French Woman Duped By AI-Generated 'Brad Pitt' Loses Life Savings Of ₹7.3 Crore: Here's What Went Down
The fraudsters convinced Anne to transfer money for various fabricated reasons, including paying customs fees on luxury gifts and covering medical expenses.
A French woman, Anne, aged 53, fell victim to an elaborate online scam involving impersonators using artificial intelligence to pose as Academy Award-winning actor Brad Pitt. The con artists managed to siphon €830,000 (approximately Rs 7.3 crore) from Anne, leaving her financially devastated and emotionally scarred.
Anne, an interior designer, initially believed she was in a year-and-a-half-long relationship with Pitt after being contacted by someone claiming to be his mother on Instagram in early 2023. The scammers manipulated her through emotional pleas and AI-generated content, including fake hospital photos and even a fabricated news segment.
A Scam Fueled By AI
The fraudsters convinced Anne to transfer money for various fabricated reasons, including paying customs fees on luxury gifts and covering medical expenses for "Brad Pitt's" kidney cancer treatment. Despite her doubts, Anne fell deeper into the scam, believing in the sincerity of the messages.
The situation worsened after Anne divorced her husband, receiving a settlement of €775,000 — all of which she sent to the scammers. Attempts by her daughter to intervene were unsuccessful, as Anne remained convinced of the relationship’s authenticity.
Public Backlash
The story gained national attention after it was featured on French broadcaster TF1’s primetime show. However, the segment sparked widespread mockery online, with social media users and even brands making jokes at Anne’s expense. Some posts, including one by Toulouse FC, were later deleted amid backlash.
The ridicule led TF1 to pull the segment from future broadcasts, though it remains available online. Anne later criticized the broadcaster, accusing them of omitting details about her suspicions and the psychological manipulation she endured.
Wake-Up Call
Anne’s ordeal highlights the dangers of sophisticated scams leveraging AI and deepfake technology. While many ridiculed her online, others expressed empathy, emphasizing the difficulty in identifying such advanced fraudulent schemes, especially for individuals unfamiliar with technology.
An op-ed in Libération referred to Anne as a "whistleblower," cautioning about the increasing prevalence of cyber scams fueled by AI advancements.
Anne’s story serves as a grim reminder to stay vigilant online and underscores the devastating impact of modern-day cybercrime.