Digital Cover celebrities© WireImage

fake profiles

Sandra Bullock is collaborating with the police after social media scams targeted her family

The fraud seems to be similar to Brad Pitt's scam


Senior Writer
FEBRUARY 4, 2025 10:29 AM EST

Sandra Bullock is taking a stand against online scammers. The actor issued a rare public statement addressing fraudulent social media accounts that have been targeting her fans and members of her family. "My family's safety, as well as the innocent people being taken advantage of, is my deep concern," Sandra, 60, said in a statement to People on February 3. "There will be a time when I will comment more, but for now, our focus is helping law enforcement handle this matter."

The Oscar-winning actress also clarified that she has no social media presence. "Please be aware that I do not participate in any form of social media," she emphasized. "Any accounts pretending to be me or anyone associated with me are fake accounts and have been created for financial gain or to exploit people around me."

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 31:Sandra Bullock attends The Lost City" UK Screening on March 31, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Marsland/WireImage)© Mike Marsland/WireImage
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 31:Sandra Bullock attends The Lost City" UK Screening on March 31, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Marsland/WireImage)

Sandra's statement comes after her sister, Gesine Bullock-Prado, publicly called out fake profiles impersonating her on social media. On February 2, Gesine took to Instagram to share her frustrations over the ongoing issue, noting that she frequently reports fake accounts and receives disturbing emails from individuals who believe they are in direct contact with Sandra.

"I spend multiple times a day reporting fakes, dealing with weird & scary emails to my BUSINESS and HOME from men who believe that, through one of these many fake 'me's, they have a relationship with my sister through private messages," Gesine wrote, accompanying her post with a screenshot of the fraudulent profiles. "And off-app sites and have been giving (sometimes) THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS to an incredibly famous and successful grown-assed woman."

Gesine made it clear that her social media presence is strictly about her interests—baking, cooking, animals, and gardening—and that she does not engage in private conversations with strangers. She also referenced a widely publicized case in which a woman in France was scammed out of thousands of dollars by someone using AI-generated content to impersonate Brad Pitt.

© Variety

"But the fact that I'm put in danger, as is my livelihood, doesn't mean a damn thing," Gesine added. "If you see a fake account, are friended or messaged by one, report and block."

Sandra has remained mainly out of the public eye since the passing of her longtime partner, Bryan Randall, in August 2023 following a three-year battle with ALS. However, she made a rare public appearance at a Lakers game in December.

Brad Pitt's Scam Case

In January 2025, Brad Pitt fans were cautioned about online scammers after a French woman was defrauded of $850,000 and left her husband, believing she was romantically involved with the Hollywood star. A spokesperson for the "Moneyball" actor told Entertainment Weekly: "It's awful that scammers take advantage of fans' strong connection with celebrities, but this is an important reminder not to respond to unsolicited online outreach, especially from actors who have no social media presence." 

© FilmMagic
VENICE, ITALY - AUGUST 1: Brad Pitt attends the "Wolfs" photocall during the 81st Venice International Film Festival at Palazzo del Casino on August 1, 2024 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by JB Lacroix/FilmMagic)

The victim, a 53-year-old French interior designer named Anne, said during an interview with "Seven to Eight" on France's TF1 channel the scam began when she was contacted on Instagram by someone claiming to be Pitt's mother. "She told me that her son needed someone like me," Anne said. 

The scammers worked an elaborate story, claiming that Pitt needed financial assistance to cover kidney treatment costs, adding that his bank accounts were frozen during divorce proceedings with Angelina Jolie.

Brad Pitt scam

The fraud victim also received AI-generated images of the actor resting in a hospital bed. Anne eventually transferred $850,000 to the scammers and even divorced her husband to "pursue" her connection with the person she believed was Brad Pitt. "I was in love with the man I was chatting to," Anne said, according to The Guardian. "He knew how to speak to a woman." 

© ¡HOLA! Reproduction of this article and its photographs in whole or in part is prohibited, even when citing their source.