What Began as a Ski Holiday Instagram Post Ended in Financial Ruin for a French Interior Designer
The 18-month scam targeted Anne, 53, who received an initial message from someone posing as Jane Etta Pitt, Brad’s mother, claiming her son "needed a woman like you."
The Relationship Deepened
Not long after, Anne started talking to what she believed was the Hollywood star himself, complete with AI-generated photos and videos. "We’re talking about Brad Pitt here and I was stunned," Anne told French media. "At first, I thought it was fake, but I didn’t really understand what was happening to me."
The Scammers’ Tactics
The relationship deepened over months of daily contact, with the fake Pitt sending poems, declarations of love, and eventually a marriage proposal. "There are so few men who write to you like that," Anne described. "I loved the man I was talking to. He knew how to talk to women and it was always very well put together."
The Scammers’ Request for Money
After building rapport, the scammers began extracting money with a modest request – €9,000 for supposed customs fees on luxury gifts. It escalated when the impersonator claimed to need cancer treatment while his accounts were frozen due to his divorce from Angelina Jolie.
The Aftermath
A fabricated doctor’s message about Pitt’s condition prompted Anne to transfer €800,000 to a Turkish account. "It cost me to do it, but I thought that I might be saving a man’s life," she said. When her daughter recognized the scam, Anne refused to believe it: "You’ll see when he’s here in person then you’ll say sorry."
The Devastating Consequences
Her illusions were shattered upon seeing news coverage of the real Brad Pitt with his partner Inés de Ramon in summer 2024. Even then, the scammers tried to maintain control, sending fake news alerts dismissing these reports and claiming Pitt was actually dating an unnamed "very special person." In a final roll of the dice, someone posing as an FBI agent extracted another €5,000 by offering to help her escape the scheme.
The Aftermath
The aftermath proved devastating – three suicide attempts led to hospitalization for depression. Anne opened up about her experience to French broadcaster TF1, but the interview was later removed after she faced intense cyber-bullying. Now living with a friend after selling her furniture, she has filed criminal complaints and launched a crowdfunding campaign for legal help.
A Tragic Situation
Anne’s story parallels a massive surge in AI-powered fraud worldwide. Spanish authorities recently arrested five people who stole €325,000 from two women through similar Brad Pitt impersonations.
Why These Scams Succeed
Speaking about AI fraud last year, McAfee’s Chief Technology Officer Steve Grobman explains why these scams succeed: "Cybercriminals are able to use generative AI for fake voices and deepfakes in ways that used to require a lot more sophistication."
Would You Be Able to Spot an AI Scam?
Most people would fancy their chances of spotting an AI scam, but research says otherwise. Studies show humans struggle to distinguish real faces from AI creations, and synthetic voices fool roughly a quarter of listeners.
Conclusion
As companies and individuals wrestle with compellingly real AI-generated media, the human cost – illustrated by Anne’s devastating experience – will probably rise.
FAQs
Q: How did the scam begin?
A: The scam began with an initial message from someone posing as Jane Etta Pitt, Brad’s mother, claiming her son "needed a woman like you."
Q: How did the scammers convince Anne?
A: The scammers used AI-generated photos and videos to convince Anne that she was in a relationship with Brad Pitt.
Q: How much money did Anne lose?
A: Anne lost €800,000 to the scammers.
Q: What happened to Anne after the scam?
A: Anne’s illusions were shattered when she saw news coverage of the real Brad Pitt with his partner Inés de Ramon. She then faced intense cyber-bullying and has since filed criminal complaints and launched a crowdfunding campaign for legal help.
