A 53-year-old French woman, identified as Anne, has reportedly lost €830,000 in an elaborate scam involving fraudsters who posed as Hollywood star Brad Pitt. The case, which has left Anne hospitalized with severe depression, is currently under investigation by French authorities.
The scam began in September 2023, when Anne received a message on Instagram from someone claiming to be Jane Etta Pitt, the actor’s mother. According to Anne, the fraudster encouraged a romantic connection between her and Brad Pitt, stating, “It is a woman like you that my son needs.”
Shortly after, another account claiming to be Brad Pitt contacted Anne, expressing interest in getting to know her. Despite initial skepticism, Anne became convinced of the impersonator’s identity after receiving daily messages, poems, and AI-generated photos resembling the actor.
At the time, Anne was going through a difficult period in her personal life, including a failed relationship with a millionaire entrepreneur nearly two decades her senior. The fraudsters exploited her vulnerability, eventually persuading her to part with substantial amounts of money.
Initially, Anne transferred €9,000 to cover customs fees for luxury gifts supposedly sent by the fake Pitt. The con escalated when the impersonator claimed to have kidney cancer and required financial assistance for treatment. They alleged that Pitt’s ex-wife, Angelina Jolie, had frozen his accounts, leaving him unable to access his fortune.
To support the claims, the scammers sent AI-generated images of Brad Pitt in a hospital bed. Convinced of the actor’s plight, Anne transferred €830,000 in total, including her divorce settlement and additional funds, to bank accounts in Turkey.
Anne’s suspicions were only raised in 2024 when she saw news reports featuring Brad Pitt and his girlfriend, Ines de Ramon. Realizing she had been deceived, she reported the scam to French authorities, who launched an investigation.
The case highlights the growing sophistication of online scams, with fraudsters using advanced technology and social engineering tactics to prey on vulnerable individuals.
