Police arrest five people in Spain over fake Brad Pitt scam after two women lost US$362,000

Police in Spain have arrested five people accused of defrauding two women of €325,000 (US$362,000) by pretending to be Hollywood star Brad Pitt.

Ten other people were investigated in the framework of the "Bravelina" operation, which took place in eight provinces, according to the report of Guardia Civil published on Monday.

One woman lost €175,000 (US$195,000) and another €150,000 (US$167,000) to scammers. Of this amount, the police managed to recover €85,000 (US$95,000).

Both victims were contacted by fraudsters through a Brad Pitt fan site who managed to convince them that the actor wanted to invest in various projects with them, police said.

"To find their victims, the cybercriminals checked their social networks and created a psychological profile of them, which led to the discovery that both women were vulnerable people who suffered from depression and a lack of affection," according to the statement.

"They also used instant messaging platforms to exchange messages and emails with the two women to the point where the women believed they were chatting with Brad Pitt himself via WhatsApp, promising them a romantic relationship and a future together. .”

Both women made several bank transfers to someone they thought was Pete, until they realized they had been scammed and called the police.

Investigators found that as part of the scam, a network of bank accounts was created using fake identity documents. Also, "servants" were used to help launder money through their bank accounts in exchange for a small payment.

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