Police in Spain arrested five people accused of deceiving two women and extracting 325,000 euros (US$ 362,000) from them by pretending to be Hollywood star Brad Pitt. Ten other individuals are also being investigated as part of Operation Bralina, according to local authorities.
One woman lost 175,000 euros (US$ 195,000) to the fraudsters, while the other lost 150,000 euros (US$ 167,000). From this total, police managed to recover 85,000 euros (US$ 95,000).
Both victims were contacted through a fan site of Brad Pitt by fraudsters who managed to convince them that the actor wanted to invest in several projects with them, police said.
“To find their victims, the cybercriminals studied their social networks and created a psychological profile of them, discovering as a result that both women were vulnerable individuals suffering from depression and lack of affection,” the statement said.
“They also used instant messaging platforms to exchange messages and emails with the two women until they believed they were chatting via WhatsApp with Brad Pitt himself, who promised them a romantic relationship and a future together.”
Both women ended up making numerous bank transfers to the person they thought was Pitt, until they realized they had been deceived and went to the police.
Investigators discovered that, as part of the scam, a network of bank accounts was created using fake identity documents. “Mules” were also used to help launder the money through their own bank accounts in exchange for a small payment.
In the age of social media, caution is key.
Source: CNN