From Mockery to Mission: How the €830K Brad Pitt Scam Inspired Me to Protect Seniors Online

In January 2025, news broke of a French woman named Anne who was defrauded of €830,000 by scammers impersonating Brad Pitt. They used AI-generated images and emotional manipulation to convince her of a romantic relationship. Anne bravely shared her story on French television, hoping to raise awareness. Unfortunately, she faced significant online harassment and ridicule following the broadcast.  

I recall watching a CNN segment discussing Anne's story. Surprisingly, they included a comedian among the guests, who made fun of the situation. Segun Odowulu, host of Boston Globe Today, even remarked, "I am not for harassment, but laughter and mockery? I am here for it in this case... A Google search would have said Brad Pitt doesn’t have cancer (...)"  

This reaction underscores a lack of empathy toward victims of such scams. It's easy to suggest that a google search could have prevented this tragedy, but I believe the reality is more complex. We don't fully understand the emotional and psychological factors that led Anne to trust the impostor. Rather than mocking her, we should seek to comprehend how these scams occur and take proactive steps to protect the seniors in our communities.  

Technology is advancing at an unprecedented pace. Before the 2000s, changes felt incremental, allowing time to adapt. Now, technology is transformative, changes are rapid and profound. It’s the difference between watching black-and-white TV slowly turn color and suddenly waking up in a world where computers can talk to you and understand. A world where scammers can convincingly impersonate anyone, using real-time voice cloning and video manipulation. If we, who are relatively “tech-savvy”, find it challenging to keep up, imagine the confusion faced by our seniors in their 60s, 70s, 80s, and beyond.  

Are we doing enough to support our seniors through these rapid changes? Do we understand the psychological and emotional implications surrounding these scams?  Consider the seniors in your life, are you sure this wouldn’t happen to them?  

At Securijoy, one of our missions is to make the internet safer for seniors. We strive to empower seniors and their caretakers through education, communication, and compassionate support. Together, we can ensure our seniors feel understood, protected, and secure online.