Brad Pitt Impersonation Scam Strikes Again As Victims Face 3-Week Wait for Hotel Meeting

Another instance of fraud involving the impersonation of Hollywood star Brad Pitt has emerged, revealing the ongoing risks of online scams. A Swiss woman, Patricia, fell victim to a con artist who posed as the actor, resulting in a financial loss of approximately £90,000, or about 170 million won.

Details of the Scam

Patricia began following Brad Pitt’s official Instagram account in May of the previous year. Shortly after this, she received a message from an individual claiming to be Pitt’s manager. Believing the deception, she agreed to a conversation with someone she thought was the actor himself.

Manipulative Tactics

The scammer, after establishing contact, masqueraded as Brad Pitt. He sent romantic messages, professing love and requesting confidentiality regarding their supposed relationship. Under the pretense of needing money for a meeting, he demanded $50,000 to facilitate their encounter.

• Initial demand: $50,000 (about 73 million won)
• Patricia transferred money multiple times despite her initial resistance.
• Sent deceptive messages including romantic declarations and requests for secrecy.

After three weeks of waiting at a hotel in Los Angeles, Patricia realized she had been scammed. Following her return home, she reported the incident to the authorities, after learning of a similar case in France.

Similar Cases of Fraud

This is not an isolated incident. Another victim, a French woman named Anne, suffered a staggering loss of €830,000 (approximately 1.4 billion won). The scam involved the same dubious strategies, where the fraudster claimed to be suffering from kidney cancer and used fake social media profiles and AI-generated images.

Anne’s deception continued as the scammer sent her pictures of himself in a hospital bed along with messages expressing his love. She finally recognized the fraud when she encountered images of Brad Pitt with his real partner.

Impact of Such Scams

The psychological effects of such scams can be devastating. Victims often face feelings of shame and mental anguish after being misled by something they believed to be real. This highlights the importance of raising awareness about online scams and the tactics employed by fraudsters.

Protect Yourself from Online Scams

To avoid falling prey to similar scams, consider the following tips:

• Verify the identity of individuals contacting you online.
• Be skeptical of requests for money, especially from strangers.
• Report suspicious activity to the authorities immediately.

As scams evolve, increased vigilance is crucial to protect oneself from such fraudulent schemes. Education and awareness remain the best defenses against becoming a victim.