4.6 C
London
Tuesday, January 21, 2025

She thought she was having an affair with Brad Pitt. She divorced a millionaire and lost her fortune

Must read

- Advertisement -


The French woman lost about EUR 830,000 (nearly PLN 3.5 million) by transferring money to fraudsters impersonating Brad Pitt, AFP reported. She added that the woman was convinced for a year and a half that she was communicating with the actor and was in a relationship with him.

As reported by AFP, a woman who identified herself as Anne said on the television program “Seven to Eight” on TF1 that she believed she was in a relationship with a Hollywood star. Moreover, she decided to divorce her husband and transfer 830,000 euros.

“Anne was the wife of a millionaire at the time of the fraud. According to BFM TV, the fraudster asked Anne to marry him, and she divorced her millionaire husband,” wrote Newsweek. He added that 830 thousand The French woman received euros as part of the divorce settlement. The scammer asked for money for alleged cancer treatment and sent artificial intelligence-generated photos and videos of Brad Pitt in a hospital bed to convince the woman she needed treatment.

According to AFP, the fake Pitt allegedly told the woman that his bank accounts were frozen due to the divorce proceedings with his ex-wife Angelina Jolie.

- Advertisement -

Angelina Jolie (right) and Brad PittShutterstock

She believed she was in a relationship with Brad Pitt

The fraudsters allegedly contacted the woman using fake accounts on social media and WhatsApp. They also used artificial intelligence imaging technology to send Anne photos that looked like selfies and messages from Pitt.

As AFP wrote, 53-year-old Anne was convinced for a year and a half that she was communicating with Brad Pitt. She only realized she was a victim of fraud when information about Pitt's relationship with Ines de Ramon emerged.

Brad Pitt (right) and his partner Ines de RamonMarechal Aurore/ABACA/PAP

How not to get scammed online

Last year, the NASK National Research Institute prepared a guide titled: “Internet Love. How to take care of your cybersecurity in online relationships.” The authors explained that the popularity of dating apps, social media and online services means that cybercriminals and other fraudsters are eager to use them for fraudulent purposes.

“It is attacks based on social engineering that are the most popular group of computer frauds to which ordinary Internet users are exposed. They are based primarily on human mistakes, most often committed under the influence of emotions – fear, shame, embarrassment, but also euphoria or excitement” – we read in the guide.

“Every user is vulnerable to them, especially those who are lonely and looking for their significant other,” it added.

Read more: “Internet Love”. How not to be deceived when looking for love online >>>

Main photo source: Marechal Aurore/ABACA/PAP



Source link

More articles

- Advertisement -

Latest article