The Spanish Civil Guard Five people were arrested and another ten are being investigated for links to the organisation that defrauded two women of 325,000 euros (around 360,000 dollars) who were led to believe that they were starting a relationship with American actor Brad Pitt.
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According to this security body, the operation ‘Bralina’, carried out in several Spanish regions, allowed the arrest of its two leaders and the location, blocking and recovery of 85,000 euros (more than $94.00) of the total money defrauded from the two victims.
Numerous interventions were also carried out mobile phones, bank cards, prepaid telephone cards, two personal computers and documentationincluding a diary in which the phrases that the scammers used to deceive their victims were written down.
The operation began in August 2023, when a woman reported in Granada (south) that she had been scammed out of 175,000 euros ($194,000), a complaint that led to the discovery of a second victim in the province of Vizcaya (north).
The agents confirmed that the cybercriminals had contacted both victims through a supposed platform internet of fans of actor Brad Pittfrom which they made the two believe that they had started a relationship with the actor.
The scam occurred when that false Brad Pitt proposed that they invest with him in various projects.
The psychological profile of victims: how scammers took advantage of their emotional vulnerability
In order to attract victims, the cybercriminals had previously studied their social networks and created a psychological profile, thus discovering that both women were two vulnerable people, with emotional deficiencies and in a depressive state.
After exchanging messages and emails, the victims believed that Brad Pitt was promising them a romantic relationship and a future together, so they both made numerous money transfers until they discovered that they had been scammed.
The first arrests of this operation occurred in November 2023. Finally now it has been the ringleaders have been arrested, which has allowed the criminal organization to be brought down.
During the investigation, the agents also discovered that the son of the Granada victim had made three fraudulent charges with his mother’s bank card and had stolen 17,000 euros (about $19,000), for which he has also been arrested, although he has nothing to do with the scammers.
The organization faces charges of qualified fraud, money laundering, document forgery and membership in a criminal gang.
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