Brad Pitt has responded to a bizarre scam in which a woman from France was tricked into sending over $850,000 to someone impersonating him online. The con artist claimed Pitt needed the money for cancer treatment and created fake AI-generated images of the actor in a hospital to support the story.
Through his representative, Pitt expressed dismay at scammers exploiting fans’ admiration for celebrities, stating, “It’s awful that scammers take advantage of the strong bond between fans and celebrities.” He also reminded people to ignore unsolicited online messages from individuals claiming to be famous figures, particularly since Pitt is not active on social media.
The victim, identified as Anne, explained in an interview that she was contacted by someone posing as Pitt’s mother and was subsequently “love-bombed” by the scammer, who promised her luxury gifts and even a marriage proposal. Anne, already emotionally vulnerable following her divorce, fell for the deceit before eventually becoming suspicious. She is now receiving treatment for severe depression.
An investigation into the fraud is ongoing, with law enforcement aiming to identify the perpetrator behind the elaborate scheme.
