A French woman was scammed out of €830,000 by fraudsters using fake online accounts and AI technology, leading her to believe she was in a romantic relationship with Hollywood star Brad Pitt.
Authorities in France's La Réunion are investigating an elaborate scam that defrauded a French woman of €830,000. Fraudsters, using fake online accounts and AI-generated images, made her believe she was in a romantic relationship with Hollywood star Brad Pitt.
Police are working to trace the accounts that received the funds, following a complaint filed by the victim, identified only as Anne. Aged 53 and an interior decorator, Anne revealed to TF1 that she believed she was romantically involved with the Hollywood actor. The deception led her to divorce her husband and transfer the substantial sum over the course of a year and a half.
The scammers employed fake social media profiles, WhatsApp accounts, and AI technology to send Anne what appeared to be selfies and messages from Pitt. She only realized the truth when news of Pitt’s real-life relationship with girlfriend Ines de Ramon surfaced.
Seeking justice, Anne contacted Marwan Ouarab, founder of the FindMyScammer.com website, to help track down the perpetrators. According to French newspaper Le Parisien, Ouarab identified the fraudsters as three men in their twenties based in Nigeria. "We would love for Interpol to take up the case," he stated.
Anne has since faced online harassment and mockery after her story aired, leading the broadcasting channel to withdraw the interview. Meanwhile, Brad Pitt’s representative has issued a warning to fans about such scams: "It’s terrible that scammers exploit fans’ strong emotional connection with celebrities," the Fight Club actor's spokesperson told Entertainment Weekly.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the sophisticated techniques fraudsters now use, leveraging AI to exploit vulnerable individuals.
As online scams become increasingly sophisticated, this case highlights the urgent need for awareness and stronger international collaboration to combat cyber fraud. Victims like Anne serve as a reminder that anyone can fall prey to such schemes, emphasizing the importance of vigilance online.
With AFP
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