Police in Spain have arrested five people accused of scamming two women out of €325,000 ($362,000) by posing as actor Brad Pitt online. The investigation, known as Operation Bralina, spanned eight provinces and involved ten additional suspects.
One victim lost €175,000 ($195,000), while the other lost €150,000 ($167,000), though police managed to recover €85,000 ($95,000). The scammers, who contacted the women via a Brad Pitt fan site, convinced them the actor wanted to invest in projects with them. Exploiting their vulnerability, the fraudsters promised romantic relationships and a future together.
The women made multiple bank transfers before realizing they were victims of a scam. The operation also involved fake identities, “mules” to launder money, and a network of fraudulent bank accounts.
