14th January 2025 – (Paris) A 53-year-old woman from France has reported being tricked into transferring €830,000 (£697,000) to a scammer posing as actor Brad Pitt, whom she believed was seeking assistance for his cancer treatment. The victim, identified as Anne, was initially contacted via social media by someone claiming to be Pitt’s mother.
Just a day later, Anne received a direct message from an account impersonating the Hollywood star. In February 2023, the account sent a message stating, “Hello Anne, my mother told me a lot about you. I would like to know more.” The conversation quickly developed, and Anne, who was experiencing personal difficulties in her marriage at the time, began to confide in the scammer.
Reflecting on her experience, Anne stated to French channel TF1, “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.” She described the interaction as flattering, noting the attention she received from someone she believed to be a celebrity.
The impersonator maintained that they were unable to cover the costs of the purported cancer treatment due to an ongoing divorce from Angelina Jolie, which was reportedly settled in December 2024. Throughout their correspondence, Anne received AI-generated images of the actor in a hospital, holding cards with personalised messages. The scammer avoided direct phone conversations, claiming to be too busy.
After several months of communication, Anne agreed to marry the person behind the account, promising to transfer an additional €775,000 (£652,310) from her impending divorce settlement. She sent substantial funds to the fake account, enticed by promises of luxury gifts, including Chanel and Hermès bags. However, she was later asked to pay a €9,000 (£7,575) customs fee for the supposed gifts, which she never received.
Her suspicions were aroused when Brad Pitt was seen publicly with his new girlfriend, prompting her to engage investigators. Anne is now reportedly undergoing treatment for severe depression in a hospital, with the recovery of her funds uncertain, although an investigation is currently underway.
