Brad Pitt’s Rep Speaks Out After Woman Loses $850K to Impersonator Scam

A 53-year-old French interior designer named Anne has fallen victim to an elaborate online scam, losing approximately $850,000 to an individual impersonating actor Brad Pitt. The deception began in early 2023 when Anne was contacted by someone claiming to be Pitt’s mother on Instagram, who introduced her to a person posing as the actor. Over the next 18 months, Anne engaged in what she believed to be a romantic relationship with Pitt, receiving daily messages, love poems, and AI-generated photos and videos.

The scammer convinced Anne that he was unable to access his funds due to a complicated divorce with Angelina Jolie and required financial assistance for medical treatments, including a fabricated kidney cancer diagnosis. Trusting these claims, Anne divorced her husband and transferred nearly all of her divorce settlement—totaling around £700,000—to the fraudster.

Anne’s daughter expressed skepticism about the authenticity of the relationship, but Anne remained convinced until mid-2024 when she saw news reports of the real Brad Pitt’s relationship with Ines de Ramon. Realizing she had been deceived, Anne filed a police complaint; however, the perpetrators had not yet been apprehended. The emotional and financial toll of the scam has been severe, leading to Anne’s hospitalization for severe depression.

Following the public revelation of her ordeal on French television, Anne faced a wave of cyberbullying and ridicule on social media. In response, the broadcasting network TF1 removed the segment from its platforms to protect her from further harassment. Anne has defended herself, stating, “I am not crazy or stupid,” emphasizing that advanced AI technologies were used to manipulate her, making it nearly impossible to distinguish between reality and deception.

This incident is not isolated. In September 2024, Spanish authorities arrested five individuals involved in a similar scheme that defrauded two women of over $350,000 by impersonating Brad Pitt. The scammers used online fan platforms to build trust with their victims before soliciting money for fictitious projects.

A representative for Brad Pitt has condemned these fraudulent activities, stating, “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.”

Authorities urge the public to exercise caution when engaging with unsolicited messages online, particularly those claiming to be from celebrities. Individuals are advised to verify the authenticity of such communications and remain aware of the increasing sophistication of scams involving AI-generated content.