A Granada resident filed a legal complaint after allegedly being swindled out of at least 170,000 euros by someone who posed as an American actor, Brad Pitt, and reached out through the internet. The victim began to believe she was developing a genuine relationship and even thought she was having an affair with the famous actor.
According to reports shared with EFE on Thursday by Antonio Estella Aroza, a lawyer with Esya Law, the middle-aged woman connected with a fan club linked to a supposed actor on the Facebook social network at the start of 2022. From that initial contact, a persistent sequence of interactions followed, gradually creating the impression that the real Brad Pitt might be reachable for direct contact.
Through these exchanges, the claimant and the alleged fraudster entered a pattern of negotiations. Trust, friendship, and even affection grew as the relationship resembled a couple’s dynamic. The purported actor would later promise visits to Spain and propose that they collaborate on a film project, a claim that kept the victim hopeful and invested.
As the supposed collaboration unfolded, the scammer began requesting funds to cover various expenses linked to the imagined activities. The money flowed through bank transfers under the pretext of travel, production, and related costs. At the same time, the person posing as Brad Pitt supplied the victim with photos that showed him attending red carpet premieres and shared photomontages bearing direct, personal messages intended to validate the ruse.
With the assurances and staged evidence strengthening the allure of a real connection, the victim found it increasingly difficult to disengage. When the promises could no longer be kept, she decided to pursue legal action. The situation prompted an official complaint, as authorities consider it a case involving possible fraud, identity theft, and potential money laundering.
Estella Aroza explained that the alleged losses could surpass 170,000 euros. The complaint has been filed and is awaiting processing, marking a formal step in a case that highlights the dangers of romance and celebrity impersonation scams conducted through social media and messaging platforms. The investigation remains in its early stages, but the narrative underscores the need for vigilance when online acquaintances evoke emotion, fame, or professional collaboration, especially when financial requests follow intent to advance a personal relationship. The case illustrates how scammers exploit trust and create convincing digital personas to manipulate victims into transferring substantial sums of money, often with little or no ability to verify identity in the moment of urgency.
Authorities and legal professionals emphasize the importance of due diligence online, cautioning users to verify identities through independent channels and to be wary of unsolicited offers that blend romance with opportunities in entertainment or media projects. In this report, the Granada case serves as a cautionary example of online romance scams and the potential consequences of falling for carefully crafted digital illusions, with the legal process expected to determine the full extent of the fraud and any associated criminal charges.