A con artist posing as Brad Pitt scammed a woman out of $850,000.

A nightmare quickly turned into a living nightmare for a woman assumed to be Hollywood hunk Brad Pitt.

On January 12th, the French TV channel TF1 broadcasted an episode of their show "Sept à Huit" featuring a 53-year-old interior designer named Anne who confessed that she had lost 830,000 euros (about $850,000) due to a mistaken belief that she was sending money to a cancer-stricken Pitt.

Anne believed she was in a relationship with the 61-year-old actor through the use of falsified documents, images, and artificial intelligence.

In February 2023, Anne reportedly received a message on Instagram from someone claiming to be Pitt's 85-year-old mother, Jane Etta Pitt, stating, "It’s a woman like you that my son needs," according to BFM TV and The Sunday Times.

Initially, I doubted the authenticity of the situation, thinking it was absurd," Anne admitted. "However, I'm not accustomed to social media and didn't fully comprehend what was transpiring. Despite my initial reservations, I engaged in the conversation before receiving a message from the supposed Pitt.

"You were the subject of many conversations between my mother and me," the con artist stated.

Anne was bombarded with numerous romantic messages, poetry, and manipulated photos as part of a complex scheme involving Pitt's manager, daughter, and ex-wife. After an eight-year legal battle, Pitt and Jolie reached a divorce settlement in 2024, following their official declaration of single status in 2019.

"Scammers use a multilayered approach to make their scams more dangerous, according to Marva Bailer, AI expert and founder and CEO of Qualaix, who spoke to Planet Chronicle Digital. Scammers build trust over time by pretending to be someone close to the celebrity, such as a family member or staff member, and claiming to be helping the celebrity with their charitable efforts. This indirect approach makes the scam seem more credible, as it's not the celebrity asking for help directly, but someone positioned to be more relatable or "realistic." The scam plays on the idea that the celebrity is too proud or private to ask for help themselves, making the situation seem more genuine."

The actor's lack of visual communication troubled Anne, prompting the scammer to send her an AI-curated video. Later, Anne was informed that she needed to pay more than 9,000 euros in customs tariffs to accept luxury gifts from the person posing as Pitt.

The fake Pitt, posing as Brad Pitt, informed Anne that he was facing financial difficulties due to his ongoing divorce with Jolie. Anne, a recent divorcée, had received a substantial settlement of 775,000 euros and decided to send most of it to the fake Pitt to help him with his treatments.

Pitt allegedly sent Anne a series of doctored photos depicting his hospital stay, including one where he holds a card that reads "Anne I love you."

Despite being a novice at social media, Anne had reservations and the ability to block the scammer's number on several occasions. However, she eventually gave in to her emotions and resumed communication. Initially, she read a report stating that Pitt was involved with Inés de Ramon. Later, she received a fake TV report that confirmed the couple was not together, which alleviated her concerns.

Anne knew the photos of the couple were a con and decided to take legal action. However, she experienced extreme ridicule and the story was ultimately pulled by TF1. The network released a statement saying they'd chosen to pull the story from their platforms after the initial broadcast sparked harassment against the victim.

On January 15, E! News reported that a representative for Pitt stated that the situation with Anne was "terrible."

"The rep emphasized the importance of not responding to unsolicited online outreach, especially from actors who have no social media presence, as it is unethical for scammers to exploit fans' strong bond with celebrities."

Pitt does not have any verified social media accounts, and his representative did not respond to Planet Chronicle Digital's request for comment.

Celebrity imagery is easily accessible, and people are at risk of being misled into thinking they are engaging with someone they trust because of it. Fans can easily be fooled by fake social media accounts or highly convincing emails or messages that appear to come directly from the celebrity or their team.

Loti AI CEO Luke Arrigoni stated to Planet Chronicle Digital that scams using celebrity likenesses, such as the one involving Brad Pitt, are on the rise.

"Be cautious when interacting with scam accounts, as scammers often provide false reasons for hiding their relationships, such as medical issues or being stranded. However, the most significant warning sign is when they request any form of payment."

"Rampant scams are on the rise, with deepfakes made through artificial intelligence becoming increasingly sophisticated, warns Rob Rosenburg of Telluride Legal Strategies. It is crucial to exercise caution when receiving communications from celebrities, as they are more likely to be fraudulent."