A representative for Brad Pitt has responded to an alarming online scam where individuals impersonated the acclaimed actor and reportedly defrauded two victims of over $350,000. This statement follows the announcement by the Spanish Ministry of the Interior on September 25, 2024, regarding the arrest of five individuals associated with this fraudulent operation.
In a statement provided to The New York Times, Pitt’s publicist, Matthew Hiltzik, reminded the public that the Fight Club star does not maintain any social media accounts. He further noted:
“It’s awful that scammers take advantage of fans’ strong connection with celebrities. But this is an important reminder to not respond to unsolicited online outreach, especially from actors who have no social media presence.”
According to the Spanish authorities in a press release (translated via Google), the five scammers operated a “criminal organization,”with an additional ten individuals still under investigation. They posed as a “fake Brad Pitt,”reaching out to women through social media, where they promised romantic relationships before ultimately swindling their victims.
Charges Filed Against Men Impersonating Brad Pitt Include Fraud and Money Laundering
Three of the five suspects had been arrested in November 2023, while the other two were taken into custody in July. The Spanish authorities disclosed that these individuals are facing multiple charges, including fraud, money laundering, and forgery.
The scammers targeted their victims on online forums dedicated to Brad Pitt.
They began communicating with the two women through social media and email, building trust by promising them a future with the Once Upon a Time in Hollywood star. Subsequently, they pressured the women to transfer significant amounts of money to invest in pretended “commercial projects”involving Pitt.
According to Spanish officials, in a series of “money transfers,”one woman lost nearly $167,000, while the other was swindled out of approximately $195,500. Investigators managed to recover $94,000 during their inquiry, which commenced in August 2023 after a woman reported the fraudulent activity.
The suspects allegedly opened bank accounts using forged documents belonging to individuals of African descent, utilizing these accounts to receive the illicit funds. They subsequently employed “money mules”to transfer the money to other accounts in attempts to launder it.
Brad Pitt is not alone in having his identity exploited in online scams. Other celebrities like Whoopi Goldberg, Tom Hanks, Florence Pugh, and many others have also been impersonated to solicit money from unsuspecting fans.
As of now, Brad Pitt has no official social media presence. The actor has articulated his reluctance to engage with social media platforms. In a September 2014 interview with GQ, he shared:
“Because I felt quite used, and completely misunderstood, and misread, and not given the benefit of the doubt. You know, I felt that a lot in my first years. I would have brought some logic to the table, and brought it immediately. But now, at this point, I don’t want to bother with it.”
He reiterated his stance in a July 2019 interview with E! News, famously stating, “Never gonna happen,”when asked what could persuade him to join Instagram. He later remarked that life has been quite satisfactory without it, expressing skepticism about its value.
Brad Pitt is set to appear next in the crime comedy Wolves, which will be available for streaming on Apple TV+ starting September 27.
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