Five individuals have been arrested by Spanish authorities after posing as Brad Pitt in an elaborate scam that defrauded two women of more than $350,000. The fraud involved convincing the victims that they were in a romantic relationship with the Oscar-winning actor.
Variety reported that the Spanish Interior Ministry announced the arrests on September 23, with three of the suspects taken into custody in November, and two others apprehended in July.
The scammers initially contacted the women through an online fan page dedicated to Brad Pitt. After establishing communication, the individuals used instant messaging and emails to pose as the actor.
Over time, they cultivated a false sense of intimacy, making the victims believe they were directly corresponding with the famous actor.
According to a statement released by the Spanish Interior Ministry, the fraudsters successfully led the victims to believe they had developed a romantic relationship with Brad Pitt.
“The accused had contacted the women through an online fan page dedicated to Mr. Pitt and posed as the Oscar-winning American actor,” the ministry reported.
The victims, whose names have not been released, were convinced they were exchanging personal messages with the actor.
Over time, the scammers requested money from the women, exploiting their belief in the legitimacy of the relationship. One woman sent a staggering $168,000, while the other transferred $195,500, authorities revealed.
In total, the two women were defrauded out of $363,500, with the funds reportedly sent over a prolonged period.
Unfortunately, investigators have only managed to recover $94,000 of the stolen amount so far. The authorities have not provided further details on whether additional funds are expected to be recovered.
“The authorities said the accused had gone on to exchange instant messages and emails with their victims, who thought they were corresponding directly with Mr. Pitt,” according to The New York Times. The scammers carefully crafted their communications to maintain the deception for months, if not longer.
Following the arrests, Brad Pitt’s publicist, Matthew Hiltzik, issued a statement reminding fans that the actor does not have any official social media accounts.
“It’s awful that scammers take advantage of fans’ strong connection with celebrities. But this is an important reminder to not respond to unsolicited online outreach, especially from actors with no social media presence,” Hiltzik stated.
This incident highlights a growing concern over exploiting fans’ emotional attachment to celebrities. While the internet has made it easier for celebrities to connect with their audiences, it has also provided a platform for scammers to deceive fans under false pretenses.
The investigation is still ongoing, with authorities looking into whether more people were involved in the scam.
The identities of the five arrested individuals have not been disclosed, and Spanish authorities have yet to reveal whether additional victims could have been targeted by the same group.
As of now, the two victims remain the only confirmed cases in this particular scheme, but investigators are exploring whether similar online frauds may have occurred in other countries. The use of celebrity fan pages and social media remains a common tactic employed by scammers to gain the trust of unsuspecting victims.
Despite the incident, Brad Pitt continues to promote his latest project, “Wolfs,” a crime comedy that will be available for streaming on Apple TV+ starting September 27. The actor, who is well-known for his extensive body of work, including films such as “Fight Club” and “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” has remained silent about the recent scam but continues to work on high-profile projects.
The arrests have prompted a renewed conversation about the risks of online communication, especially when it involves high-profile celebrities. Authorities have warned fans to exercise caution when interacting with anyone claiming to be a celebrity online.
“Managed to make these women believe they had become so close to the well-known American actor that they believed they had a romantic relationship with him,” Spanish authorities stated.
This case is a reminder of the growing sophistication of online scams, as fraudsters increasingly use emotional manipulation and high-profile impersonation to deceive their victims.
Online impersonation is not a new phenomenon, but with the rise of social media and fan pages, scammers have found new ways to exploit unsuspecting victims. The popularity of fan pages, particularly for actors like Brad Pitt, provides fertile ground for fraudsters to take advantage of fans who are eager to interact with their favorite stars.
Authorities and cybersecurity experts continue to warn individuals to remain vigilant online, especially when receiving unsolicited messages from people claiming to be famous personalities. Without proper verification, these interactions can lead to significant financial and emotional harm, as demonstrated by this recent case involving Brad Pitt impersonators.
