The Brad Pitt scam is a cautionary tale of how sophisticated online scams can prey on the vulnerable and the unwary. In early 2023, a 53-year-old French woman named Anne, who was going through a difficult divorce, received a message on Instagram from someone claiming to be Brad Pitt’s mother
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. The message claimed that Brad was battling kidney cancer and needed financial assistance
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. Anne, who was not very familiar with social media, was initially skeptical but was eventually convinced by the AI-generated images and messages she received
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Over the course of 14 months, Anne transferred almost $855,000 to the scammer, believing she was helping Brad Pitt pay for his medical treatment
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. The scammer used deepfake technology to create convincing images and videos of Brad Pitt, and even went as far as to claim that Brad’s bank accounts were frozen due to his divorce proceedings with Angelina Jolie
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. Anne was so convinced by the scam that she even left her wealthy husband and believed she was in a romantic relationship with Brad Pitt
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The scam came to light when Anne saw pictures of the real Brad Pitt with his new girlfriend, Inès de Ramon, and realized she had been duped
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. She contacted the police and shared her story on French television, but the aftermath was not easy
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. Anne faced severe online harassment and mockery, which led to her being hospitalized for depression
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. Despite the backlash, Anne’s story serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of online scams and the importance of being vigilant.
Brad Pitt’s representatives have since issued a statement condemning the scam and urging people to be cautious of unsolicited messages, especially from celebrities who do not have official social media accounts
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. The scammer, who has been tracked down in Nigeria, is now posing as another A-list celebrity, continuing to prey on unsuspecting victims
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This story highlights the need for increased awareness and education about online scams, especially as technology becomes more advanced. It’s crucial to verify the authenticity of messages and to be skeptical of requests for money, no matter how convincing they may seem.
For more details, you can watch the full interview with Anne on French television here.
Stay safe online and always be cautious of unsolicited messages!
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www.nbcnews.com
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www.newsweek.com
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www.hellomagazine.com
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Daily Mail
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