Congratulations, You’re Dating Brad Pitt! (You’re Not.)

How AI scammers are catfishing the lonely and draining their bank accounts.

The internet has always been a cesspool of questionable decisions, but nothing quite tops a French woman getting scammed out of nearly $850,000 by a so-called Brad Pitt. Not the actual Brad Pitt, mind you, but a digital con artist armed with artificial intelligence and a knack for exploiting loneliness.

The ‘Brad Pitt’ Romance No One Saw Coming

Anne, a 53-year-old woman from France, thought she had hit the ultimate jackpot when she was contacted by someone claiming to be Pitt’s mother on Instagram. That’s right, folks—because nothing screams ‘totally real’ like a celebrity’s mother casually browsing social media to find a nice lady for her son.

Then, lo and behold, Brad Pitt himself (well, an AI-generated version of him) slid into her messages. Cue the fake flattery, endless sweet talk, and eventually, requests for money. The scammer claimed his accounts were frozen due to a bitter divorce battle with Angelina Jolie (solid attempt at realism, to be fair) and needed funds to, you know, pay customs fees for gifts and cover medical expenses for a conveniently-timed ‘cancer treatment.’

The result? Anne, fully convinced she was Pitt’s new love interest, wired away hundreds of thousands of dollars until she finally had a moment of clarity—triggered by seeing photos of the real Brad Pitt cozying up to his actual girlfriend, Inés de Ramon. Oof.

How to Avoid Becoming the Next Victim of an AI Scam

Look, it’s easy to laugh at this situation, but AI scams are getting ridiculously advanced. Deepfakes, voice cloning, and hyper-personalized phishing scams are running rampant. So, unless you want to be the next headline, here’s what to look out for:

1. If a Celebrity DMs You, It’s Probably a Scam

Brad Pitt, Beyoncé, or Keanu Reeves are not lurking in your inbox looking for romance. Real celebrities don’t need you (or your cash). If a blue checkmark isn’t present—and even if it is—assume it’s a scam until proven otherwise.

2. Too Good to Be True? It Is.

If someone claiming to be a famous millionaire asks you for money, stop and ask yourself: why is Brad Pitt, with his Hollywood fortune, hitting up you for cash? Exactly.

3. AI Can Fake Everything Now

Scammers use AI-generated voices, realistic video clips, and even deepfake photos to trick people. Always verify with a video call or other means before believing any wild story.

4. Verify, Verify, Verify

Reverse image search their photos. Look up their supposed sob story. Check their grammar (seriously, most scammers can’t write like an A-lister). If anything feels off, it is off.

5. Consult a Skeptical Friend

Before sending a single penny, tell a brutally honest friend about your “celebrity romance.” If they laugh in your face, take that as a sign to reconsider.

Final Thoughts: Stop Bankrolling Digital Con Artists

Anne’s heartbreak and empty bank account serve as a reminder: the internet is a wild, deceptive place. AI has made it easier than ever to impersonate famous people, and scammers will keep getting smarter. If you’re ever tempted to send money to someone you’ve never met in person (especially if they claim to be famous), take a deep breath, shut down your DMs, and watch Fight Club instead. At least then, you’ll get some real Brad Pitt action—without the financial ruin.