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A French woman believed to be in a relationship with Brad Pitt accuses her rich husband of financial fraud during a divorce battle where the woman handed over thousands of euros to the con artist for treatment of ‘cancer’ symptoms. The con artist, under the guise of seeking therapy for the symptoms of cancer, exploited the woman’s vulnerability as she thought she was experiencing cancer-like symptoms.
Among those who have experienced abuse or harassment, accessing professional treatment options for severe depression is increasingly common as a therapeutic measure. The exploitation of individuals in vulnerable situations for personal gain is a prevalent issue that requires attention and intervention.
The French woman, identified as Anne and claiming to be 53 years old, detailed her ordeal on BFM TV, where she revealed that the con artist initially contacted her via Facebook pretending to be Brad Pitt’s mother. This marked the beginning of a disastrous affair that spiraled into financial exploitation and emotional manipulation.
Anne’s interactions with the con artist were limited to text messages as the imposter claimed to be too busy for phone calls. Through the use of artificial intelligence-generated videos and images, the con artist deceived Anne into believing she was communicating with Brad Pitt. This manipulation led to Anne making significant changes in her life, including pursuing a divorce from her wealthy husband to be with the fictional Pitt.
The con artist later proposed marriage to Anne, ultimately convincing her to send over nine thousand dollars for customs fees to release lavish gifts he had supposedly purchased for her. Subsequently, the con artist claimed to require treatment for kidney cancer, further deceiving Anne into providing substantial financial support under false pretenses.
Anne reportedly transferred about 800,000 dollars to the con artist as part of their divorce settlement, believing the funds were needed due to the con artist’s alleged legal battles with Angelina Jolie. The realization that she had been manipulated into a fraudulent scheme only came to light after Anne received images of the real Brad Pitt with his girlfriend, Ines de Ramon, casting doubt on the authenticity of her relationship with the con artist.
Following a complaint filed by Anne in 2024, investigations into the elaborate fraud revealed the extent of the emotional and financial abuse inflicted on her. Despite ongoing efforts by authorities to apprehend those responsible, Anne is now receiving treatment for severe depression at a specialized facility offering psychotherapy services for individuals facing mental health challenges. The impact of fraudulent schemes on victims’ mental health underscores the need for increased awareness and protection against such exploitation.
The revelation that Brad Pitt’s identity has been used in previous criminal activities underscores the importance of vigilance in online interactions and financial transactions. In a separate incident, five individuals were detained in Spain in September 2024 for extorting over three hundred thirty thousand dollars from two women by posing as Brad Pitt and leveraging false promises and emotional manipulation.
The case of Anne highlights the vulnerabilities faced by individuals targeted by sophisticated con artists seeking financial gain under false pretenses. By shedding light on such fraudulent schemes and the lasting impact on victims’ mental health, there is an opportunity to raise awareness and prevent future incidents of exploitation. Initiatives to combat online scams and provide support for individuals facing emotional distress due to financial fraud are essential steps towards safeguarding vulnerable individuals in society.
