A series of online scams targeting women in Spain have resulted in financial losses exceeding Rs 3 crore, with scammers impersonating Hollywood actor Brad Pitt to deceive victims. Two major cases include a woman from Andalusia in southern Spain, who was defrauded of 175,000 euros (around Rs 2 crore), and another woman from the northern Basque Country, who lost 150,000 euros (over Rs 1 crore).
The scammers approached their victims through a Brad Pitt fan page, using psychological manipulation and romantic promises to gain their trust. They monitored the women’s social media activity to tailor their approach, exploiting the women’s emotional vulnerabilities. The fraudsters convinced the victims to send large sums of money for non-existent investment projects while maintaining the illusion of a romantic relationship with "Brad Pitt."
Spain's Guardia Civil police explained that the scammers had conducted thorough research on their victims, creating psychological profiles to identify their emotional weaknesses, such as loneliness and depression. Through email and instant messaging platforms like WhatsApp, the scammers continued to exchange messages until the women believed they were conversing with the actor himself.
As part of their investigation, the Spanish police arrested five individuals from Andalusia and conducted raids on five properties connected to the scam. Authorities seized several mobile phones, two computers, bank cards, and a diary containing deceptive phrases used in the scam. During the raids, they also recovered 85,000 euros (about Rs 80,000).