Unbelievable turn of events: French woman duped into handing over £700,000 to fake AI Brad Pitt scam
A French woman who was duped into giving away a staggering £700,000 to a scammer using AI to impersonate Brad Pitt is now facing severe emotional and financial hardship. Struggling with severe depression, homelessness, and a dire financial situation, she is currently living with a friend while desperately trying to recover her lost money.
The woman, known only as Anne, has been suffering greatly as a result of the scam. Her lawyer, Laurène Hanna, exclusively shared Anne’s distressing situation with The Daily Mail. According to Hanna, Anne has been relentlessly harassed online, with cruel accusations calling her “dumb,” “naïve,” and “stupid.” The constant trolling led Anne to delete all her social media profiles, isolating herself from any public connection.
Anne, a divorcee, has been through immense emotional turmoil, attempting to take her own life three times. Despite her tragic circumstances, she continues to endure mockery and derision on social media, leaving her struggling to find peace.
The Beginning of the Scam: How It All Started
Anne’s ordeal began in February 2023, when she received a message on Instagram from someone claiming to be the actor’s mother. She had recently posted photos of a lavish ski trip to Tignes, and the message caught her attention. The next day, she received a second message, this time from an account posing as Brad Pitt, claiming that his mother had spoken highly of her.
Anne, who was going through a difficult period in her marriage to a millionaire, started engaging with the account. What began as an unlikely friendship soon developed into an emotional connection. The fake Brad Pitt sent her poems and kind affirmations, and Anne was drawn into the charm of the conversation. As she later admitted, “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.”
At first, Anne had her doubts about the authenticity of the account. But as the days passed, she received AI-generated photos and videos of the star, which eased her concerns. She began to trust the person behind the account, and the relationship grew more intimate.
The Dangerous Escalation: From Gifts to Urgent Cancer Treatment
As the relationship developed, the scam took a sinister turn. The fake Brad Pitt proposed to Anne, claiming he wanted to send her extravagant gifts. However, there was a catch—Anne would need to pay customs fees to receive the gifts. The amount, which started small, quickly escalated, and Anne ended up paying €9,000 (£7,566) in customs charges.
Once the scammer had Anne’s trust, the requests became more outrageous. Anne shared that she was expecting a hefty divorce settlement from her husband, which prompted the scammer to ramp up his demands. The fake Brad Pitt then claimed to need financial assistance for urgent kidney cancer treatment. He claimed to be unable to access his funds due to an ongoing divorce from Angelina Jolie.
To further convince Anne, the scammer sent AI-generated images of Brad Pitt purportedly in a hospital bed. Despite never being available for an actual phone call, the scammer continued to communicate via text and photos. The connection between Anne and the fake Brad Pitt deepened, and over time, Anne transferred a total of nearly €1 million (£700,000) to overseas accounts.
The Breaking Point: Realization and Investigation
Anne’s suspicions were finally triggered when she saw Brad Pitt in the press with his new girlfriend, Ines de Ramon. The sight of the actor in the news made Anne realize that something was terribly wrong with the relationship. It was then that she decided to go to the authorities, who launched an investigation into the scam.
The Aftermath: Emotional and Financial Devastation
Anne’s life has been shattered by the scam, leaving her financially bankrupt and emotionally drained. As her lawyer Laurène Hanna puts it, Anne’s case is “terrible,” and she is astonished by the online reaction to the situation. Hanna is working with Anne to pursue a civil case against Anne’s French bank for allowing such substantial sums of money to be transferred to overseas accounts without sufficient checks.
“What my client needs is to be given some sensible advice and to be treated with dignity,” Hanna emphasizes.
Anne’s journey serves as a stark reminder of the growing threat of love scams on the internet. While her story may seem extreme, Anne is not alone—many victims fall prey to similar schemes each year. Online scammers use AI technology to create convincing personas, tricking vulnerable individuals into emotional and financial exploitation.
A Call for Awareness and Action
This tragic case highlights the dangers of online scams, particularly those that exploit emotions and trust. Anne’s experience is a cautionary tale for anyone navigating the world of social media and online interactions. It’s a reminder to remain vigilant and skeptical of anyone who claims to offer something too good to be true.
As the investigation continues, Anne’s lawyer hopes that her case will raise awareness and prompt more stringent measures to protect individuals from falling victim to these kinds of scams. For Anne, the road to recovery is long, but her story can serve as an important lesson for others.
The Fight for Justice
Anne’s fight for justice is far from over. As she seeks to recover her lost funds and rebuild her life, her lawyer continues to pursue legal action against the French bank that enabled the fraudulent transfers. The case is not only about recovering the money, but also about restoring Anne’s dignity and helping her heal from the emotional scars left by the scam.
The rise of AI-driven scams poses a significant challenge for both authorities and individuals. As technology advances, so too do the methods used by scammers to manipulate and deceive. Anne’s ordeal should serve as a wake-up call, reminding us all to stay cautious and aware when navigating the digital world.
