4 ms·

It is always shocking to me that someone with those kinds of resources can get duped like that -- with little checks and balances.

by cowmix 2y ago

markus_zhang 2y ago
They desperately need some comfort or excitement and the scammer provided it to her. Sad.
thiscatis 2y ago
From Reddit - https://www.reddit.com/r/UpliftingNews/comments/1i1uvjq/scammer_in_viral_fake_brad_pitt_fraud_that_conned/ https://www.reddit.com/r/UpliftingNews/comments/1i1uvjq/scam... French start up Find My Scammer carried out the investigation pro bono as the victim has literally no money left in her account, not even a cent. Victim had no experience whatsoever with social media before creating an Instagram account in 2023 to share holiday pictures. Victim was targeted after liking pictures related to Brad Pitt on Instagram. Victim was in the midst of a divorce before being contacted by scammer. Victim was groomed for months and months by scammer passing themselves as Pitt's mother, agent, etc, in addition to Pitt himself, using American phone numbers, fake articles, etc. Victim had no knowledge of technologies such as deepfake. Victim was lulled into a sense of security as grooming lasted for many months before she was asked to send money for the first time, thinking that such a scam would be more immediate. Victim has HIV and cancer, tried to end her life three times. French TV program which revealed the story accused of manipulating the subject matter and misrepresent facts to encourage ridicule against victim, has been pulled off all platforms. Scammer found in Benin, was tricked into clicking a link which gave start up full access to his computer, phone, information, living address, etc. Crypto wallet where the stolen money is stored found. All information in the hands of authorities investigating the crime. Scammer has over 30 victims. Also poses as fake Keanu Reeves.
- doctoboggan 2y ago
  > Crypto wallet where the stolen money is stored found. All information in the hands of authorities investigating the crime. This is great news, and I hope Anne and the other victims can see at least some of their money returned.
  - deleted 2y ago
    [deleted]
- sebdufbeau 2y ago
  An important point in the story: while she was contacted by the scammers when she was still married, it is after the divorce that she received most of the money that was eventually scammed - over €700k
- anon22981 2y ago
  Do such links really work so that it’s enough to load the page on your browser and you are done?
  - _ink_ 2y ago
    Depends. Mostly not. But Pegasus spy software was put on iPhones via silent SMS. So those targets didn't even need to click a link. All they really had to do was owning an iPhone. And made their number known.
spiderfarmer 2y ago
My grandpa has a saying that translates to something: "The money bag never hangs in front of the same house for more than three generations". This is just one of the reasons why.
- markus_zhang 2y ago
  Yep, the Chinese has exactly the same saying -- even the same number of generations. I hope she gets some $$ back though.
- ternnoburn 2y ago
  "This" -- do you mean theft and abuse are the reasons why? Or debilitating illness (HIV/Cancer).
  - throwawaysleep 2y ago
    She was tricked. The money wasn't physically taken. She lost the money because, unlike she claims, she is indeed a moron.
  - spidersenses 2y ago
    It's not an uncommon expression on managing generational wealth. I've frequently encountered it as: "The first generation makes it, the second generation spends it, and the third generation blows it."
- poisonborz 2y ago
  Let's just ignore thousands of European noble families and wealthy industrial tycoon dynasties.
  - f1shy 2y ago
    Any examples? I’m not really aware.
    - deleted 2y ago
      [deleted]
PaulHoule 2y ago
Love is blind.
- f1shy 2y ago
  In Spanish when somebody says love is blind, another will quickly add “and deaf and stupid/idiot“
jokethrowaway 2y ago
She didn't earn that money. The bigger scam was acted against the wealthy entrepreneur who saw a big chunk of his money going to his ex-wife. Divorce laws are ridiculous, you are better off not getting married and using a surrogate mother.
- ttoinou 2y ago
  To be fair there are different ways to get married in france and some contracts allow for separation of wealth, sort of
ralfd 2y ago
Her daughter should have done more to safe her own inheritance. Like, if you safe 800K Dollar in convincing your mother she is not romanced by Brad Pitt, I would handle that as a full time job! That said this is increasingly common and especially elder people can be easily scammed with AI. https://www.reddit.com/r/Scams/comments/1df081i/my_mother_and_elon_musk/ https://www.reddit.com/r/Scams/comments/1df081i/my_mother_an... > Reading through all of this, apparently lots of elderly people having "relationships" with celebrities. Adding my mother to the mix. She's been corresponding with "Elon Musk" for at least six months. She's not even that old, she's only 67...but extremely gullible. https://www.reddit.com/r/Scams/comments/15sls1v/my_dad_thinks_elon_musk_is_texting_him_and_has/ https://www.reddit.com/r/Scams/comments/15sls1v/my_dad_think... > My Dad thinks Elon Musk is texting him and has lost over $10K - Help! I don’t know how we can deal with that in the future. Financial regulation to make it easier that people at risk have more banking safe guards and their children/spouses can supervise accounts better? Or hope it fixes itself when the 4Chan generation who grew up with Nigerian prince scams replaces boomers?

It is always shocking to me that someone with those kinds of resources can get duped like that -- with little checks and balances.

by cowmix 2y ago

It is always shocking to me that someone with those kinds of resources can get duped like that -- with little checks and balances.

markus_zhang 2y ago

They desperately need some comfort or excitement and the scammer provided it to her. Sad.

thiscatis 2y ago

From Reddit - https://www.reddit.com/r/UpliftingNews/comments/1i1uvjq/scammer_in_viral_fake_brad_pitt_fraud_that_conned/ https://www.reddit.com/r/UpliftingNews/comments/1i1uvjq/scam... French start up Find My Scammer carried out the investigation pro bono as the victim has literally no money left in her account, not even a cent. Victim had no experience whatsoever with social media before creating an Instagram account in 2023 to share holiday pictures. Victim was targeted after liking pictures related to Brad Pitt on Instagram. Victim was in the midst of a divorce before being contacted by scammer. Victim was groomed for months and months by scammer passing themselves as Pitt's mother, agent, etc, in addition to Pitt himself, using American phone numbers, fake articles, etc. Victim had no knowledge of technologies such as deepfake. Victim was lulled into a sense of security as grooming lasted for many months before she was asked to send money for the first time, thinking that such a scam would be more immediate. Victim has HIV and cancer, tried to end her life three times. French TV program which revealed the story accused of manipulating the subject matter and misrepresent facts to encourage ridicule against victim, has been pulled off all platforms. Scammer found in Benin, was tricked into clicking a link which gave start up full access to his computer, phone, information, living address, etc. Crypto wallet where the stolen money is stored found. All information in the hands of authorities investigating the crime. Scammer has over 30 victims. Also poses as fake Keanu Reeves.

doctoboggan 2y ago
> Crypto wallet where the stolen money is stored found. All information in the hands of authorities investigating the crime. This is great news, and I hope Anne and the other victims can see at least some of their money returned.
- deleted 2y ago
  [deleted]
sebdufbeau 2y ago
An important point in the story: while she was contacted by the scammers when she was still married, it is after the divorce that she received most of the money that was eventually scammed - over €700k
anon22981 2y ago
Do such links really work so that it’s enough to load the page on your browser and you are done?
- _ink_ 2y ago
  Depends. Mostly not. But Pegasus spy software was put on iPhones via silent SMS. So those targets didn't even need to click a link. All they really had to do was owning an iPhone. And made their number known.

spiderfarmer 2y ago

My grandpa has a saying that translates to something: "The money bag never hangs in front of the same house for more than three generations". This is just one of the reasons why.

markus_zhang 2y ago
Yep, the Chinese has exactly the same saying -- even the same number of generations. I hope she gets some $$ back though.
ternnoburn 2y ago
"This" -- do you mean theft and abuse are the reasons why? Or debilitating illness (HIV/Cancer).
- throwawaysleep 2y ago
  She was tricked. The money wasn't physically taken. She lost the money because, unlike she claims, she is indeed a moron.
- spidersenses 2y ago
  It's not an uncommon expression on managing generational wealth. I've frequently encountered it as: "The first generation makes it, the second generation spends it, and the third generation blows it."
poisonborz 2y ago
Let's just ignore thousands of European noble families and wealthy industrial tycoon dynasties.
- f1shy 2y ago
  Any examples? I’m not really aware.
  - deleted 2y ago
    [deleted]

PaulHoule 2y ago

Love is blind.

f1shy 2y ago
In Spanish when somebody says love is blind, another will quickly add “and deaf and stupid/idiot“

jokethrowaway 2y ago

She didn't earn that money. The bigger scam was acted against the wealthy entrepreneur who saw a big chunk of his money going to his ex-wife. Divorce laws are ridiculous, you are better off not getting married and using a surrogate mother.

ttoinou 2y ago
To be fair there are different ways to get married in france and some contracts allow for separation of wealth, sort of

ralfd 2y ago

Her daughter should have done more to safe her own inheritance. Like, if you safe 800K Dollar in convincing your mother she is not romanced by Brad Pitt, I would handle that as a full time job! That said this is increasingly common and especially elder people can be easily scammed with AI. https://www.reddit.com/r/Scams/comments/1df081i/my_mother_and_elon_musk/ https://www.reddit.com/r/Scams/comments/1df081i/my_mother_an... > Reading through all of this, apparently lots of elderly people having "relationships" with celebrities. Adding my mother to the mix. She's been corresponding with "Elon Musk" for at least six months. She's not even that old, she's only 67...but extremely gullible. https://www.reddit.com/r/Scams/comments/15sls1v/my_dad_thinks_elon_musk_is_texting_him_and_has/ https://www.reddit.com/r/Scams/comments/15sls1v/my_dad_think... > My Dad thinks Elon Musk is texting him and has lost over $10K - Help! I don’t know how we can deal with that in the future. Financial regulation to make it easier that people at risk have more banking safe guards and their children/spouses can supervise accounts better? Or hope it fixes itself when the 4Chan generation who grew up with Nigerian prince scams replaces boomers?