Paris, France – In a sophisticated scam that has captured international attention, a 53-year-old French woman identified only as Anne has lost a staggering $850,000 to a fraudster impersonating Hollywood actor Brad Pitt.
The scam commenced in 2023 when Anne, recently divorced from a millionaire, was contacted on social media by someone pretending to be Pitt’s mother. Soon after, the “actor” himself reached out, initiating a romantic relationship that was as convincing as it was deceitful.
The perpetrator, masquerading as Pitt, engaged Anne in a narrative of love, involving marriage proposals and tales of personal hardship. He claimed to be in dire need of financial assistance due to supposed cancer treatment costs and issues related to his ongoing divorce from Angelina Jolie, even providing fabricated medical photos for credibility.
Despite several red flags, including the “celebrity’s” inability to engage in voice or video calls, Anne was ensnared by the ruse. She transferred large sums from her divorce settlement, believing she was aiding her new love interest.
The illusion shattered in 2024 when Anne spotted real-life images of Brad Pitt with his current partner, Ines de Ramon, contradicting the claims made by the scammer. Realizing she had been deceived, Anne reported the scam to French authorities, but the perpetrator remains at large.
A woman in France was scammed out of €830,000 after believing she was in a relationship with Brad Pitt.
— The Oscar Race (@TheOscarRace) January 13, 2025
These are the photos she received, allegedly from Brad Pitt, that convinced her. pic.twitter.com/DHZklWbUDj