Movies

Brad Pitt’s team reminds fans he’s not on social media after a woman gets big-time scammed

BBG News

Brad Pitt’s team has addressed rumors concerning a case where an individual is said to have conned over $800,000 from a French woman, impersonating Brad Pitt on the internet.

On Friday, a representative for the “Fight Club” actor issued a warning: it’s unfortunate when scammers exploit the deep bond between fans and celebrities. However, this serves as a crucial message to not engage with unsolicited online communications, particularly from actors who don’t have any social media presence.

Movies

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie initially embarked on a passionate relationship, only for it to be followed by a lengthy separation that lasted four times longer than their actual married life. Here’s a breakdown of the events.

Anne, who is known as an interior designer, admitted to French media that for over a year and a half she was deceived into believing she was in a relationship with the actor who won an Oscar for “Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood.” The scammers convinced her to lend money, claiming it was for his medical bills. After her interview aired on TF1 TV during prime time on Sunday, it was subsequently removed from their website due to widespread mockery.

On a recent French YouTube program, as reported by the BBC, she confessed, ‘I’ve been outsmarted, and I’m owning up to it. I’m speaking up because I’m not alone in this situation.’

In February 2023, Anne, who admitted being new to social media, shared that it was Instagram where she first joined. Shortly after, fraudsters reached out to her, initially pretending to be the mother of Brad Pitt, named Jane Etta, followed by impersonating the celebrity himself the next day. These individuals deceived Anne by claiming that Pitt had developed kidney cancer, was struggling financially due to a recent divorce settlement, and required assistance with bills. Furthermore, they sent her numerous AI-generated images portraying Pitt in a hospital bed, which she ultimately fell for.

Movies

On Monday, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt officially agreed to a settlement after eight years of divorce proceedings, as stated in a document submitted in the Los Angeles County Superior Court.

Initially, I thought it was a hoax or absurd, she shared with TF1. However, I’m not familiar with social media, so I didn’t fully grasp the situation I found myself in.

They tricked the cancer survivor into giving away her life’s earnings, which included her divorce settlement from a rich businessman, under the false pretense that it was intended for Angelina Jolie (Pitt).

Anne often questioned the authenticity of the individual claiming to be Pitt, and in response, the impostors would provide her with information to alleviate her suspicions. At a certain point, they even fabricated a fake news article about Pitt’s relationship with Ines de Ramon, which was set to go public in June 2024, before Pitt officially confirmed his relationship with De Ramon. This confirmation of their relationship is what eventually made Anne end her relationship with the person she thought was Pitt. Not long after this, scammers reached out to her pretending to be “Special FBI Agent John Smith,” causing Anne to contact the police. The BBC has reported that an investigation into these matters is currently ongoing.

Technology and the Internet

In a chilling application of deepfake technology, swindlers are employing artificial intelligence (AI) to convincingly impersonate the voice and appearance of relatives or close acquaintances of their victims in real-time scenarios.

According to reports from both Anne and the BBC, Anne has shared that she’s attempted suicide on three separate occasions following the revelation of the scam, and currently resides in a modest space with a friend, surrounded by her belongings which fit into only a handful of boxes.

The heartwarming tale about her that went viral, along with the AI-created photos featuring Pitt, has been spreading rapidly online, leading eventually to TF1 deciding to remove the related broadcast.

According to ‘Sept à Huit’, airing the story this past Sunday has led to a surge of harassment towards the witness. To safeguard the well-being of the victim, we are removing that particular story from our broadcast and digital platforms.

Hollywood Inc.

On Tuesday, Governor Gavin Newsom endorsed legislation that strengthens the security of actors regarding artificial intelligence (AI) and tackles misleading AI-produced content in political advertisements.

Once more in recent times, Pitt’s team has issued a declaration concerning frauds associated with the actor’s fame – marking the second such instance.

In September, Spanish officials disclosed that five individuals were apprehended in relation to an investigation targeting a “criminal network” that swindled two women for approximately $350,000. This was done by impersonating an actor on the internet and offering potential romantic connections. According to People’s reporting, this scheme was exposed at the time with a statement from the actor’s representatives advising fans to be cautious about unsolicited online contact, particularly when it originates from actors who do not maintain any social media presence.

Read More

2025-01-18 00:31

Previous post World’s Most Bizarre Shakespeare Performance: Hamlet in GTA Online!
Next post 53-Year-Old Gladiator Lightning Stuns Fans with Age-Defying Abs!