A 53-year-old French woman was scammed out of $850,000 after being tricked into believing she was dating actor Brad Pitt. The scam involved AI-generated images of the actor and is part of a rising trend of AI scams that exploit individuals’ vulnerabilities. Reports indicate that Americans lost over $108 million to AI-related scams in the past year, with 45 percent of these incidents resulting in financial losses averaging $14,600. This is not the first instance of Brad Pitt’s identity being used in scams; similar incidents have occurred, including a case in Spain where five individuals were arrested for defrauding two women of over $330,000.
In this particular case, which began in 2023, a woman named Anne received a message on Facebook from someone posing as Pitt’s mother. The scammer later claimed to be Pitt himself, leading to a supposed romantic relationship. At the time, Anne was married to a millionaire but eventually divorced him after the scammer proposed marriage. She initially sent $9,000 for alleged customs fees for gifts and later transferred more than $800,000 from her divorce settlement for supposed cancer treatment costs. The scammer used AI-generated images and videos of Brad Pitt appearing to be in a hospital to convince Anne of his need for funds.
The scammer communicated solely through text messages, claiming phone calls were not possible. They also alleged that Pitt could not use his own money due to his divorce proceedings with Angelina Jolie. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie reached a divorce settlement in December 2024, with the terms remaining undisclosed. Anne realized she had been deceived when she saw a photo of Pitt with his current girlfriend, Ines de Ramon. She filed a complaint in 2024 and is now receiving treatment for severe depression.
