Imagine being swept off your feet by a Hollywood heartthrob, only to discover it was all a lie. Well, that’s exactly what happened to a French woman who thought she was in a romantic relationship with none other than Brad Pitt. What started as a harmless exchange quickly spiraled into an elaborate scam, costing her a staggering 830,000 euros (about $855,000). And the worst part? The fraudsters didn’t just steal her money—they also went after her dignity.
It all began in February 2023 when Anne, a 53-year-old French interior designer, received a message on Instagram from an account pretending to be Brad Pitt’s mother, Jane Etta Pitt. At first, Anne wasn’t sure what to think, but soon the conversation turned into something much deeper. She was led to believe that the “Moneyball” actor himself was looking for a confidante like her. Over time, Anne was convinced that Brad needed help—he was battling kidney cancer, and his accounts had been frozen due to his messy divorce with Angelina Jolie. Naturally, the scammers didn’t waste time asking for money.
Though Anne had doubts at first, her unfamiliarity with social media made her an easy target. Soon, she was exchanging messages across several platforms, even receiving AI-generated selfies from the fake Brad. By the time the fake actor’s “doctor” emailed her about the urgent need for treatment funds, she was convinced. In the end, she sent the scammers a huge sum of money, only to realize much later that it was all a scam.
The real shock came when Anne stumbled upon photos of Brad with his new partner, Inès de Ramon, and realized she had been duped. Her feelings of betrayal were deep, and she expressed how unfair it felt to be targeted by scammers, wondering, “Why me?”
Anne’s heartbreaking story didn’t stop there. After it aired on French TV, she faced a wave of online harassment, with many mocking her for falling victim to the scam. Even Netflix France couldn’t resist taking a jab, promoting “four films to see with Brad Pitt (really) for free” on social media.
While Anne’s ordeal was being ridiculed online, the larger issue is the increasing threat of AI-related fraud. According to the Federal Trade Commission, AI scams led to over $8.8 million in losses in the U.S. alone. McAfee’s global study revealed that one in four people have either fallen victim to or know someone who has been scammed through AI-voice cloning or similar tricks.
Anne’s case is a reminder that even in the digital age, a little caution can go a long way. The rise of AI and deepfakes makes it easier for scammers to trick people, and unfortunately, Anne was just one of many victims. Let’s hope this serves as a wake-up call for all of us to stay vigilant, even if someone looks like a Hollywood star in our inbox.
