Brad Pitt's team is speaking up after Spanish authorities nabbed five people for allegedly pretending to be the actor online and tricking two women out of more than $350,000.
Spain's Interior Ministry shared on Monday (Sep. 23, 2024) that three suspected scammers were caught last November, with two more arrested in July. The Spanish police said these folks were part of a "criminal organization" that reached out to women on social media, posing as the Oscar-winning star, and then conned the victims out of their hard-earned cash.
"It's awful that scammers take advantage of fans' strong connection with celebrities, and this is an important reminder to not respond to unsolicited online outreach, especially from actors who have no social media presence," a spokesperson for Pitt told People.
It's worth noting that Pitt, who's 60, has no official social media accounts - not on Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, TikTok, or anywhere else.
The police statement reveals that the alleged tricksters contacted women through a Brad Pitt fan page, pretending to be the Once Upon A Time in Hollywood star. They apparently created psychological profiles of potential victims and zeroed in on two women they thought were easy targets.
"It's awful that scammers take advantage of fans' strong connection with celebrities, and this is an important reminder to not respond to unsolicited online outreach, especially from actors who have no social media presence."
These imposters started chatting and emailing with the women, who believed they were talking to the real Pitt. The suspects "managed to make these women believe they had become so close to the well-known American actor that they believed they had a romantic relationship with him."
After building "maximum" trust with the victims, the scammers then asked for money to invest with him in "various commercial projects."
One woman gave the alleged fraudsters about $167,000, while another sent roughly $195,500 through several transfers. The authorities say they've recovered around $94,000 so far during their investigation.
The Spanish police report that the alleged scammers are now facing charges including fraud, forgery, and money laundering.
Pitt has previously opened up about why he's not into social media. In a 2014 chat with GQ, he explained why he didn't feel the need to join Twitter (now X).
"Listen, I see a benefit in it. You could, you know, combat the misconceptions or the misquotes immediately. And if I'd have had that in my younger days, I'd have used it," he told the outlet.
This story serves as a reminder for all pop culture fans to always be cautious online, especially when it comes to our favorite celebrities. It's easy to get caught up in the excitement of potentially connecting with a star, but it's crucial to remember that if something seems too good to be true, it probably is.
"Because I felt really misunderstood and not given a fair chance," Pitt reflected. "I experienced that a lot early on. I could've brought some clarity right away. But now, I just don't want to bother with it anymore."
Last update on 2024-09-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API