-called Brad Pitt was never available for a direct conversation.
Anne’s suspicions were finally confirmed when she saw media reports of the real Brad Pitt dating jewelry designer Ines de Ramon. Realising she had been deceived, she reported the scam to the police. She is now undergoing medical treatment at a clinic, as the ordeal has left her suffering from depression.
Don’t miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond – Sign up to our daily newsletter here.