By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Pew PatriotsPew PatriotsPew Patriots
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
  • Home
  • News
  • Tactical
  • Guns and Gear
  • Prepping & Survival
  • Videos
Reading: AI scammers pretending to be Brad Pitt con woman out of $850,000
Share
Font ResizerAa
Pew PatriotsPew Patriots
  • News
  • Tactical
  • Guns and Gear
  • Prepping & Survival
  • Videos
Search
  • Home
  • News
  • Tactical
  • Guns and Gear
  • Prepping & Survival
  • Videos
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
AI scammers pretending to be Brad Pitt con woman out of 0,000
News

AI scammers pretending to be Brad Pitt con woman out of $850,000

Jimmie Dempsey
Last updated: January 17, 2025 7:29 am
Jimmie Dempsey Published January 17, 2025
Share
SHARE

A happily-ever-after with whom a woman assumed to be Hollywood hunk Brad Pitt quickly turned into a living nightmare. 

On Jan. 12, the French television channel TF1 aired an episode of its show “Sept à Huit,” which told the story of a 53-year-old interior designer named Anne who revealed that she had lost 830,000 euros (approximately $850,000) in personal funds because she thought she was sending money to a cancer-ridden Pitt. 

Through falsified documents and images as well as artificial intelligence, Anne believed she was speaking to, and eventually in a relationship with, the 61-year-old actor.

WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)?

Reportedly contacted in February 2023 on Instagram by a person who introduced themselves as Pitt’s 85-year-old mother, Jane Etta Pitt, Anne received a message that said, “It’s a woman like you that my son needs,” per BFM TV and The Sunday Times. 

“At first I said to myself that it was fake, that it’s ridiculous,” Anne said, per AFP. “But I’m not used to social media and I didn’t really understand what was happening to me.” Despite her skepticism, Anne proceeded with the conversation before being messaged by the alleged Pitt. 

“My mother told me a lot about you,” the con artist wrote.

Jane Pitt in a navy blue gown with a sparkly bust and overcoat looks upu and smiles at son Brad Pitt in a classic tuxedo at the Academy Awards

Anne was barraged with countless romantic messages and poetry as well as doctored photographs. The operation was multifaceted, with others posing as Pitt’s manager and daughter, Shiloh, who he shares with ex-wife Angelina Jolie, to aid in the con. Following a contentious eight-year legal battle, Pitt and Jolie finalized their divorce settlement in 2024 after being legally declared “single” in 2019.

“What makes these scams particularly dangerous is their multilayered approach,” Marva Bailer, AI expert and founder and CEO of Qualaix, told Fox News Digital. “Scammers build trust over time, often pretending to be a family member, a staff member or even someone close to the celebrity who claims they are helping the celebrity by managing their charitable efforts. This indirect approach makes the scam seem more credible, as it’s not the celebrity asking for help directly, it’s someone positioned to be more relatable or ‘realistic.’ It plays on the idea that the celebrity is too proud or private to ask for help themselves, which makes the situation seem more genuine.”

Angelina Jolie in a white and cream beaded strapless dress looks to her right with Brad Pitt, wearing a classic tuxedo also looking to his right

LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

Anne was troubled by her lack of visual communication with the actor, prompting the scammer to send her an AI-curated video. Money was introduced into the conversation when Anne was told she’d need to pay more than 9,000 euros in customs tariffs in order to accept luxury gifts from the person posing as Pitt.

A recent divorcée, Anne relayed to the scammer that she’d received a hefty divorce settlement of 775,000 euros. After this admission, the Pitt impersonator told Anne that he had kidney cancer and was struggling to pay for his treatments due to his ongoing divorce proceedings with Jolie. Anne sent most of her divorce settlement to the fake Pitt.

Throughout the treatment, the alleged Pitt sent Anne a series of doctored pictures depicting his time in the hospital receiving treatment. In one picture, Pitt lies in a hospital bed holding a card that reads, “Anne I love you.”

Brad Pitt stares off on the "Babylon" red carpet in a white shirt and black suit jacket

A novice at social media, Anne had lingering doubts and the wherewithal to block the scammer’s number on multiple occasions, ultimately succumbing to her feelings and resuming communication. After initially reading a report that Pitt was involved with businesswoman Inés de Ramon, she was sent a fake TV report to mitigate her qualms, which clarified the couple wasn’t together.

When photos of the couple were released over the summer, Anne knew it was all a con and decided to take legal action. The story was ultimately pulled by TF1 because she started to experience extreme ridicule. The network released a statement saying they’d chosen to pull the story from their platforms after the initial broadcast “sparked a wave of harassment” against the victim.

Brad Pitt and Ines de ramon walking hand in hand

A representative for Pitt told E! News on Jan. 15 that the situation involving Anne was “awful.”

“It’s awful that scammers take advantage of fans’ strong connection with celebrities,” the rep said, “but this is an important reminder to not respond to unsolicited online outreach, especially from actors who have no social media presence.” 

Pitt does not have any verified social media platforms. The actor’s representative did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

Bailer echoed those sentiments, sharing that with how easily accessible celebrity imagery is, people are at risk: “With access to a celebrity’s public persona and online presence, they can create fake social media accounts or send highly convincing emails or messages that look as though they come directly from the celebrity or their team. Fans, eager to be a part of something that feels exclusive, can easily be misled into thinking they are engaging with someone they trust.”

Brad Pitt and Ines de Ramon at the Venice Film Festival premiere of "Wolfs"

Luke Arrigoni, CEO of Loti AI, a company that specializes in facial recognition and deepfake detection, told Fox News Digital that scams like this one involving Pitt’s likeness “are becoming increasingly common.”

“For everyone who is interacting with these scam accounts, please be aware that the scammers often give reasons why they have to hide their relationships. They fake medical issues or being stranded somewhere, these are all red flags. But the biggest red flag is asking for any kind of money at all.”

“These types of scams are rampant and the deepfakes being made through the use of artificial intelligence are getting better and better all of the time,” Rob Rosenburg, who runs the consulting firm Telluride Legal Strategies, told Fox News Digital. “Unless you travel in celebrity circles, you should treat any communication originating from a celebrity with caution. It is more likely a scam than authentic.”

Brad Pitt in a black suit walks on the red carpet and looks towards the camera in Venice

 



Read the full article here

You Might Also Like

Republican says Trump was playing golf when president-elect called him to switch House speaker vote to Johnson

What to expect as Israel-Hamas cease-fire goes into effect on Sunday

Kid Rock snaps at Nashville bar crowd, abruptly walks off stage

Bishop who lectured Trump defends sermon that set off firestorm: ‘How could it not be politicized?’

Former Biden spokesperson helping lead PR for Tapper-Thompson book on Biden’s decline

Share This Article
Facebook Twitter Email Print
Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

We Recommend
Diddy jury deadlocked after rapper’s defense played ‘high stakes poker’: legal expert
News

Diddy jury deadlocked after rapper’s defense played ‘high stakes poker’: legal expert

Jimmie Dempsey Jimmie Dempsey July 2, 2025
Cities near LA abandon July 4th celebrations as Trump’s immigration crackdown takes hold
Tearful Kim Jong Un seen mourning North Korean troops killed fighting for Russia in war against Ukraine
Danish national wanted in Germany arrested after allegedly spying on Jewish targets for Iran
Buck Sends Out Folder Fireworks with Flashy Flagship Variation
Just Released: The 7 Most Insane New Guns of May 2025!
American tourist vanishes in tropical paradise after early morning walk from vacation rental
News

American tourist vanishes in tropical paradise after early morning walk from vacation rental

Jimmie Dempsey Jimmie Dempsey July 2, 2025
Israel accepts Trump-led ceasefire plan that could end Gaza war within 60 days
News

Israel accepts Trump-led ceasefire plan that could end Gaza war within 60 days

Jimmie Dempsey Jimmie Dempsey July 1, 2025
Trump Vs. Musk: “Big, Beautiful Bill” Feud Sparks Overnight Political Firestorm
Prepping & Survival

Trump Vs. Musk: “Big, Beautiful Bill” Feud Sparks Overnight Political Firestorm

Jimmie Dempsey Jimmie Dempsey July 1, 2025
Pew Patriots
  • News
  • Tactical
  • Prepping & Survival
  • Videos
  • Guns and Gear
2024 © Pew Patriots. All Rights Reserved.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?