A horrifying picture of fraud using artificial intelligence has come to light in France. A group of fraudsters impersonating Hollywood star Brad Pitt swindled a French woman out of about 830,000 euros ( about S$1,257,902) After the incident came to light, not only the fraud but also online ridicule and cyberbullying surrounding the victim have sparked widespread discussion.
The Beginning of Fake Love
French interior designer Anne (pseudonym), aged 53, said that in early 2023 she received a message on Instagram. The message came from someone who introduced herself as Brad Pitt’s mother. It said that her son was looking for a woman who would understand him. Shortly after, regular contact with the so-called Brad Pitt began.
Gaining Trust with AI
Slowly, fraudsters started sending pictures and messages created using artificial intelligence. Anne became emotionally involved in love stories, marriage proposals, and emotional conversations.
At the time, she was also going through a difficult divorce, which made her even more vulnerable. Fraudsters exploit this vulnerability.
Cancer Excuse
At one point, the fraudsters claimed that Brad Pitt was suffering from kidney cancer and needed money for treatment. It is said that his bank account was closed.
An email from a fake ‘doctor‘ was even sent, stating that his life was in crisis. In total, Anne sent about 830,000 euros to an account in Turkey.
Revealing the Truth
In mid-2024, after seeing the real Brad Pitt in the media with his current partner, Anne realized that she had been deceived. She revealed the matter on the French TV show Sept à Huit.
However, after the broadcast, instead of sympathy, she was the victim of widespread online ridicule.
Social Media Reactions
Many netizens said that this is not just financial fraud but also long-term emotional exploitation. Some reminded that many people who are victims of such fraud are mentally broken and forced to make extreme decisions.
Others warned that the misuse of AI technology will increase such crimes in the future. Many called for empathy rather than blaming the victim.
Cyberbullying Controversy
Many people made sarcastic comments about her on social media and started to cyberbully instead of empathizing. Some organizations and media outlets even joked about the issue, which were later forced to apologize following criticism.
The situation became so serious that the TV channel was forced to remove the interview for the safety of the victim.
Watch the video here-
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