A 53-year-old woman living in France bitterly experienced how artificial intelligence technology could be used in the world of scams. A scammer who impersonated the famous actor Brad Pitt, using the name “Anne,” deceived her into believing she was in a relationship with the actor. Tricked by a fake romantic relationship, Anne lost approximately 850,000 dollars (30 million Turkish Lira) over the span of two years.
Scammer Created Fake Brad Pitt Photos Using AI
The scammer used not only AI-generated photos and videos but also engaged in regular messaging to emotionally manipulate Anne. It was revealed that the scammer convinced her with fabricated stories, claiming that Brad Pitt was undergoing cancer treatment and writing fake poems. To support the narrative, AI-generated images of ‘Cancer Patient Brad Pitt’ were used.
Another crucial detail was that the scammer never made a phone call, but nowadays, AI technology allows for fake voice communications, making it even harder for victims to recognize the scam.
When Did Anne Realize the Brad Pitt Scam? Anne realized the emotional and financial manipulation when she saw Brad Pitt living healthily and starting a new relationship on television. This shocking realization left her devastated. Despite reporting the incident to the authorities, she was unable to recover the lost money. A significant portion of the money came from her alimony and compensation payments from her wealthy ex-husband. We can’t even imagine how her ex-husband might have felt during this process.
Apple Watch, which has come up with many life-saving news in the past, is now on the agenda after a car accident.
AI technology is enabling more sophisticated methods of fraud, not just emotional manipulation but also fake listens on music platforms, spam emails, and phishing attacks.
This whole process brings to mind Attila İlhan’s quote, “I loved women who didn’t even exist.” So, what measures should be taken to prevent AI-based fraud? Don’t forget to share your thoughts in the comments!
