'Awful'—Brad Pitt reacts after impersonators con women of over $350,000
What's the story
Hollywood actor Brad Pitt has issued a statement following the arrest of individuals who impersonated him online to deceive fans.
The 60-year-old actor, who doesn't have social media accounts, expressed his concern through his representative.
"It's awful that scammers take advantage of fans' strong connection with celebrities, and this is an important reminder to not respond to unsolicited online outreach, especially from actors who have no social media presence," the representative told PEOPLE.
Scam details
'Fake Brad Pitt' scammers arrested in Spain
On Tuesday, Spain's Ministry of the Interior announced that five individuals were apprehended for their involvement in a "criminal organization" that allegedly defrauded over $350,000 from two women online.
The scammers posed as a "fake Brad Pitt" to deceive fans, promising romantic relationships and soliciting money for investment projects.
Three suspects were arrested in November and two more were detained in July on charges including fraud, money laundering, and forgery.
Celebrity warnings
Other celebrities who have warned fans about online scams
This incident involving Pitt is not an isolated case. Several other celebrities including Whoopi Goldberg, Tom Hanks, and Johnny Depp have previously warned their fans about the potential risks of fake accounts attempting to scam people online.
In August, actor Florence Pugh addressed fraudulent accounts impersonating her on Instagram Stories.
She apologized for the inconvenience caused by these fake accounts and urged fans to report them.