Brad Pitt Impersonation Scandal: Fan Loses $850,000 in Heartbreaking Scam
Brad Pitt fans are reeling from a shocking scam that left a French woman, Anne, financially and emotionally devastated. The 53-year-old interior designer claims she was duped into believing she was in a romantic relationship with the Hollywood superstar, leading her to part with $850,000 and even her marriage.
It All Started With Instagram
Anne’s ordeal began innocently enough. According to an interview with France’s TF1 channel, she was first contacted by someone posing as Pitt’s mother on Instagram. “She told me that her son needed someone like me,” Anne revealed. Shortly after, a supposed account belonging to Pitt himself slid into her DMs.
“At first I said to myself that it was fake, that it’s ridiculous,” Anne admitted, “but I’m not used to social media, and I didn’t really understand what was happening to me.”
The Elaborate Ruse
The scammers wove an elaborate tale, convincing Anne that Pitt needed financial help to cover the costs of kidney treatment. They claimed his bank accounts were frozen due to ongoing divorce proceedings with Angelina Jolie. To bolster their claims, the con artists sent Anne doctored and AI-generated images of Pitt in a hospital bed.
The charade worked. Anne believed she was in a relationship with the real Brad Pitt. “I was in love with the man I was chatting to,” she confessed. “He knew how to speak to a woman.”
Driven by emotion, Anne sent the scammers $850,000 and even divorced her husband, convinced she had a future with Pitt.
The Crushing Realization
Anne’s world came crashing down when she saw news of Pitt’s real-life romance with Ines de Ramon. Heartbroken and humiliated, she filed a police report. “I ask myself why they chose me to do such harm like this?” she lamented. “I’ve never harmed anyone. These people deserve hell.”
Brad Pitt’s representatives have issued warnings about the growing number of scammers impersonating the actor. “It’s awful that scammers take advantage of fans’ strong connection with celebrities,” Pitt’s spokesperson told Entertainment Weekly. “This is an important reminder to not respond to unsolicited online outreach, especially from actors who have no social media presence.”
This isn’t the first time Pitt’s name has been used in scams. In September 2024, Spain’s Interior Ministry announced the arrest of five scammers who defrauded two women out of $350,000 by impersonating the actor. While it remains unclear if the Spanish and French scams are connected, the alarming pattern highlights the lengths scammers will go to exploit fans’ admiration.
Anne’s heartbreaking experience is a sobering reminder to remain vigilant online. The glitz and glamour of celebrity can sometimes mask the darker side of fandom, where unscrupulous individuals prey on those who admire stars the most.
