In a shocking revelation on the TF1 program Sept à Huit, Anne, a 53-year-old French interior designer, shared how she was duped out of €830,000 by a man she assumed to be Hollywood actor Brad Pitt. The scam began innocuously but escalated into a financial and emotional catastrophe.
Anne’s ordeal started in February 2023 during a skiing holiday in Tignes. While exploring Instagram for the first time, she received a message from an account that purportedly belonged to “Jane Etta Pitt,” the mother of Brad Pitt. Shortly after, another account purporting to be Brad Pitt himself reached out, saying, “My mother told me a lot about you.”
“I was flabbergasted,” Anne recounted. “At first, I thought it was fake, but as someone who isn’t very used to social media, I didn’t really know what was happening to me.”
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What followed was a calculated manipulation. The imposter skillfully engaged Anne with poetic messages, AI-generated videos, and meticulously crafted reassurances. “He knew how to talk to women; it was always very well written. I liked the man I was talking to,” Anne admitted.
The kidney cancer scam
The scam took a financial turn when the fraudster requested €9,000, citing customs fees for luxury gifts he claimed to have sent Anne. Convinced by his explanations, Anne complied. The situation worsened after she disclosed her recent divorce settlement of €775,000 from her wealthy ex-husband. The imposter seized the opportunity, claiming he needed the money for kidney cancer treatment and attributing his inability to access his funds to a supposed financial freeze due to his divorce from Angelina Jolie.
The scammer sent AI-generated images of “Brad Pitt” in a hospital bed to bolster his story. “I looked those photos up on the Internet but couldn’t find them, so I thought that meant he had taken those selfies just for me,” Anne said. “It hurts me to do it, but I tell myself that I might save a man’s life.”
A devastating revelation
Anne’s realisation came in the summer of 2024 when she saw media reports about Brad Pitt’s real relationship with Ines de Ramon. The truth shattered her. By then, she had already been hospitalised for severe depression and had attempted to take her own life multiple times. Following the Sept à Huit broadcast, Anne faced online harassment, leading to the withdrawal of the interview.
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Tracking the scammers
Marwan Ouarab, founder of Find My Scammer, intervened, offering to assist Anne track the scammers. Using a “booby-trapped link,” Ouarab’s team gained access to the scammer’s device, uncovering their identity and operational base in Nigeria. “It’s a small group of three or four fairly young people who are causing damage. On the fake Brad Pitt’s device alone, we counted 34 victims,” Ouarab revealed.
The scammer has reportedly shifted tactics, now impersonating actor Keanu Reeves to lure new targets. Ouarab has shared evidence with Nigerian authorities, hoping for swift action against the perpetrators.
A message of caution
Brad Pitt’s spokesperson addressed the scam, stating, “It’s awful that scammers take advantage of the strong bond between fans and celebrities. This is an important reminder not to respond to unsolicited online messages, especially from actors who are not present on social networks.”
Anne’s heartbreaking experience highlights the dangers of online deception and the need for vigilance. Her story serves as a cautionary tale for anyone navigating the digital world’s increasingly sophisticated scams.