A French woman, identified only as Anne, has fallen victim to a shocking online romance scam that saw her hand over €830,000 (£697,000) after being convinced she was in a relationship with Hollywood star Brad Pitt.
Anne, a 53-year-old interior designer, shared her ordeal with French broadcaster TF1, revealing how the deception began in February 2023. It started with a message on social media from someone posing as the actor’s mother, following her posts about a luxury ski trip to Tignes. Shortly after, a second account claiming to be Brad Pitt himself contacted her, stating his mother had spoken highly of her.
Initially sceptical, Anne admitted she grew comfortable over time as the scammer sent her affectionate messages, poems, and AI-generated photos and videos of the actor. The impersonator skillfully maintained the illusion, keeping their communication limited to text and image exchanges while claiming to be too busy for phone calls — a common tactic among online scammers.
“There are so few men who write this kind of thing. I liked the man I was talking to. He knew how to talk to women; it was always very well done,” Anne explained to BFMTV.
From romance to financial manipulation
The scam escalated when “Brad Pitt” proposed to Anne, promising lavish gifts if she could first cover supposed customs fees totalling €9,000 (£7,566). As the deception continued, Anne disclosed that she was expecting a significant divorce settlement, prompting the scammer to seek financial aid for “urgent kidney cancer treatment.” The impersonator cited a fictional financial bind stemming from an ongoing divorce with actress Angelina Jolie and even sent AI-generated hospital photos to reinforce the claim.
Anne’s doubts grew when she saw reports in the media of the real Brad Pitt with his new girlfriend, jewellery designer Ines de Ramon. Realising the extent of the deception, she reported the scam to authorities, who launched an investigation. It remains unclear if Anne has recovered any of the funds nearly two years after the scam began.
Anne’s story has sparked widespread reactions online, with many expressing sympathy. One user on X (formerly Twitter) described romance scams as “the cruellest,” while others criticised the lack of verification steps. Jay Kennedy shared a personal experience: “My stepmom will not stop sending money to the cello player… It’s sad how lonely and lost older people get to where they are so delusional and do this.”
Anne is now hospitalised in a clinic, battling severe depression due to the traumatic experience. The case serves as a grim reminder of the emotional and financial toll romance scams can take, highlighting the dangers of digital deception.