A Granada resident filed a legal complaint after becoming convinced that he was the target of a sophisticated scam that may have drained more than 170,000 euros. The person behind the scheme pretended to be an American actor, presenting as Brad Pitt and reaching out through the internet. The alleged deception began as the individual’s belief that a romantic connection might be forming, eventually convincing the victim that she was involved with a famous film star.
According to reports received by EFE on Thursday from attorney Antonio Estella Aroza of Esya Law, the middle-aged woman first encountered what appeared to be an actor fan club on the social network Facebook at the start of 2022. What began as casual interactions soon evolved into a prolonged online relationship, with the supposed celebrity gradually drawing closer to the victim and nurturing a sense of personal affinity.
The lawyer explained that, over time, negotiations ensued with the person posing as the actor. The victim’s trust, friendship, and even a semblance of romantic involvement were cultivated in ways that resembled a real couple. The hollow promises and staged intimacy helped to lower defenses and deepen emotional investment, making the fraud feel personal rather than simply transactional.
As part of the ruse, the Granada-based impersonator pledged that they would travel to Spain and shoot a movie together. To support these elaborate plans, the alleged fraudster began requesting varying sums of money through bank transfers to cover supposed production or travel expenses connected to the venture.
During this period, the counterfeit Brad Pitt sent the victim images purportedly from red carpet events at premieres and even created photomontages featuring direct messages aimed at the woman. The material appeared convincing, adding a veneer of legitimacy that further reinforced the belief in a real future collaboration with the star.
Facing the mounting financial demands and the persistent assurances from the person behind the alter ego, the victim began to suspect that she was being drawn into a scam. Unable to complete the promised collaboration and recognizing the pattern of deceit, she opted to pursue legal recourse to stop the losses and seek redress.
Estella Aroza noted that the total amount believed to have been defrauded could exceed 170,000 euros. In response, the victim filed a formal legal complaint, which is currently awaiting processing. The filing cites possible fraud, identity theft, and even money laundering as the key offenses involved in the case, underscoring the seriousness of the alleged scheme and the impact on the complainant’s finances and sense of security.