Woman Scammed Into Sending £700,000 to Fake Brad Pitt for 'Cancer Treatment'
A 53-year-old woman from France, identified as Anne, claims she was tricked into transferring €830,000 (£697,000) to someone impersonating Hollywood actor Brad Pitt. The scammer allegedly claimed the funds were needed for the actor's cancer treatment.
The deceit began in February 2023 when Anne received a message on social media from someone posing as Brad Pitt’s mother. The next day, she was contacted by an account pretending to be the Fight Club star. The message read: "Hello Anne, my mother told me a lot about you. I would like to know more."
Anne, an interior designer, told French channel TF1 (via BFM TV) that she was in a difficult phase with her husband, which made her vulnerable. She stated, “At first, I tell myself it's fake, but I don't really understand what's happening to me. After that, we will contact each other every day and we become friends."
The scammer sent Anne AI-generated images of Brad Pitt holding cards with personalized messages, which added credibility to the fraud. Claiming financial struggles due to an ongoing divorce from Angelina Jolie, they manipulated Anne into sending funds for alleged treatment and customs fees for luxury gifts.
Anne eventually transferred a staggering £697,000 to the account. Despite suspicions arising when Brad Pitt appeared publicly with his new girlfriend, Ines de Ramon, Anne was initially convinced of the scammer’s authenticity. Her doubts led her to hire investigators, unraveling the deceit.
Sadly, Anne is now hospitalized with severe depression, and it remains unclear whether she has recovered any of the money. French authorities are investigating the case.
This incident highlights the dangers of online scams, particularly those exploiting fans’ connections with celebrities. A representative for Brad Pitt emphasized: "It’s awful that scammers take advantage of fans’ strong connection with celebrities, and this is an important reminder to not respond to unsolicited online outreach."