Crazy Money! “Brad Pitt” Romance Scam

It’s Crazy Money Day! 

An interior designer in France was having marriage issues. Then, out of the blue, she received a friendly message and photos on social media from someone claiming to be the mother of Brad Pitt. The next day, the designer heard from “Pitt” himself saying his mother had talked a lot about her recently. Their conversation progressed. Though initially suspicious, AI-generated photos and videos deceived her. He promised her gifts which required her to cover customs fees of more than $9,000. Then he proposed, and she lost all common sense! She confided that she was expecting a large divorce settlement. That’s when the romance scam quickly moved forward.

“Pitt” supposedly needed financial help for urgent cancer treatment. He couldn’t access funds due to his ongoing divorce from Angelina Jolie. Text messages and photos were exchanged, but Brad was never free for a call. That’s a Red Flag! She fell head over heels into “Pitt’s” pit and was conned out of a million dollars. That’s really crazy!

In 2023, consumers lost a billion dollars to these romance scams. Con artists create fake profiles on dating sites and apps or contact people through social media sites. They strike up relationships and communicate frequently. They build trust and, eventually, create a story and ask for money. So be careful! If you suspect a scam, stop communicating and reach out to someone you trust. If you paid anything, contact your credit card company or bank and ask for a refund. Don’t let embarrassment prevent you from protecting others.

And if you’re embarrassed by your credit card debt, Christian Credit Counselors wants to help. For more information visit online at crown.org/ccc.