A 53-year-old French woman fell victim to an elaborate online scam involving artificially generated images of actor Brad Pitt, losing approximately $850,000 in the process.
The victim, identified only as Anne, was initially contacted through Facebook by someone claiming to be Jane Etta Pitt, Brad Pitt's mother. The scammer told Anne that "her son needed someone like her," beginning an 18-month deception that would cost the interior designer her marriage and life savings.
The fraudsters used AI technology to create convincing photos and messages appearing to be from the Hollywood star. This case highlights a growing trend in AI-enabled fraud. They built an intricate narrative, claiming Pitt was unable to access his funds due to his divorce proceedings with Angelina Jolie. The scammers then requested money for alleged customs fees and medical treatments, supported by AI-generated images showing Pitt in hospital settings.
"At first, I thought it was fake, but I didn't really understand what was happening to me," Anne told French TV channel TF1's "Seven to Eight" program. During the scam, Anne divorced her wealthy husband and transferred over $850,000 to the perpetrators through a Turkish bank account.
The deception only unraveled when Anne saw recent news coverage of Pitt with his actual girlfriend, Ines de Ramon. She has since filed a police report, though the scammers remain at large. The victim is currently receiving treatment for severe depression.
According to Authority Hacker, Americans lost more than $108 million to AI-related scams last year, with an average loss of $14,600 per victim.
Following the broadcast of Anne's story, TF1 removed the segment from their platforms due to cyberbullying directed at the victim. The police investigation continues as authorities work to identify and apprehend the perpetrators.