A French woman has become the latest victim of an elaborate romance scam after being tricked into believing she was in a relationship with Hollywood superstar Brad Pitt. The scam not only cost her €830,000 ($850,000) but also led to severe cyberbullying after she shared her story on a French TV show.
The woman, identified as Anne, is a 53-year-old interior designer who said she fell for the scam due to her unfamiliarity with social media. Anne recounted how it all began during a ski trip in February 2023 when she received a message from someone claiming to be Brad Pitt’s mother on Instagram. This soon escalated to direct messages from someone pretending to be the actor himself.
Despite initial doubts, Anne found herself drawn in by the scammer’s convincing approach, which included AI-generated images and romantic gestures. These efforts convinced her that the messages were genuine. Over time, the fraudster manipulated her into transferring money under the guise of helping Pitt with “medical bills” for kidney cancer, claiming his bank accounts were frozen due to a divorce with Angelina Jolie.
Anne eventually divorced her real-life millionaire husband to focus on this relationship. Tragically, her dream crumbled in the summer of 2024 when she discovered Brad Pitt’s real-life relationship with girlfriend Ines de Ramon. By then, she had lost her life savings and was hospitalized with severe depression.
The Cyberbullying Aftermath
After sharing her story on the TV program “Seven to Eight,” Anne became the target of online ridicule. The interview, which included personal details and family photos, quickly went viral, triggering a wave of memes, jokes, and mocking comments. Criticism also fell on the broadcaster, TF1, for failing to protect a vulnerable individual by airing the interview.
Prominent organizations like Netflix France and even Toulouse Football Club joined the social media frenzy, but later apologized for their insensitivity. The backlash led TF1 to withdraw the interview from its platforms, citing concerns for Anne’s mental health.
The Larger Issue of Romance Scams
Anne’s story highlights the growing threat of romance scams in the digital age. Cybersecurity experts warn that scammers now use advanced tools like artificial intelligence to create convincing fake identities, making it harder for victims to discern the truth.
Romance fraud often targets vulnerable individuals, such as those experiencing loneliness or mental health struggles. Experts emphasize the importance of spreading awareness to protect potential victims.
One Twitter user summed it up perfectly: “Romance scams exploit people’s desire to be loved. It’s cruel, heartbreaking, and needs to stop.”
