In one of the most bizarre and heartbreaking scams we’ve heard of, a 53-year-old French woman believed she was involved in a whirlwind romance with none other than Brad Pitt.
FAUROUX, Virginie
It all began when she received a Facebook message in February 2023, supposedly from the Hollywood star's mother. Little did she know, this seemingly innocent interaction would turn into an elaborate scheme that left her emotionally and financially devastated.
The scammer, who posed as Pitt, started communicating exclusively through text messages. Conveniently, this 'Brad Pitt' was always too busy for phone calls but generously sent AI-generated videos of the actor to string her along. At first, Anne, the victim, had her doubts, but over time, the flirtations became too convincing to ignore.
Here are the images that convinced Anne she was in a relationship with a cancer-ridden Brad Pitt!
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What followed was a sequence of increasingly ludicrous requests, starting with a promise of lavish gifts, but only if she paid a hefty customs fee of 9,000 euros (£7,566). Anne, already caught up in the romance and caught off guard by the smooth words and sweet poetry from the "actor," paid up without hesitation.
As if things weren’t unbelievable enough, the scam escalated when the fake Pitt proposed to Anne, and in the midst of the supposed engagement, the scammer claimed he needed money for urgent medical treatment.
Anne and the 'William Bradley' account exchanged messages frequently, building a close friendship. TF1
According to the imposter, the actor was undergoing treatment for kidney cancer, and since he couldn't access his own funds due to a messy divorce from Angelina Jolie, Anne’s help was needed. Naturally, Anne, who had just come into a divorce settlement worth nearly $800,000, sent over the money, believing she was aiding her new fiancé.
Anne and her millionare ex husband. TF1
But the twists didn’t stop there. The scammer continued to fuel Anne's delusions by sending AI-generated images of Pitt in a hospital bed, feigning a desperate need for financial assistance. Unfortunately for Anne, it wasn’t until she saw the real Brad Pitt out with his new girlfriend, Ines de Ramon, that the truth began to hit her. By then, Anne had sent over a staggering 830,000 euros (£697,000) to the scammer.
Anne slowly began to realise what had happened and confronted the account! TF1/Dailymail
The extent of the betrayal was overwhelming. Anne, now realizing she had been duped, filed a complaint in 2024, prompting an investigation into the scam.
Anne spoke out about how she was conned to TF1
Tragically, the emotional toll of the deception has left her hospitalized for severe depression. Meanwhile, the authorities are still on the hunt for the scammer who preyed on her vulnerabilities.
Interestingly, this is not the first time that Brad Pitt's name has been used for malicious gain. In September 2024, five individuals were arrested in Spain for extorting over $330,000 from two women by posing as the actor.
As tragic as this story is, the internet has been both sympathetic and snarky in its reactions. Sarah Bee, a commenter on X, summed it up perfectly: “Romance scams are the cruellest.” Others had a bit more of a tongue-in-cheek response, questioning why Anne didn’t just Google Brad Pitt’s current situation before sending so much money, or joking that people should keep track of their older relatives' activities to avoid them giving away their inheritance to a fake Brad Pitt.
The internet cannot believe the woman got scammed with such horribly edited pictures. X
One user, Jay Kennedy, chimed in, sharing how his stepmother continues to send money to a “cellist,” despite repeated warnings. “It’s sad how lonely and lost older people get. To where they are so delusional and do this.”
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