It’s a story that’s both shocking and heart-wrenching. Hollywood star Brad Pitt recently addressed an unfortunate incident involving a woman who was scammed out of a staggering $850,000 by someone impersonating him online. The fraudster convinced her that the money was needed for cancer treatment.
The victim, 53-year-old Anne, fell prey to the scam through social media where she was initially contacted by someone posing as Pitt’s mother. This encounter led her down a heartbreaking path, believing she was actually in communication with the acclaimed actor himself.
Just a day after this initial message, Anne received another direct message in February 2023, purportedly from Brad, stating: “Hello Anne, my mother told me a lot about you. I would like to know more.”
Anne recounted her ordeal to French TV TF1, expressing her disbelief: “In fact, we’re talking about Brad Pitt, I’m falling from the clouds. At first, I tell myself it’s fake, but I don’t really understand what’s happening to me. After that, we contact each other every day and we become friends.”
For Anne, the situation was surreal and enticing. “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 shared.
The imposter account fabricated a story about undergoing cancer treatment, asserting that due to an ongoing divorce with Angelina Jolie, Pitt could not afford the expenses. To make the lie more believable, they sent Anne photoshopped AI images of Brad Pitt in a hospital setting.
Anne’s attempts to have a phone conversation were deflected with excuses of being ‘too busy.’
As communication continued over months, Anne was manipulated into agreeing to marry the person behind the fake profile. This decision followed her divorce from her husband, during which she came into €775,000 ($798,894). The supposed Brad promised extravagant gifts like Chanel and Hermès purses, which led Anne to transfer her entire fortune to the scammer’s account. She was also misled into paying a customs fee of €9,000 ($9,277).
Anne’s suspicions grew when real-life images of Brad Pitt with his new girlfriend, Ines de Ramon, surfaced, prompting her to seek an investigation into the matter.
According to reports from BFM TV, Anne is now suffering from severe depression and is receiving care in a hospital clinic. It’s unclear if any efforts to reclaim her lost funds have proved successful.
In light of the scam gaining widespread attention, Brad Pitt’s real team has spoken out. A representative shared his concerns: “It’s awful that scammers take advantage of the strong bond between fans and celebrities.” The statement serves as a poignant reminder to be wary of unsolicited online messages, particularly from individuals purporting to be high-profile figures who generally refrain from personal social media interactions.
