French Woman Loses $850,000 to Fake Brad Pitt Scam

A 53-year-old French woman, known as Anne, fell victim to a sophisticated scam that led her to lose approximately $850,000, believing she was in a relationship with actor Brad Pitt. The scam began when she received messages from someone posing as Pitt's mother, followed by communications from a fake Brad Pitt who claimed to need money for cancer treatment due to financial troubles stemming from his divorce. Over 18 months, the scammer used AI-generated images and fabricated emotional correspondence to manipulate Anne into sending her life savings, ultimately leading her to divorce her husband. Following the revelation of the scam, which was spurred by news of Pitt's actual relationship with Ines de Ramon, Anne faced severe online harassment, prompting a media outlet to withdraw her interview for her protection. Brad Pitt's representatives condemned the exploitation of fans by scammers and warned against engaging with unsolicited online communications. Anne's lawyer expressed concern over her client's mental health and announced plans to hold her bank accountable for allowing such large transfers to be made without proper oversight.