Spanish authorities arrested five individuals on Monday, September 23, in connection with an elaborate online scam that defrauded two women of €325,000 ($361,261).
The suspects posed as Hollywood actor Brad Pitt, communicating through online fan pages and WhatsApp messages to convince the women they were in a romantic relationship with the Oscar-winning actor, according to a statement by Spain’s Guardia Civil police.
Elaborate scam targeting vulnerable victims
The scammers, masquerading as Pitt, persuaded the victims to invest in fictitious projects supposedly linked to the Hollywood star. One victim, hailing from the southern region of Andalusia, was swindled out of €175,000 ($195,000), while the second, from the northern Basque Country, lost €150,000 ($170,000).
“The cybercriminals, in order to ensnare the victims, studied their social networks and created detailed psychological profiles, identifying that both women were emotionally vulnerable, experiencing loneliness and depression,” the Guardia Civil noted in their statement.
False promises of love and partnership
The fraudsters utilized instant messaging platforms, particularly WhatsApp, to maintain communication with the victims, convincing them they were speaking directly with Pitt. The fake Brad Pitt promised both women a romantic relationship and a future together, further fueling their emotional investment. Spanish authorities apprehended five individuals, including the suspected leaders of the operation, in Andalusia.
The police conducted raids on five properties in the region, seizing mobile phones, bank cards, two computers, and a diary filled with meticulously crafted phrases used by the fraudsters to deceive their targets.
Law enforcement officials were able to recover €85,000 ($95,000) of the fraudulent funds. The case highlights a growing trend of online scams that prey on vulnerable individuals through social media and messaging platforms.
A broader issue of online fraud
This case echoes similar instances of online impersonation fraud. In a recent high-profile case, an Australian man, Muhammad Zain Ul Abideen Rasheed, was sentenced to 17 years in prison for posing as a well-known YouTuber and coercing over 250 girls worldwide into performing explicit acts on camera.
The Perth District Court described Rasheed’s actions as “one of the most severe sextortion cases in Australian history.”
The Brad Pitt impersonation case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by online scams and the importance of vigilance in an increasingly digital world. Spanish authorities are continuing their investigation, aiming to bring further justice to the victims and prevent similar scams in the future.