A shocking tale of love, deception, and artificial intelligence leaves a woman devastated and sparks online ridicule.
- AI-Driven Deception: Scammers used AI-generated images and messages to impersonate Brad Pitt and con a French woman out of €830,000.
- Emotional Manipulation: The victim, a 53-year-old interior designer, believed she was in a romantic relationship with the Hollywood star.
- Public Fallout: A TV program covering the story was pulled after the woman faced intense online ridicule and cyberbullying.
In a heartbreaking twist of technology and deception, a French woman fell victim to an elaborate scam where AI was used to impersonate Brad Pitt. Over the course of a year and a half, the victim, identified as Anne, believed she was in a romantic relationship with the actor, leading her to transfer €830,000 to the fraudster for fabricated medical expenses.
The scam began in 2023, shortly after Anne joined Instagram. She was contacted by someone claiming to be Pitt’s mother, who introduced her to a fake account posing as the Hollywood star. Using AI-generated images, messages, and even fabricated documents, the scammer crafted a convincing persona that manipulated Anne into believing their love was real.
How the Deception Unfolded
Anne, going through a divorce at the time, was particularly vulnerable to emotional manipulation. The fraudster sent her poems, romantic messages, and AI-generated images of Pitt in hospital, claiming he was battling kidney cancer and unable to access his fortune due to Angelina Jolie freezing his accounts.
The requests for money began small, such as customs fees for gifts, but escalated to hundreds of thousands of euros for alleged medical treatments. Despite warnings from her daughter, Anne continued to believe in the scam until she saw real-life images of Pitt with his partner Inès de Ramon in mid-2024.
Public Backlash and Cyberbullying
Anne shared her story on French TV to raise awareness, but instead faced a wave of online mockery. Social media users, brands, and even prominent organizations made jokes at her expense, turning her tragic experience into a public spectacle. The broadcaster TF1 eventually removed the segment to protect Anne from further ridicule, citing her mental health struggles and hospitalization as reasons for their decision.
The Broader Implications of AI Scams
Anne’s story highlights the dangers of AI-driven fraud, where technology is used to create hyper-realistic deceptions. It underscores the importance of digital literacy and awareness, especially as AI tools become increasingly accessible to malicious actors.
Police are now investigating the scam, but Anne’s ordeal serves as a cautionary tale about the darker side of AI and the vulnerabilities it can exploit in human relationships. As technology advances, so must efforts to educate the public and safeguard against such sophisticated scams.
The AI Brad Pitt scam is not just a tale of personal loss—it’s a warning about the growing capabilities of technology to manipulate and deceive. While Anne’s story has drawn attention to the issue, it also highlights the need for empathy and understanding for victims of such crimes, rather than public ridicule. As AI continues to evolve, society must remain vigilant to prevent similar tragedies.