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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →A French woman lost €830,000 after an online fraudster impersonated Brad Pitt and people around him. The Guardian reported the sum as $855,000, its conversion of the euro loss. Police Fédérale says the scam took place from February 2023 to June 2024 and involved the scammer posing as Pitt’s mother, a doctor, and Pitt himself.
How the fake Brad Pitt romance scam worked
Reporting by The Guardian says Anne, a 53-year-old French interior designer, believed she was in a long-term online relationship with Pitt. The person contacted her through fake social-media profiles and WhatsApp accounts. Anne said the impersonator sent images resembling selfies, including AI-generated pictures of Pitt in a hospital and an apparent copy of his passport.
The impersonator claimed Pitt needed money for cancer treatment and could not access his accounts because they were frozen during divorce proceedings. Those were the scammer’s claims, not established facts about Pitt. The available reporting does not establish that every message or image used AI.
Anne realized she had been deceived after seeing a photograph of Pitt with his partner, The Guardian reported. The report said the television program stated that she had filed a police complaint.
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What is known about the case and its aftermath
Police Fédérale placed the fraud between February 2023 and June 2024 and reported a loss of €830,000. On 16 January 2025, Le Parisien reported that a financial-brigade investigation was underway and no suspect had been identified at that time. The sources cited here do not establish the investigation’s later outcome or whether any money was recovered.
The Guardian reported that the TF1 segment about Anne went viral and that the broadcaster removed it from replay services on 14 January 2025. It also reported that TF1 said Anne had experienced severe depression and hospitalization. Online ridicule can add harm to the consequences of fraud; the case is not a reason to mock the person targeted.
What to do if you are targeted by a romance scam in France
Report the attempted scam or make a formal complaint
France’s Service-Public.fr distinguishes a report through THESEE from a formal complaint. Its guidance, verified on 18 March 2025, says a person can report a virtual romance scam through THESEE when the other person has asked for money; a payment does not have to have been made. A THESEE report informs investigators but is not itself a complaint.
The government page also describes online formal complaint options for specified virtual relationships involving a request for money. If the situation does not meet those criteria, it directs people to file at a police station or gendarmerie, or to write to the prosecutor. A complaint can be filed against an unknown perpetrator (plainte contre X). Check the current eligibility details and routes on the Service-Public.fr guidance on romance scams; these procedures apply in France.
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Contact your bank promptly if money or banking details are involved
If you transferred money or shared banking information, contact your bank as soon as possible to discuss opposing or contesting transactions and securing the account. Service-Public.fr advises contacting the bank in relevant cases involving banking information. A bank may explain what steps are possible, but reimbursement is not guaranteed.
Verify identities through a separate channel
A familiar celebrity name, convincing-looking image, or apparent identity document does not prove who is behind an account. Treat unsolicited messages and requests for money as reasons to pause. Verify a person’s identity independently, using a channel you found yourself rather than contact details or links supplied by the person asking for money.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why the case drew attention
The Guardian quoted a spokesperson for Pitt saying: “It’s awful that scammers take advantage of the strong bond between fans and celebrities,” and calling the case “an important reminder not to respond to unsolicited online outreach, especially from actors who have no social media presence.” The statement was obtained by E! News, according to The Guardian.
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