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Scene Recorded at Erechim Airport Exposes Suspected Virtual Scam Using Celebrity Identity and Rekindles Debate on Digital Frauds, Use of Social Engineering, and Risks Associated with Online Contacts After Police Approach on Christmas Eve in Northern Rio Grande do Sul.
A resident of São Valentim, in northern Rio Grande do Sul, was approached by military police after stating she was waiting for actor Brad Pitt to arrive at Erechim Airport, in the northern part of the state.
The scene was recorded on video on the night of December 24, Christmas Eve, and began circulating on social media, raising suspicions of a virtual scam involving the artist’s identity.
According to the Military Brigade, the officers decided to investigate the situation upon seeing a car near the airport at a time when no flights were scheduled.
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In a statement, the corporation stated that, since it was a small terminal with no flights at that moment, the team checked the site and advised the person who was approached.
During the encounter, the woman claims she had been in contact with someone she believed to be Brad Pitt for about two months and that she was there to pick him up.
Amid the police questioning, she maintains that she had video-called the alleged actor and said she had made plans for marriage and relocation to the area.
Police Approach and Video That Circulated on Social Media
The images show the police trying to understand why the woman was waiting at Erechim Airport and how she was so sure of the identity of the person she claimed to meet.
In response, the resident reports that the relationship began online and insists that the confirmation would come from the video calls.
“It’s been two months since we started a relationship online (…) I would come to pick him up here (…) The plan was for us to get married and live here in Erechim, São Valentim (…)”, the woman states in the recorded segment, detailing what she claims was agreed upon.
At another moment in the video, she reinforces her conviction about having spoken with the artist.
“I am sure that I spoke with Brad Pitt because I’ve had several video calls with him. So when you make a video call, you can’t have someone else talking to you,” she asserts.
When questioned by the police, the woman denies having made any money transfers.
Nonetheless, the officers warn about risks associated with situations like this and advise her to go to the police station to file a report and formalize her statement if she believes she was a victim of a crime.
Romance Scam and Risks of Digital Frauds
The approach attracted attention also for occurring in a context of increased digital scams based on social engineering, where criminals try to convince victims to provide money, personal data, or access to accounts.
In the case from the video, the police highlight the risk of the person being lured to an isolated location, which could facilitate robbery or other forms of violence.
Cybersecurity experts often classify this type of fraud as “romance scam”, where the scammer creates an emotional relationship to gain trust and then makes financial requests.
In more sophisticated cases, criminals can use resources to simulate faces, voices, and videos, making verification more difficult, especially when contact is made only through apps and social networks.
The recording also reignited discussions about the use of tools capable of generating realistic images and videos, which can be exploited to falsify identities.
Despite this, the released material does not, on its own, confirm whether artificial intelligence was used in the conversations cited by the woman, as the alleged calls have not been shown publicly.
Report to the Civil Police After the Case’s Repercussion
After the video went viral, new information emerged about the alleged Brad Pitt case.
On January 5, 2026, the woman approached the Civil Police and filed a report to clarify the episode, according to reports published by media outlets in Rio Grande do Sul.
According to the information disclosed, she stated in the report that the story was a family prank and that she did not genuinely believe the actor would come to the state.
Furthermore, according to the reports, the woman denied having incurred any financial loss and said she maintained her version during the approach to avoid contradicting herself at the time.
The delegate responsible for service in São Valentim, as reported, stated that the Civil Police would evaluate the elements presented and that, without indication of loss and without representation for investigation for fraud, the case might not evolve as a criminal investigation.
Authorities have not disclosed the identity of the woman or additional details about how the contact occurred online.
Police Guidance and Care with Personal Data
Situations involving fake profiles tend to spread quickly on social media, but investigation depends on objective information and formal reporting.
The guidance given by the police, still on-site, follows a common path in episodes with potential fraud: seek the police station, report what happened, keep messages, phone numbers, profiles used for contact, and any proof of money transfer, when applicable.
Even when there is no financial transfer, experts warn that the victim may have shared sensitive data, such as address, routine, and location.
Therefore, notifying the authorities and reinforcing security measures in accounts and apps can help reduce risks.
The circulation of the video also highlights a recurring difficulty: separating public curiosity from what is actually investigable and provable.
While part of the information remains restricted to authorities and the person involved, exposure on social media amplifies the reach of the episode and may generate repercussions for those appearing in the images.
With scams becoming increasingly persuasive and the possibility of more realistic forgeries, what signs should people prioritize to verify the identity of the person on the other side of the screen before arranging a meeting or sharing personal information?
I’m from Brazil, and I have received several memes from this topic. Poor woman, she has lied to joke to her son.