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A French woman was scammed out of nearly €830,000 after being convinced she was in a relationship with Hollywood actor Brad Pitt.
The 53-year-old victim, known as Anne, said the scam began when she posted photos of a lavish ski trip to Instagram. She received a message from someone claiming to be Brad Pitt's mother, which led to a second message from an account posing as Pitt himself. Over time, she developed an online friendship with the person behind the account, who provided flattering poetry and kind affirmations.
Despite initially suspecting the account was fake, Anne began to feel at ease after receiving AI-generated photos and videos of the actor. As the relationship progressed, the scammer began sending images allegedly showing Brad Pitt in a hospital bed, claiming he needed cancer treatment but could not access funds due to a divorce from Angelina Jolie.
In February 2023, the fake Brad Pitt proposed to Anne and overwhelmed her with promises of gifts, only to later claim that customs fees needed to be paid to receive them. This request for payment quickly escalated, and Anne found herself sending large sums of money to the scammer.
The con artist also exploited Anne's personal situation, including her troubled marriage. After she mentioned expecting a divorce settlement from her wealthy husband, the scammer requested even larger sums for medical treatment. Anne sent a total of nearly one million euros over the course of the relationship.
Her suspicions were finally raised when she saw Brad Pitt publicly with his new partner, Ines de Ramon. Anne confronted the scammer, but by then, it was too late. She filed a police complaint in the summer of 2024, prompting an investigation into the matter.
Online users expressed sympathy for Anne, calling romance scams particularly cruel. However, some questioned whether Anne could have verified the claims through a quick search, especially regarding Brad Pitt's supposed hospital stay. As of now, it is unclear if Anne has recovered any of her money, and she is reportedly receiving treatment for depression in a clinic.
