A group of scammers impersonating Hollywood star Brad Pitt deceived two women in Spain into believing they were in romantic relationships with him. The criminals managed to extract €325,000 (approximately Rs. 3 Crore) from the victims. Recently, Spain’s national police, the Guardia Civil, arrested five individuals connected to this scam.
Reports indicate that the group initially reached out to the women through a fan website dedicated to Pitt, convincing them of a connection with the real actor. They further persuaded the victims to invest in various fictitious projects.
According to the Guardian, authorities reported that the cybercriminals studied the victims’ social media profiles, creating psychological profiles that revealed both women were vulnerable, emotionally needy, and in a state of depression. The scammers utilized instant messaging platforms to communicate with the women, leading them to believe they were chatting via WhatsApp with Brad Pitt himself, who promised them a romantic relationship and a future together.
One victim, a woman from Andalusia, lost €175,000 (approximately Rs. 1.60 Crore), while another from the Basque Country lost €150,000 (approximately Rs. 1.40 Crore) in the same scheme. After the scam was uncovered, Spanish authorities acted swiftly, arresting five individuals in Andalusia, including the main leaders of the operation.
During their investigation, the Guardia Civil raided five locations, confiscating several items such as mobile phones, bank cards, two computers, and a diary containing phrases used by the scammers to manipulate their victims. Reports indicate that police recovered at least €85,000 (approximately Rs. 79 Lakh) that had been taken from the two women under the guise of being Brad Pitt.
In a similar incident, a middle-aged woman from Granada was convinced she was about to marry the actor. Her lawyer, Antonio Estella Aroza, initially dismissed her story as a joke. The scammer had persuaded her to transfer €170,000 (approximately Rs. 1.50 Crore), promising to visit her for their wedding. However, when he failed to show up, the woman realized something was amiss and filed a complaint against the fraud.
