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 exhibit including the work of Hollywood actor-turned-artist Pierce Brosnan, who would also participate in to satisfy fans.
But the gallery's owner has actually exposed how her income and were 'ruined' after the Pierce Brosnan with whom she spent months working out the exhibit of a lifetime ended up not to be the Bond star but a 'deepfake'.
Simone Simms has actually spoken for the very first time about how she succumbed to the sophisticated synthetic intelligence (AI) fraud which resulted in her losing her ₤ 30,000 Long Eaton gallery.
Ms Simms told The Mail on Sunday she was 'villainised' after selling ₤ 20,000 worth of tickets to art lovers with the guarantee of meeting 71-year-old Brosnan, only to discover she had been duped.
Scammers used AI to produce a persuading likeness of Mr Brosnan video-calling her from his ₤ 80million house in Hawaii.
Ms Simms remembered 'how real' he appeared on Zoom and how she 'squealed with excitement that he remained in my living space talking to me' before taking the bait and sending the fraudsters ₤ 3,000 for 'shipping fees' for the art.
Her problem began when she called what she thought to be Mr Brosnan's genuine Facebook page at the start of 2023 and asked if he would display his paintings at her venue.
She then says she was gotten in touch with by what she believed was the star and around 200 messages were exchanged between them on the Telegram messaging app, consisting of a number of voice notes going over the exhibition.
The AI deepfake of 007 star Pierce Brosnan that fooled art gallery owner Simone Simms
Mrs Simms (visualized, left) fell victim to a scam that resulted in her losing her ₤ 30,000 art gallery
More than 20,000 tickets were sold with the promise of meeting 71-year-old Brosnan, who fraudsters 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 star
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In one audio message, listened to by The Mail on Sunday, a voice with Mr Brosnan's distinct Irish accent talks about the upcoming exhibit.
'Simone, it's Pierce Brosnan here, how's it going? Just desired to apologise for not having the ability to establish a meeting,' the voice says.
'I have actually been overloaded lately. Please let your team understand that I genuinely value the invitation to the art exhibit.
'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 sound was off. Messages from the person on the other side of the phone claimed there was a technological issue.
Two of Ms Simms's pals were also in the video meeting, one of 2 Ms Simms believed she had actually had with Brosnan, and were both fooled, kenpoguy.com insisting she was not an 'moron'.
Among them, artist Neil Adcock, said: 'It appeared like his authentic face. He said his boy 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 occasion was booked, Mr Brosnan put out a statement damning the gallery, utahsyardsale.com insisting he 'would never charge for a meet and welcome'
The genuine Pierce's artwork. Mrs Simms marketed ₤ 500 'satisfy and greet' tickets with the deepfake Mr Brosnan
Another painting the real Mr Brosnan. Mrs Simms says she wants the star would acknowledge her as a victim rather than a villain
Others have reported being gotten in touch with by a fake Facebook account, claiming to be Mr Brosnan. Pictured: higgledy-piggledy.xyz Among the real Mr Brosnan's paintings
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Meanwhile, after Ms Simms booked and marketed her show, bio.rogstecnologia.com.br the real Mr Brosnan saw an advertisement for disgaeawiki.info the exhibition featuring his art online and released a declaration damning the gallery, insisting he 'would never ever charge for a meet and greet'.
His legal representatives sent her an immediate cease-and-desist letter in November 2023, three days after she marketed the ₤ 500 VIP meet-and-greet tickets.
A 'horrified' Ms Simms understood her error and tearfully recalled: 'It was the worst time of my life and it tainted my track record.
'Pierce injured me by issuing the statement. He should have done more research before he did since he would understand I was just a fan reaching out but he villainised me which's where it started to fail.
'I want he would acknowledge me as a victim and not as a villain. He needs to inform the general public about what truly took place and set the tone.
'I don't dislike him, because he is a victim too. People abused his image. If I knew it wasn't him, I would never have set up the exhibition or sold the tickets.'
A picture by Piers Brosnan illustrating a green area on the coast
Ms Simms refunded the ₤ 20,000 in tickets but was forced to shut her gallery in August 2024 after the occurrence left her track record in tatters. Pictured: A painting by Pierce Brosnan
Among the genuine Pierce Brosnan's paintings portraying a lady lying down
As soon as she understood she had been deceived, Ms Simms reimbursed the ₤ 20,000 in tickets but was required to shut her gallery in August 2024 after the saga left her track record in tatters, with lots of still thinking she had tried to scam them.
Others have reported being called by a fake Facebook account, claiming to be Mr Brosnan, asking which of his films is their preferred before requesting for cash.
It comes as last month The Mail revealed how a separated lady was deceived into handing over ₤ 700,000 to a scammer posturing as Brad Pitt and asked for money to fund his urgent kidney cancer treatment.
Mr Brosnan has actually been approached for sitiosecuador.com remark.
NottinghamPierce BrosnanHawaii