Brad Pitt’s Rep Responds After Catfished Fan Was Scammed Out of $850K
Bratt Pitt’s team has issued a response after a fan of the actor was allegedly scammed out of $850,000.
The 53-year-old French woman, named Anne, previously revealed that she was conned after being convinced she was in a long-term relationship with the F1 star. The scammer allegedly used AI technology to impersonate Pitt, sending personalized photos and messages to the woman. Anne was convinced to send nearly $1 million for a cancer treatment, with “Pitt” claiming he was unable to access his bank accounts due to his divorce from Angelina Jolie. The scammer even sent AI-generated images of Pitt in the hospital to help convince Anne to send the money.
Now Pitt’s spokesperson has released the following statement: “It’s awful that scammers take advantage of fans’ strong connection with celebrities, but this is an important reminder to not respond to unsolicited online outreach, especially from actors who have no social media presence.”
Indeed, Pitt, like many A-listers, doesn’t have social media accounts.
Anne reportedly eventually realized she had been conned when she saw photos of Pitt out on the town with girlfriend Ines de Ramon.
Anne told her story on an episode of the French TV show Seven to Eight, and was first reported stateside by Men’s Journal.
“At first I said to myself that it was fake, that it’s ridiculous,” Anne said. “But I’m not used to social media and I didn’t really understand what was happening to me. I ask myself why they chose me to do such harm like this? I’ve never harmed anyone. These people deserve hell.”
Compounding Anne’s misfortune, by going public with the scam, Anne has reportedly been the victim of “a wave of harassment,” which has also led the TV show to be withdrawn from the broadcaster’s platforms.
