A 53-year-old woman, identified as Anne, has come forward with a shocking tale of being scammed out of nearly $850,000 by a fraudster posing as Hollywood star Brad Pitt. Speaking on the French news show Sept à huit, Anne revealed how she was duped into believing she was in a romantic relationship with the Oscar-winning actor, only to lose almost all her life savings.
Anne’s ordeal began when she was contacted online by someone claiming to be Brad Pitt’s mother, Jane Etta Pitt. “I’m not used to social media,” Anne admitted. “And I didn’t really understand what was happening to me.” Shortly after, a person pretending to be Brad Pitt began messaging her, referencing their supposed connection through his “mother.”
Over time, the scammer gained Anne’s trust and affection, sending her love poems that made her believe she had found a kindred spirit. “There are so few men who write you this kind of thing,” she said. “I liked the man I was talking to. He knew how to talk to women, it was always very well done.”
The situation escalated when Anne shared details about her divorce settlement. The fake Brad claimed he was locked out of his bank accounts due to his high-profile divorce with Angelina Jolie and needed financial assistance for cancer treatments. To lend credibility to the story, he sent images of his supposed hospitalization—photos Anne now realizes were AI-generated.
“It hurt me to do it,” Anne said of transferring the money, “but I told myself that I might save a man’s life.”
Anne’s devastating realization came when she saw real photos of Brad Pitt with his girlfriend, Ines de Ramon. By then, the scammer had already vanished with approximately $850,000 of her money. Reflecting on the betrayal, Anne questioned, “Why did they choose me to do such harm? I’ve never harmed anyone. These people deserve hell.”
In response to the incident, Brad Pitt’s representative issued a warning to fans, emphasizing the dangers of online scams. “It’s awful that scammers take advantage of fans’ strong connection with celebrities,” the spokesperson told E! News. “This is an important reminder to not respond to unsolicited online outreach, especially from actors who have no social media presence.”
Indeed, Brad Pitt does not have verified accounts on major social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, or X (formerly Twitter).
Anne’s story serves as a stark reminder of how sophisticated scammers exploit emotions and vulnerabilities, leaving victims emotionally and financially devastated. As the real Brad Pitt’s team underscores, fans should remain vigilant and cautious when engaging with unsolicited messages online, especially those claiming to be from celebrities.
