Woman Loses Over $800,000 to Scammer Posing as Brad Pitt with AI-Generated Videos and Edited Images

In a shocking case of deception, a French woman identified only as Anne fell victim to an elaborate scam that cost her over $800,000. This incident began when she was contacted by an individual through Instagram who masqueraded as the renowned actor Brad Pitt. While it is often easy to identify dubious social media profiles as scams, this perpetrator employed advanced AI-generated videos and manipulated images to convincingly present himself as the Hollywood icon.

The Deceptive Scheme: A Plea for Help

The scammer, posing as Pitt, claimed he required urgent financial assistance for kidney treatment and insisted that he was unable to access his bank accounts due to an ongoing divorce from Angelina Jolie. Unfortunately, Anne, already facing challenges in her marriage to a wealthy husband, became an easy target for this cunning online fraudster. Their communication began in February 2023 with innocent exchanges, but quickly evolved into a romantic relationship where the AI-generated “Brad Pitt”sent her heartfelt poems and messages that ensnared her emotions.

Initially skeptical of the account’s authenticity, Anne’s doubts were gradually quelled by the persistent communication and the persuasive AI-generated videos. The fake Pitt eventually proposed to her and talked about lavish gifts he would send her. However, there was a catch—Anne would need to cover the customs fees, initially amounting to €9,000 (around $9,231). As the scam unfolded, Anne found herself parting with increasingly larger wallets of cash, falling deeper into the trap laid out by the con artist.

Escalating Demands and Financial Ruin

Under the guise of urgency, the fraudster continued to implore Anne for funds, citing critical kidney cancer treatment expenses. Despite being an established celebrity with substantial earnings, this counterfeit Pitt maintained that he was financially constrained due to legal disputes with his ex-wife. A familiar tactic among scammers is to feign unavailability for direct communication, and in this case, the perpetrator similarly avoided voice calls. Instead, Anne continued to receive AI-generated images and videos showcasing a bedridden “Brad Pitt,”further manipulating her trust.

As of now, Anne has reportedly sent a staggering €800,000—over $850,000—to the fraudster. It wasn’t until she stumbled upon news of the real Brad Pitt alongside his new partner, Ines de Ramon, that her suspicions were finally confirmed, albeit too late. Although her transactions were traceable through online wire transfers, scammers often go to great lengths to conceal their identities and whereabouts. With authorities now investigating this serious case of fraud, it remains uncertain whether Anne will ever recover her significant financial loss.

Currently, Anne is hospitalized, suffering from severe depression stemming from her harrowing experience with the scam. This case serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of online impersonation and the lengths to which scammers will go to exploit vulnerable individuals.

News Source: The Express

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