In a tale that seems almost too bizarre to be true, a French woman found herself caught in a web of deception and heartbreak, all because she believed she was in a romantic relationship with Hollywood star Brad Pitt.
Her story serves as a stark reminder of the dangers lurking in the digital age, where online scammers prey on the vulnerable, using sophisticated tactics and the allure of celebrity to execute their scams.
The woman, known only as Anne to protect her privacy, was reportedly first approached online by someone claiming to be Pitt’s mother, who flattered her by saying, ‘It’s a woman like you that my son needs,’ according to reports from The Times.
Despite initial doubts, Anne’s scepticism wore down over time, and she found herself drawn into a false sense of intimacy with someone she believed to be the actor himself.
‘At first I said to myself that it was fake, that it’s ridiculous,’ Anne admitted in an interview with French television outlet TF1, as reported by BFM TV.
‘But I’m not used to social media and I didn’t really understand what was happening to me.’
The scam took a financial turn when the impostor requested nearly €9,000 (AU$14,975.40) from Anne to pay customs tariffs for gifts he claimed to have sent her. ‘I liked the man I was talking to. He knew how to talk to women, it was always very well done,’ she said.
The con artist convinced her that he, as ‘Brad Pitt,’ was suffering from kidney cancer and needed a loan because his assets were frozen due to a supposed divorce from Angelina Jolie.
The scammer went to great lengths to maintain the illusion, reportedly sending Anne AI-generated images of Pitt’s face superimposed onto men in hospital beds.
Charmed by the attention and seemingly heartfelt messages, Anne, who had recently divorced her husband, transferred almost her entire €775,000 (around AU$1,289,553.50) divorce settlement to the scammer.
When rumours of the real Brad Pitt’s relationship with Ines De Ramon surfaced, the scammer tried to refute them, but eventually, the truth became undeniable. Anne realised she had been a victim of a dating scam.
This incident is a reminder of the importance of vigilance when engaging with strangers online as it’s easy to get swept up in the excitement of a new connection, especially one that seems to offer romance and attention. It’s crucial to remember that if something seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Anne has since taken legal action, and a police inquiry is underway. Meanwhile, TF1 removed the previous interview from its website in an effort to shield her from the ‘wave of harassment’ she faced after her story went public, as reported by The Times.
To our readers at YourLifeChoices, we urge you to protect yourselves and your loved ones from similar scams. Be cautious when someone you meet online asks for money, no matter how convincing their story may be.
Verify the identity of anyone you engage with online, and never send money or personal information to someone you haven’t met in person.
If you or someone you know has been targeted by a similar scam, it’s important to report it to the authorities immediately. Scammers often rely on the embarrassment and silence of their victims to continue their deceitful practices.
Anne’s unfortunate experience offers a big lesson on the importance of cyber safety.
Share your thoughts and any advice you might have on cyber safety in the comments below. Together, we can help each other stay safe in an increasingly connected world.
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