Ah, Brad Pitt, the heartthrob of the ’90s and still a name that makes fans swoon. Whether it’s his iconic roles in ‘Fight Club‘ or ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood‘, Pitt has always been in the spotlight for his talent and charm.
But recently, some online scammers took advantage of his fame, and it’s a story straight out of a crime thriller. Imagine thinking you’re chatting with Pitt himself, only to find out you’re being swindled by fraudsters.
The Catfishing Drama Unfolds
According to The New York Times, the Spanish authorities arrested five scamsters for posing as Bradd Pitt this year, with three fraudsters nabbed in November and two more in July. The group posed as Brad Pitt through an online fan page and convinced two women they were exchanging messages with the Hollywood star.
For those who may not know, Brad Pitt stays far away from social media, which makes this scam all the more heartbreaking. The scammers even took it so far that these women believed they had built a romantic relationship with the actor.
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The con artists eventually started asking for money, and the victims obliged. One woman sent over $168,000, and the other was duped out of nearly $195,500. To date, only $94,000 has been recovered from this massive scam.
Brad Pitt’s Team Sets The Record Straight
Following the arrests, Brad Pitt’s publicist, Matthew Hiltzik, came forward with a crucial reminder for fans. In a statement to The New York Times, Hiltzik said, “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 who have no social media presence.”
And this isn’t a one-off case, folks. The ‘Wolfs‘ actor, who’s currently busy promoting his new crime comedy streaming on Apple TV+, has always kept a low profile online. In fact, Pitt’s not on Instagram, X, or any other major social platform.
So, if Brad Pitt slides into your DMs, you should probably hit delete before your bank account starts crying.
