Brad Pitt himself has now weighed into the bizarre story.
Brad Pitt has issued a statement regarding a bizarre scam in which a woman in France was tricked into sending nearly £700,000 to someone posing as the Hollywood actor.
The Scam Unfolds
The victim, identified as 53-year-old Anne, believed she was communicating with the Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood star after being approached by an account claiming to be Pitt’s mother on social media. Shortly after, she received messages from the supposed Brad Pitt himself. The fraudster requested money for “cancer treatment,” claiming financial struggles due to Pitt’s divorce from Angelina Jolie.
To make the scam appear more convincing, the impersonator used AI-generated images of Pitt in a hospital setting. Anne ultimately sent a staggering €830,000 (£697,000) to the account.
Pitt’s Response
Upon learning of the scam, Pitt expressed his frustration through a spokesperson. “It’s awful that scammers take advantage of the strong bond between fans and celebrities,” the statement read. Pitt’s team also issued a general warning about online safety: “This is an important reminder not to respond to unsolicited online messages, especially from actors who are not present on social networks.”
While the advice is helpful, it unfortunately comes too late for Anne, who has been left financially devastated and emotionally shattered by the experience.
Anne’s Suffering
In an interview with French channel TF1, Anne revealed how the scammer manipulated her emotions, showering her with promises of luxury gifts and even proposing marriage.
“In fact, we’re talking about Brad Pitt. I’m falling from the clouds,” she said, describing her disbelief. “At first, I tell myself it’s fake, but I don’t really understand what’s happening to me. After that, we contact each other every day, and we become friends.”
Anne, who was already struggling emotionally after her husband’s divorce, explained how the scammer’s messages resonated with her. “There are so few men who write you this kind of thing. I liked the man I was talking to. He knew how to talk to women; it was always very well done,” she admitted.
Anne became suspicious when she saw photos of the real Pitt with his girlfriend, Ines de Ramon. She is now receiving inpatient treatment for severe depression. French authorities have launched an investigation into the scam, although the odds of recovering her money seem slim.
The Fallout
The story has drawn significant attention online, with the interview Anne gave to TF1 being removed after backlash over the coverage. Brad Pitt’s representatives have also reiterated that the actor does not maintain any personal social media accounts, emphasizing the importance of vigilance against such scams.