In one in every of many tales of celebrity-centered fraud, a 53-year-old French girl named Anne was just lately conned out of $850,000 by on-line scammers. Her story of getting taken by thieves posing as Brad Pitt on Instagram went viral after she got here ahead and admitted she thought she was in a long-distance relationship with the Ocean’s Eleven star. In an announcement obtained by Selection, Pitt’s spokesperson stated:
“It’s terrible that scammers benefit from the robust bond between followers and celebrities. This is a vital reminder not to answer unsolicited on-line messages, particularly from actors who should not current on social networks.”
Within the wake of the rip-off, Anne acquired fairly a little bit of on-line mockery, as if shedding nearly one million {dollars} wasn’t painful sufficient. Anne, an inside decorator, was first approached by scammers pretending to be Pitt’s mom after she began an Instagram account to submit photos of her trip in Tignes, within the French Alps. Slowly, the flimflam advanced when the scammers began sending Anne AI photos of Pitt in a hospital mattress in dire want of cash for a kidney transplant, claiming that his cash wasn’t accessible because of the actor’s divorce from Angelina Jolie. After some time, Anne, who had acquired cash from her personal divorce settlement, despatched all of the funds to the impostors.
AI and the Rip-off Economic system, Defined
One of many largest development sectors within the final 30 years is with out query the rip-off financial system. From phishing, to pretend texts and DMs from folks with seven numbers of their username, to bogus superstar relationships, the web has ensured that the majority waking grownup life is dodging some sort of ripoff.
The proliferation of AI photos has slammed on the fuel for scams aimed on the much less tech-savvy Boomer technology, who don’t have any cognitive immunity to this pressure of fraud. Couple this with an more and more lonely and atomized inhabitants, and it is maybe simpler to see how one caught up on the flawed second may very well be taken for a journey. This newest rip-off involving Pitt’s picture is only one of a number of in current reminiscence that has capitalized on superstar and parasocial relationships with followers.
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Johnny Depp Breaks His Silence Over Impersonation Scams That Value His Followers as much as $350,000
The actor has shared his personal message on-line to warn his followers to be vigilant, and reiterate that he by no means contacts anybody on social media for cash.
Anne is one in every of many who’ve fallen prey to comparable scams and has come ahead in hopes to warn others of her folly. In an interview with Le Figaro newspaper, Anne said the next:
“Solely factor we’re going to recollect is that ‘Anne fell in love with a pretend Brad Pitt. Now, to start with, I’ve by no means cheated on my husband in my life as a result of I’m a caring girl, I’m not loopy or corny, as some folks say or write on social networks. I simply wished to assist somebody… and sure, I’ve been scammed. That’s why I got here ahead, as a result of I’m not the one one on this scenario.”
One factor is for certain – no superstar is messaging you, ever. Particularly if they’re asking you for cash.