Spanish authorities have arrested five individuals this year for fraud and money laundering after they impersonated Brad Pitt online, scamming two women out of over $350,000, as reported by The New York Times. The arrests were disclosed on September 23 by Spain’s Interior Ministry. Three suspects were apprehended last November, with two additional arrests made in July.
According to the Interior Ministry’s statement, the scammers contacted the victims through a fan page dedicated to the Oscar-winning actor, engaging in instant messages and emails that led the women to believe they were in a romantic relationship with Pitt. The imposters then requested money, with one victim sending approximately $168,000 and another about $195,500. So far, only $94,000 has been recovered in the ongoing investigation.
Pitt’s publicist, Matthew Hiltzik, emphasized the need for caution in a statement to The Times: “It’s awful that scammers take advantage of fans’ strong connection with celebrities. But this is an important reminder to not respond to unsolicited online outreach, especially from actors who have no social media presence.” Pitt himself remains offline, with no official accounts on platforms like Instagram or X (formerly Twitter).
The actor has been promoting his upcoming crime comedy “Wolfs,” which premieres on Apple TV+ on September 27.
