A 53-year-old French woman, Anne, found her life turned upside down after downloading Instagram for the first time in February 2023. A wealthy interior designer and the wife of a well-off businessman, Anne had no idea that the social media platform would lead her into a sophisticated scam, costing her a staggering €650,000 (approximately 23 crore Pakistani rupees).
The ordeal began when Anne was contacted on Instagram by a woman claiming to be Jane Pitt, the mother of Hollywood actor Brad Pitt. The woman told Anne that Brad was “looking for someone like her.” The very next day, Anne received a message from an account purporting to be Brad Pitt himself, who assured her of his identity. Unfamiliar with the workings of social media, Anne fell into the trap.
The scammers informed Anne that Brad had sent her luxury gifts, but they were held up due to unpaid customs duties. They also claimed that Brad’s bank accounts were frozen due to his ongoing divorce proceedings with Angelina Jolie. Convinced, Anne transferred €9,000 to the fraudsters.
As time went on, the demands for money escalated. At one point, the fake Brad Pitt claimed to be suffering from kidney cancer and needed funds for treatment. The scammers sent AI-generated images of Brad in a hospital bed, which Anne could not find anywhere online, further convincing her of their authenticity.
During this period, Anne divorced her husband and received a settlement of €775,000, which she also handed over to the scammers. A cancer survivor herself, Anne said she convinced herself that she might be saving someone’s life.
However, doubts began to creep in when Anne saw photos of Brad Pitt with his new girlfriend in magazines. The scammers then sent her a fake AI-generated video news clip, in which Brad mentioned a special connection with someone named Anne. This temporarily eased her suspicions.
By June 2024, when Brad Pitt publicly announced his relationship with his new girlfriend, Anne decided it was time to end the charade. When the scammers, posing as a “Special Agent John Smith,” tried to extract more money, Anne finally contacted the police.
The scam has left Anne’s life in ruins. She attempted suicide three times and expressed her anguish, saying, “Why was I chosen to be hurt like this? These people deserve to go to hell. I pray they are found and brought to justice.”
The case even reached the real Brad Pitt, whose spokesperson called the exploitation of a fan’s emotions “deeply saddening.” However, Anne faced ridicule on social media, adding to her distress.
Anne’s 22-year-old daughter revealed that she tried to reason with her mother, but Anne remained ensnared in the scam. Now, Anne hopes to warn others by sharing her story, urging people to stay vigilant against such elaborate frauds.
This case highlights the dangers of online scams, particularly those leveraging AI and impersonation, and serves as a stark reminder of the emotional and financial devastation they can cause.
