While the story of Anne, this 53-year-old Reunion Islander defrauded of 830,000 euros by a fake Brad Pitt, made the rounds in the media, her daughter Margaux came to testify this Saturday, January 18 on the set of “La Grande Semaine ” on M6. A poignant testimony which reveals the dramatic consequences of this scam, both financially and psychologically.
A manipulation with devastating consequences for Anne
It’s the buzz of the beginning of the year. You couldn’t escape the story of Anne, a mother who was the victim of an online scammer. It all starts with virtual exchanges between Anne, an interior decorator, and a scammer posing as American actor Brad Pitt.
The scammer, using the identity of Angelina Jolie’s ex-husband, mentions financial difficulties linked to his divorce and health problems. The manipulation gradually takes hold, notably through the sending of fictitious gifts requiring customs fees. “She shows me the photos where there is the package with the address, etc. and I say to myself: ‘That’s weird, there’s something wrong’”remembers Margaux, Anne’s daughter.
Despite her daughter’s warnings, Anne falls into the trap. “I tell her that she has to be careful… But at the beginning, we didn’t know the extent that it was going to take and then as I told you, under influence and manipulation, it’s beautiful to talk, but when you don’t really know what’s going on inside someone’s head“, explains Margaux, her voice trembling.
A broken family facing the surge of hatred
Following the broadcast of the report in “Sept à Huit”, Anne became the target of intense cyberharassment and even attacked TF1. His daughter testifies to this painful situation : “It’s very difficult for me, since everything that affects my mother, it necessarily affects me. We are still very close.” Faced with Ophélie Meunier, she adds: “There, it’s the descent into hell.”
-Marwan Ouarab, founder of the Find My Scammer site, brings his expertise: “They worked like sociopaths. Anne is not stupid, she asked her interlocutors to give them proof.” Anne’s lawyer, Maître Laurène Hanna, also counts “request that the civil liability of your bank be engaged”, the establishment having never reacted to the substantial transfers, the largest of which amounted to 120,000 euros.
A legal and psychological battle
Currently hospitalized and monitored by professionals after three suicide attempts, Anne is fighting for her reconstruction. “She wanted to end her life, but our bond allowed her to fight,” confides her daughter. An investigation was opened in Reunion Island to identify the perpetrators of this scam.
A spokesperson for Brad Pitt spoke to Entertainment Weekly: “It’s terrible that scammers are taking advantage of fans’ great affection for certain celebrities. But it’s a necessary warning to remind people not to follow up on unsolicited contact on social media, especially when they come from celebrities who are not active there.”
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