Divorced and duped–This woman left her husband and lost $800,000 to a man she thought was Brad Pitt
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In a tale that reads like a tragic romance novel, a French woman's quest for love turned into a financial nightmare when she was duped into believing she was in a relationship with none other than Hollywood star Brad Pitt.
This story serves as a reminder that even in our golden years, when we expect to be wise to the ways of the world, we can still fall prey to sophisticated scams that prey on our emotions and deepest desires. What happened and how did she get lured into this scam?
The woman, known only as Anne, found herself swept up in a whirlwind online romance that seemed too good to be true—because it was.
It began with a message from someone claiming to be Pitt's mother, who flattered Anne by saying, “It’s a woman like you that my son needs.” as reported in The Times.
Despite initial doubts, Anne was drawn into a web of deceit that played out over social media—a platform she admitted to not fully understanding.
"At first I said to myself that it was fake, that it's ridiculous," Anne said to TF1, according to BFM TV. "But I'm not used to social media and I didn't really understand what was happening to me."
As the correspondence continued, Anne received messages from someone impersonating Brad Pitt himself.
The scammer's words were crafted to appeal to her emotions, and Anne, like many who seek companionship, was vulnerable to the attention and apparent affection she was receiving.
The scam took a financial turn when the fake Pitt claimed to have sent Anne gifts that required her to pay customs tariffs. The first transaction was nearly €10,000.
"There are so few men who write you this kind of thing," Anne remarked, as per the report from BFM TV. "I liked the man I was talking to. He knew how to talk to women, it was always very well done."
Her fake lover appeared to be interested in her work, unlike, she stated, her husband whom she eventually divorced.
But the deception didn't stop there. After Anne disclosed her recent divorce, the scammer saw an opportunity to exploit her further, convincing her to transfer almost her entire €775,000 divorce settlement—around $798,000—to help with his supposed kidney cancer treatment, claiming his assets were frozen due to a divorce from Angelina Jolie.
The scam was elaborate, complete with AI-generated images of Pitt in hospital beds and denials of his real-life relationships to keep the illusion alive.
It was only when Anne read about Pitt's actual romantic life that she realized she had been scammed.
Anne's story is a cautionary tale for everyone, but it holds particular resonance for those in the senior community. Her ordeal ended with a lawsuit and a police inquiry.
Have you or someone you know encountered a romance scam? What measures do you take to stay safe online? Share your experiences and tips in the comments below!
This story serves as a reminder that even in our golden years, when we expect to be wise to the ways of the world, we can still fall prey to sophisticated scams that prey on our emotions and deepest desires. What happened and how did she get lured into this scam?
The woman, known only as Anne, found herself swept up in a whirlwind online romance that seemed too good to be true—because it was.
It began with a message from someone claiming to be Pitt's mother, who flattered Anne by saying, “It’s a woman like you that my son needs.” as reported in The Times.
A French woman was deceived into transferring over $800,000 to scammers impersonating Brad Pitt, under the belief that she was in a relationship with him. Image source: Airhia Ogbemudia Daniel via Facebook.
Despite initial doubts, Anne was drawn into a web of deceit that played out over social media—a platform she admitted to not fully understanding.
"At first I said to myself that it was fake, that it's ridiculous," Anne said to TF1, according to BFM TV. "But I'm not used to social media and I didn't really understand what was happening to me."
As the correspondence continued, Anne received messages from someone impersonating Brad Pitt himself.
The scammer's words were crafted to appeal to her emotions, and Anne, like many who seek companionship, was vulnerable to the attention and apparent affection she was receiving.
The scam took a financial turn when the fake Pitt claimed to have sent Anne gifts that required her to pay customs tariffs. The first transaction was nearly €10,000.
"There are so few men who write you this kind of thing," Anne remarked, as per the report from BFM TV. "I liked the man I was talking to. He knew how to talk to women, it was always very well done."
Her fake lover appeared to be interested in her work, unlike, she stated, her husband whom she eventually divorced.
But the deception didn't stop there. After Anne disclosed her recent divorce, the scammer saw an opportunity to exploit her further, convincing her to transfer almost her entire €775,000 divorce settlement—around $798,000—to help with his supposed kidney cancer treatment, claiming his assets were frozen due to a divorce from Angelina Jolie.
The scam was elaborate, complete with AI-generated images of Pitt in hospital beds and denials of his real-life relationships to keep the illusion alive.
It was only when Anne read about Pitt's actual romantic life that she realized she had been scammed.
Anne's story is a cautionary tale for everyone, but it holds particular resonance for those in the senior community. Her ordeal ended with a lawsuit and a police inquiry.
Have you or someone you know encountered a romance scam? What measures do you take to stay safe online? Share your experiences and tips in the comments below!
