Imagine falling head over heels for a Hollywood star, only to discover you’ve been played. That's exactly what happened to Anne, a 53-year-old French woman, who thought she was dating Brad Pitt- yes, the Brad Pitt. The only problem? It wasn't him. It was a scammer. And by the time the illusion shattered, Anne had lost €830,000 and her marriage.

It all began innocently enough: a Facebook message in February 2023 from someone claiming to be Brad Pitt's mom (red flag, anyone?). Before Anne knew it, she was swept up in a digital whirlwind of text exchanges with someone pretending to be the Fight Club star.

Though they only communicated via messages, the “relationship” seemed convincing. The scammer even sent AI-generated videos and photos of Pitt to keep up the ruse. Who could blame Anne for believing it? Technology can be scarily realistic these days.

As Anne fell deeper into this illusion, the fake Brad popped the big question: marriage. Ecstatic, Anne divorced her wealthy husband, thinking she was about to tie the knot with a Hollywood A-lister.

Then came the money requests. First, there were supposed customs fees for lavish gifts he’d bought her- just $9,000, he said. Then came the sob story: “Brad” had kidney cancer and couldn’t afford treatment because of his divorce from Angelina Jolie. Of course, Anne obliged, sending him even more cash.

Anne's fantasy crumbled when she saw news of the real Brad Pitt cozying up to girlfriend Ines de Ramon. The realization hit hard, she had been scammed. In total, Anne had handed over €830,000 to the fraudster.

Anne reported the scam in 2024, and authorities are now investigating. Meanwhile, she is receiving treatment for severe depression, coping with the emotional and financial devastation.

In today's tech-driven world, staying vigilant is more crucial than ever. After all, not every "Brad Pitt" in your inbox is the real deal!