A French interior designer, identified as Anne, has become the subject of widespread mockery after being swindled out of €830,000 (£700,000; $850,000) by scammers who posed as Hollywood actor Brad Pitt. Her harrowing story, which has drawn attention both for its emotional depth and the exploitation of modern technology, has led French broadcaster TF1 to pull a primetime programme about her after it sparked a massive wave of online ridicule and harassment. Anne’s case highlights the dangers of AI scams, where technology is manipulated to create convincing but fraudulent interactions.
Anne, 53, thought she was in a romantic relationship with the actor for over a year, and her ordeal ended in financial ruin, with her life’s savings being siphoned away. In the aftermath, she made a tearful appeal to the public, urging the identification and punishment of the perpetrators. While many ridiculed her online, others voiced sympathy, recognizing the dangers posed by digital deception and the advances in AI technology. This AI scam underscores how advanced technology is being used to exploit innocent individuals, creating a real-life tragedy.
What Was the Deceptive Scheme Behind the Scammers’ Tactics in This AI Scam?
The scam began innocuously when Anne, still married to a wealthy entrepreneur, joined Instagram in February 2023. She immediately received a message from someone claiming to be Brad Pitt’s mother, Jane Etta. According to Anne, Jane Etta told her that her son “needed a woman just like her.” This seemingly innocent interaction quickly escalated when Anne received a message the next day from someone claiming to be the actor himself.
Anne admitted that although the situation seemed suspicious, she was unfamiliar with social media and unsure how to navigate it. “But as someone who isn’t very used to social media, I didn’t really know what was happening to me,” she recalled.
The scammer, posing as Brad Pitt, explained that his bank accounts were frozen due to his divorce from actress Angelina Jolie, making it impossible for him to pay for customs duties on a luxury gift he wanted to send Anne. Overcome with empathy, Anne transferred €9,000 to the scammers, believing she was helping the actor during financial hardship. “Like a fool, I paid… Every time I doubted him, he managed to dissipate my doubts,” she said.
As time passed, the demands for more money intensified, with the fake Pitt claiming that he was undergoing treatment for kidney cancer. To prove his sincerity, the scammers sent Anne several AI-generated images of a man resembling Brad Pitt in a hospital bed. “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 explained.
What Were the Devastating Consequences of the AI Scam on Anne’s Life?
As the scam progressed, Anne’s personal life also began to unravel. She divorced her husband and was awarded €775,000, which she promptly sent to the scammers. “I told myself I was maybe saving a man’s life,” said Anne, who had undergone her battle with cancer and felt a deep empathy for the alleged plight of Pitt.
However, the realization that she had been duped began to settle in when Anne saw gossip magazine images showing the real Brad Pitt with his new girlfriend, Ines de Ramon. When she expressed doubts, the scammers quickly provided her with a fake news report in which an AI-generated anchor stated that Pitt had an “exclusive relationship” with Anne.
Anne found comfort in the fabricated report briefly, but as Brad Pitt’s relationship with de Ramon became official in June 2024, Anne ended the scam relationship. Despite this, the fraudsters attempted to extract more money from her, this time posing as a “Special FBI Agent John Smith.” This final manipulation prompted Anne to contact the authorities, and an investigation is now underway.
How Did the Public React to Anne’s Story, and What Harassment Did She Face?
In the wake of her tragic story being aired, Anne became the target of cruel mockery on social media. French broadcaster TF1 aired a primetime programme detailing her experience, but the broadcast sparked overwhelming ridicule, including mocking posts from brands and clubs. Netflix France even released a cheeky post advertising “four films with Brad Pitt (for real).”
In response to the backlash, Toulouse FC made a now-deleted post saying, “Hi Anne, Brad told us he would be at the stadium on Wednesday… and you?” The club later issued an apology. TF1 also announced that it would withdraw the segment, citing the “wave of harassment” following the broadcast, although the programme remains online.
What Did Anne Say in Her Interview About the AI Scam and the Public’s Response?
Despite the ridicule, Anne has remained resolute in speaking out. In a YouTube interview, she defended herself against accusations of naivety and highlighted that she wasn’t “crazy or a moron.” “I just got played, I admit it, and that’s why I came forward, because I am not the only one,” she said. She emphasized that anyone could have fallen victim to such a sophisticated scam, particularly when the scammers used “words that you never heard from your own husband.”
Anne also criticized TF1 for leaving out key details portraying her doubts and suspicions. She described how, in the beginning, she had second thoughts about the authenticity of the messages but was continually reassured by the scammers’ manipulation.
“I understand the comic effect, but we’re talking about a woman in her 50s who got conned by deepfakes and AI, which your parents and grandparents would be incapable of spotting,” one social media user remarked, showing empathy for Anne’s plight.
What Is the Larger Conversation About Cybersecurity and AI That This Case Brings to Light?
While Anne’s story has been a source of widespread mockery, several people have come to her defence. An op-ed in the French newspaper Libération argued that Anne’s experience should serve as a cautionary tale for others, describing her as a “whistleblower” about the dangers of modern cybertraps. The article emphasized that as AI technology advances, scams like this one will only become more sophisticated and harder to detect.
“Life today is paved with cybertraps… and AI progress will only worsen this scenario,” the op-ed warned.
Anne now lives in a modest room with just a few boxes of her belongings. She no longer has the wealth she once had, and her emotional distress has led her to attempt suicide on three occasions. In a tearful plea for justice, she said, “Why was I chosen to be hurt this way? These people deserve hell. We need to find those scammers, I beg you – please help me find them.”
What Can We Learn From Anne’s Story in the Context of the Digital Age and AI Scams?
Anne’s tragic experience highlights the dangers in the digital age, where scams are increasingly sophisticated and difficult to detect. As AI technology advances, the vulnerability of those unfamiliar with it becomes all the more apparent. While some have mocked Anne, others have acknowledged the situation’s complexity and the emotional toll it has taken on her. Her story is a stark reminder that in a world where online interactions can be easily manipulated, anyone can become a victim of an AI scam.
