Scammers Impersonate Brad Pitt, Defraud Woman of Over $800,000

A woman in France, identified as Anne, transferred over $800,000 to scammers pretending to be Hollywood actor Brad Pitt. These scammers convinced her that Pitt, 61, required financial help for kidney treatment.

Anne shared her experience in an interview with French TV network TF1, now removed due to online harassment she received. The report was also covered by agencies like AFP and BFM TV.

The scam began in February 2023 when Anne was contacted by someone claiming to be Brad's mother, Jane Pitt. While on a ski trip in Tignes, France, she posted images on Instagram, prompting the contact. Anne learned the next day that "Jane’s" account seemed linked to Brad, and scammers posing as him claimed his mother often spoke about her.

A quick relationship developed between Anne, then allegedly married, and the impersonator. Anne received "poems and numerous declarations" from this person, contributing to her growing trust. She stated on TF1, "There are so few men who write you this kind of thing. I liked the man I was talking to."

To sustain the deception, the scammers employed AI-generated videos and fake social media profiles. Some of these performances surfaced on platforms like X and were included in the BFM TV report.

Anne initially doubted the authenticity of the situation, saying, "At first, I said to myself that it was fake, that it’s ridiculous. But I’m not used to social media and I didn’t really understand what was happening to me."

As her trust escalated, she wired nearly €10,000 after being told customs fees were necessary to facilitate sending her gifts. Following a divorce from her husband, Anne transferred almost €775,000 to the criminals in total.

This second transfer began after she was informed that "Pitt" had kidney cancer, and financial help was required due to his accounts being locked amid ongoing divorce proceedings with Angelina Jolie, his real-life ex.

The Times, a U.K. newspaper, reported that TF1 removed the piece to protect Anne from subsequent harassment online. Reports indicate Anne has filed a lawsuit, and a police inquiry has reportedly commenced.

This incident isn't the first case of Brad Pitt facing impersonation fraud. His publicist, Matthew Hiltzik, expressed concern to Us Weekly about the situation, stating, "It’s awful that scammers take advantage of fans’ strong connection with celebrities." In a related September scam, two women lost a total of approximately $350,000.

Earlier, SSP reported that another Chinese app goes viral in US amid possible TikTok ban.