A French woman reportedly transferred more than $800,000 to scammers she believed to be dating Brad Pitt.
The 53-year-old woman, known only as Anne, told French TV outlet TF1 about her ordeal, believing Brad, 61, needed the money for kidney treatment. (The original interview was removed on Tuesday, January 14 due to online harassment, however, French news outlets AFP And BFM TV reported on the scandal as well as subsequent cyberbullying.)
According to BFM TVInterior designer Anne was recently interviewed by TF1 Seven to eightIn which she explained that in February 2023 she was contacted by a person claiming to be Brad's mother, Jane Peet. Anne was on a ski trip in Tignes, France and posted photos of the trip via Instagram when she contacted the so-called Jane.
The outlet reported that Ann discovered the next day that Jen's account was "apparently linked to the actor" and that the scammers, posing as Brad, told Ann that her "mom talked a lot about her . . ."
Brad Pitt's reps are setting records for actors' social media presence after Spanish police arrested five people for allegedly impersonating Pitt online. "It's terrifying that scammers take advantage of fans' strong connections with celebrities," Pete's publicist Matthew Hiltzik told Us Weekly in a statement on Wednesday, September 25. "And this is an important (...)
A relationship quickly developed and Anne, who was allegedly married at the time, "poetry and numerous declarations". Anne reportedly told TF1, “There are very few men who write you such things. I liked the person I was talking to. He knew how to talk to women, it was always done very well.
AI-generated videos, fake social media and WhatsApp accounts were used by scammers to perpetuate the plot, and alleged examples of these attempts were posted via X was and included BFM TVreport of
According to BFM TVAnne reportedly told TF1, “At first I told myself it's fake, it's ridiculous. But I'm not used to social media and I didn't really understand what was happening to me.
As Anne's confidence grew, she then sent around €10,000 to the scammers, who told her she needed to pay customs duties to send the gift.
Anne then informed the criminals that she had divorced her husband and followed up with his initial transfer of just under €775,000 - almost the entirety of her divorce settlement.
The second transfer involved Ann being told that "Pete" had been diagnosed with kidney cancer and allegedly needed financial support as her account was locked during divorce proceedings with Pete's real-life ex. Angelina Jolie took place
UK newspaper The Times reported that TF1 removed the original news article to protect Anne from the "wave of harassment" she received online after publishing her story.
Fight the exes. Brad Pitt filed a lawsuit against his ex-wife Angelina Jolie in February 2022, claiming she illegally sold shares in Miraval, a French company including a chateau and vineyard the former couple bought together in the south of France. Mr. and Mrs. Smith stars first achieved a control (...)
According to multiple outlets, Anne has filed a case and the police have started an investigation.
This isn't the first time Brad has been criminally impersonated online. Actor's publicist Matthew Hiltzick to say our weekly In a statement on September 25, 2024, "It's alarming that scammers take advantage of fans' strong connections with celebrities," after Spanish police arrested Five people accused of playing Brad.
The September ordeal found the two women defrauded of at least $350,000.
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