How aI Deepfake of 007 Star Left Art Gallery Owner's World in Tatters
It was the dream signing for the owner of an unidentified Nottingham gallery - an exhibition featuring the work of Hollywood actor-turned-artist Pierce Brosnan, who would likewise take care of fulfill fans.
But the gallery's owner has revealed how her livelihood and track record were 'destroyed' after the Pierce Brosnan with whom she invested months working out the exhibition of a lifetime turned out not to be the Bond star but a 'deepfake'.
Simone Simms has actually promoted the very first time about how she fell for the fancy expert system (AI) scam which resulted in her losing her ₤ 30,000 Long Eaton gallery.
Ms Simms informed The Mail on Sunday she was 'villainised' after selling ₤ 20,000 worth of tickets to art enthusiasts with the pledge of meeting 71-year-old Brosnan, just to find she had been duped.
Scammers used AI to create a convincing similarity of Mr Brosnan video-calling her from his ₤ 80million house in Hawaii.
Ms Simms remembered 'how genuine' he appeared on Zoom and how she 'squealed with excitement that he remained in my living-room speaking with me' before taking the bait and sending the fraudsters ₤ 3,000 for 'shipping charges' for the art.
Her problem began when she called what she believed to be Mr Brosnan's legitimate Facebook page at the start of 2023 and asked if he would show his paintings at her .
She then states she was called by what she thought was the star and iuridictum.pecina.cz around 200 messages were exchanged between them on the Telegram messaging app, including a number of voice notes going over the exhibit.
The AI deepfake of 007 star Pierce Brosnan that deceived art gallery owner Simone Simms
Mrs Simms (imagined, left) fell victim to a fraud that led to her losing her ₤ 30,000 art gallery
More than 20,000 tickets were offered with the promise of conference 71-year-old Brosnan, who scammers had actually deepfaked to look like he was calling Mrs Simms from his ₤ 80million house in Hawaii
A Pierce Brosnan painting. Mrs Simms exchanged 200 messages by means of Telegram with who she believed was the Bond actor
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In one audio message, listened to by The Mail on Sunday, a voice with Mr Brosnan's distinctive Irish accent discusses the forthcoming exhibition.
'Simone, it's Pierce Brosnan here, how's it going? Just wished to apologise for not having the ability to set up a conference,' the voice says.
'I've been swamped recently. Please let your group know that I truly appreciate the invitation to the art exhibition.
'I have high expectations it will be a huge success.'
In a subsequent video call, Mr Brosnan's image appeared on the screen but the noise was off. Messages from the individual on the other side of the phone claimed there was a technological concern.
Two of Ms Simms's good friends were likewise in the video conference, one of two Ms Simms believed she had actually had with Brosnan, and were both tricked, insisting she was not an 'idiot'.
Among them, artist Neil Adcock, said: 'It looked like his genuine face. He said his kid had actually set it up for him. He said the sound issue was on our end. It carried on for a while.'
Pierce Brosnan at the Art Miami VIP opening in Miami Florida
After the phony event was booked, Mr Brosnan put out a statement damning the gallery, insisting he 'would never ever charge for a meet and welcome'
The real Pierce's artwork. Mrs Simms promoted ₤ 500 'fulfill and welcome' tickets with the deepfake Mr Brosnan
Another painting the genuine Mr Brosnan. Mrs Simms states she wishes the actor sportysocialspace.com would acknowledge her as a victim rather than a villain
Others have actually reported being contacted by a fake Facebook account, claiming to be Mr Brosnan. Pictured: One of the genuine Mr Brosnan's paintings
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Meanwhile, after Ms Simms reserved and marketed her show, the genuine Mr Brosnan saw an advertisement for the exhibition including his art online and issued a declaration damning the gallery, insisting he 'would never charge for a meet and greet'.
His lawyers sent her an immediate cease-and-desist letter in November 2023, three days after she promoted the ₤ 500 VIP meet-and-greet tickets.
A 'frightened' Ms Simms realised her mistake and tearfully recalled: 'It was the worst time of my life and it tainted my credibility.
'Pierce hurt me by providing the statement. He needs to have done more research study before he did due to the fact that he would understand it-viking.ch I was just a fan connecting however he villainised me which's where it began to fail.
'I wish he would acknowledge me as a victim and not as a villain. He needs to inform the general public about what genuinely occurred and set the tone.
'I do not hate him, because he is a victim too. People abused his image. If I understood it wasn't him, I would never ever have actually established the exhibition or offered the tickets.'
A picture by Piers Brosnan illustrating a green location on the coast
Ms Simms refunded the ₤ 20,000 in tickets however was forced to shut her gallery in August 2024 after the event left her credibility in tatters. Pictured: A painting by Pierce Brosnan
One of the genuine Pierce Brosnan's paintings portraying a woman lying down
As quickly as she realised she had been deceived, Ms Simms refunded the ₤ 20,000 in tickets however was forced to shut her gallery in August 2024 after the legend left her reputation in tatters, with lots of still believing she had attempted to rip-off them.
Others have reported being contacted by a fake Facebook account, claiming to be Mr Brosnan, asking which of his movies is their favourite before asking for money.
It comes as last month The Mail revealed how a separated female was duped into handing over ₤ 700,000 to a scammer impersonating Brad Pitt and asked for money to fund his urgent kidney cancer treatment.
Mr Brosnan has been approached for remark.
NottinghamPierce BrosnanHawaii