A French woman, conned out of a staggering £700,000 by a fraudster impersonating Brad Pitt through sophisticated AI technology, has been left destitute and without a home. Known only as Anne in media reports, the 53 year old victim has faced such relentless online abuse that she's been forced to vanish from social media.

Critics have mercilessly labelled her "dumb", "naïve" and "stupid". Fooled into thinking the A-list actor was in dire need of funds for cancer treatment, Anne, an interior designer, was lured in by what appeared to be genuine AI-generated images of Pitt.

Her vulnerability was exploited amidst marital troubles with her wealthy spouse, as she was seduced by romantic poems and gestures. Now, Anne's Paris-based lawyer, Laurène Hanna, is fighting to help her reclaim the lost fortune.

Ms Hanna emphasised the prevalence of internet love scams and called for Anne to receive respectful advice and treatment. The legal battle includes a civil lawsuit against Anne's French bank for failing to flag the massive overseas transactions.

The scam began after Anne posted about her luxurious ski holiday in Tignes on Instagram, which led to a message from someone claiming to be Brad Pitt's mother, reports The Mirror.

The next day, she was shocked to receive another message from an imposter claiming to be Brad Pitt, implying that his mother had already spoken highly of her. The swindled wife, enduring troubles in her marriage to a wealthy spouse, recounted how from February 2023, she formed an unanticipated connection with the false account, which sent her poetry and uplifting messages.

"There are so few men who write you this kind of thing. I liked the man I was talking to. He knew how to talk to women, it was always very well done," she admitted to BFMTV. Initially sceptical, thinking the account was a sham, her worries subsided as daily conversations continued, complemented by artificial intelligence-created images and clips of the Hollywood icon.

The Mail Online outlines how the fictitious Brad Pitt wooed Anne with marriage promises and dazzling presents, the only snag being supposed customs charges to claim them, swiftly amounting to 9,000 euros (£7,566). As she proved ready to send money, the fraudster's demands grew increasingly extravagant.

After she mentioned an expected sizeable divorce settlement, the deceitful 'friend' intensified their demands, now pleading for contributions to cover urgent cancer treatment costs.