On January 12, 2024, *Sept à Huit* uncovered the unsettling story of Anne, a 53-year-old woman who was deceived by a scammer impersonating Brad Pitt, leading to a loss of 830,000 euros. Initially contacted on Instagram, she believed she was aiding the actor’s medical needs. Following the broadcast, Anne faced severe cyberbullying and felt misrepresented, prompting her to share her perspective in an upcoming episode of *Legend*. She emphasized her desire to advocate for others affected by similar scams.
A Shocking Scam: Anne’s Story Unveiled
On January 12, 2024, the investigative show *Sept à Huit* brought to light the harrowing tale of Anne, a 53-year-old woman who fell victim to an extraordinary scam involving a false Brad Pitt. The scammer managed to swindle her out of a staggering 830,000 euros, marking this incident as one of the largest frauds of its kind. The report revealed how Anne was initially approached on Instagram by someone posing as the actor’s mother, who sought financial aid for her ‘son’s’ medical expenses. Although she started off doubtful, Anne soon found herself entangled in the deception, believing she was communicating with the real Brad Pitt. “At first, I thought it was fake, but I didn’t quite understand what was happening to me,” she shared during the broadcast. Over time, the interior designer began to finance the fabricated medical treatments, convinced she was helping to “save a man’s life.” Captivated by the individual she was corresponding with, she even accepted AI-generated images depicting the actor in a hospital bed as genuine.
Facing Cyberbullying and Misrepresentation
While the segment aimed to illuminate the dangers of online scams, Anne became an unfortunate target of severe cyberbullying. Following the backlash, TF1 opted to remove the episode’s replay from their platform for the victims’ protection. “For the protection of the victims, we decided to remove it from our platforms,” the network announced via a post on X (formerly Twitter). However, feeling that the journalists from the program were to blame for her portrayal, Anne decided to share her side of the story in an upcoming episode of *Legend* on January 14, 2025.
In the *Legend* episode, it was revealed that a hacker named Marwan had identified the scammer who impersonated Brad Pitt. This interview provided Anne with a platform to address her critics after enduring relentless harassment online. “All that people will remember is ‘Anne fell in love with a fake Brad Pitt,'” she lamented in her response. While she acknowledges being deceived, Anne insists she is not ‘crazy or foolish’ as some have claimed on social media. She expressed her desire to testify not just for herself, but for others who have faced similar situations. “I am not crazy or foolish, as some claim on social media,” she stated, revealing that important details were left out of the original report.
Anne articulated her frustration, saying she felt misrepresented by the *Sept à Huit* journalist. “Regarding the scammers, there were moments when I didn’t believe it,” she explained, noting that her doubts were omitted from the show. “Obviously, none of that was said,” she continued, expressing her anger at how the narrative was shaped. According to her, the report was crafted solely to attract viewers, compromising the truth of her experience.
Reflecting on her ordeal, Anne shared, “I lived through hell.” Driven by compassion to assist someone in distress and swayed by flattering words from a stranger, she found herself ensnared in an elaborate ruse, despite her instincts telling her otherwise. “You don’t know what you’re talking about,” she challenged her detractors. “When you haven’t lived a story, you can’t talk about it. […] You can’t judge how I fell into this scam,” she emphasized, reiterating that she “lived through hell.” In closing, she expressed her anger towards TF1 and *Sept à Huit*, asserting that their portrayal did not accurately reflect her reality. “Never, ever has my family rejected me,” she clarified, addressing the alleged fallout with her children mentioned in the report.