Rs 39 M Fraud: French Woman Targeted by Celebrity Impostor

A French woman living in Mauritius has become the victim of a sophisticated scam involving a perpetrator posing as Hollywood actor Brad Pitt. This distressing story gained significant traction on social media, prompting a response from Pitt’s spokesperson, who condemned the exploitation of the strong emotional connections between fans and celebrities.

The scam was highlighted during a segment on the French television program Sept à Huit on TF1, which detailed how a 53-year-old interior designer was deceived by an individual who used sent fake messages and artificial intelligence-generated images of Pitt.

After establishing a false “relationship” with her, the scammer proposed marriage and sent her fabricated photos depicting Pitt in a hospital bed, claiming he was battling cancer and needed financial assistance for medical treatment.

The impersonator further claimed that Pitt’s ex-wife, actress Angelina Jolie, had frozen his bank accounts, exacerbating the urgency of the situation.

While residing in Mauritius, the victim was manipulated into transferring approximately Rs 39,840,000 (around €830,000) to the scammer.

Following the ordeal, she relocated to Réunion Island, where she has since filed a formal complaint.

In light of the circumstances surrounding this case, the Financial Crimes Commission (FCC) is set to initiate an investigation, as the fraudulent activity occurred during the victim’s time in Mauritius.

Source: l’Express