Authorities in La Reunion have launched an investigation to identify fraudsters who scammed a 53-year-old interior decorator out of €830,000 (S$1.17 million) by making her believe she was in an online relationship with actor Brad Pitt.
The woman, identified only as Anne, told TF1 TV channel that she believed she was communicating with Pitt, leading her to divorce her husband and transfer the money. The scammers used fake social media and WhatsApp accounts, as well as AI image-creating technology, to send Anne what appeared to be selfies and messages from Pitt.
Anne spent a year and a half believing she was in a romantic relationship with Pitt before realizing she had been scammed when news emerged of Pitt’s real-life relationship with girlfriend Ines de Ramon.
The police are trying to locate the accounts that received the transfers and have identified three suspects in their 20s located in Nigeria. Marwan Ouarab, founder of FindmyScammer.com, is assisting Anne in her quest to find the fraudsters and has called for Interpol to take up the case.
Anne has faced online harassment and mockery after the interview was broadcast, leading to the programme being withdrawn. A representative for Pitt has warned fans to be wary of impersonation scams.