It was the dream finalizing for the owner of an unidentified Nottingham gallery - an exhibition including the work of Hollywood actor-turned-artist Pierce Brosnan, who would likewise participate in to fulfill fans.
But the gallery's owner has actually revealed how her livelihood and reputation were 'destroyed' after the Pierce Brosnan with whom she invested months working out the exhibit of a life time turned out not to be the Bond star however a 'deepfake'.
Simone Simms has promoted the very first time about how she succumbed to the elaborate artificial intelligence (AI) scam 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 enthusiasts with the guarantee of meeting 71-year-old Brosnan, just to discover she had actually been duped.
Scammers utilized AI to create a convincing similarity of Mr Brosnan video-calling her from his ₤ 80million house in Hawaii.
Ms Simms recalled 'how real' 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 nightmare began when she called what she thought to be Mr Brosnan's legitimate Facebook page at the start of 2023 and asked if he would display his paintings at her place.
She then states she was called by what she thought was the star and around 200 messages were exchanged between them on the Telegram messaging app, including a variety of voice notes discussing the exhibit.
The AI deepfake of 007 star Pierce Brosnan that fooled art gallery owner Simone Simms
Mrs Simms (visualized, left) succumbed to a scam that resulted in her losing her ₤ 30,000 art gallery
More than 20,000 tickets were sold with the promise of conference 71-year-old Brosnan, who fraudsters had deepfaked to look like he was calling Mrs Simms from his ₤ 80million house in Hawaii
A Pierce Brosnan painting. Mrs Simms exchanged 200 messages through Telegram with who she thought 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 discusses the upcoming exhibition.
'Simone, archmageriseswiki.com it's Pierce Brosnan here, how's it going? Just desired to apologise for not having the ability to establish a conference,' the voice says.
'I have actually been swamped lately. Please let your team understand that I really appreciate the invitation to the art exhibit.
'I have high expectations it will be a huge success.'
In a subsequent video call, oke.zone Mr Brosnan's image appeared on the screen however the sound was off. Messages from the individual on the other side of the phone claimed there was a technological issue.
Two of Ms Simms's pals were also in the video conference, one of 2 Ms Simms believed she had had with Brosnan, and were both tricked, insisting she was not an 'idiot'.
One of them, artist Neil Adcock, said: 'It looked like his real face. He said his boy had set it up for him. He said the noise issue was on our end. It brought on for a while.'
Pierce Brosnan at the Art Miami VIP opening in Miami Florida
After the fake event was reserved, Mr Brosnan put out a statement damning the gallery, insisting he 'would never ever charge for a meet and greet'
The genuine Pierce's art work. Mrs Simms marketed ₤ 500 'fulfill and welcome' tickets with the deepfake Mr Brosnan
Another painting the real Mr Brosnan. Mrs Simms states she wishes the actor would acknowledge her as a victim rather than a villain
Others have actually reported being gotten in touch with by a phony Facebook account, claiming to be Mr Brosnan. Pictured: One of the real Mr Brosnan's paintings
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Meanwhile, greyhawkonline.com after Ms Simms scheduled and marketed her program, the real Mr Brosnan saw an advertisement for the exhibition featuring his art online and released a statement damning the gallery, insisting he 'would never ever charge for a satisfy and greet'.
His legal representatives sent her an immediate cease-and-desist letter in November 2023, three days after she promoted the ₤ 500 VIP meet-and-greet tickets.
A 'horrified' Ms Simms realised her mistake and tearfully remembered: 'It was the worst time of my life and it tainted my track record.
'Pierce harmed me by releasing the statement. He ought to have done more research before he did due to the fact that he would realise I was just a fan reaching out 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 public about what truly happened and set the tone.
'I don't hate him, due to the fact that he is a victim too. his picture. If I understood it wasn't him, I would never have actually set up the exhibition or opensourcebridge.science sold the tickets.'
A picture by Piers Brosnan portraying 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 credibility in tatters. Pictured: A painting by Pierce Brosnan
Among the genuine Pierce Brosnan's paintings illustrating a female lying down
As quickly as she understood she had been deceived, Ms Simms refunded the ₤ 20,000 in tickets but was required to shut her gallery in August 2024 after the saga left her reputation in tatters, with many still believing she had tried to fraud them.
Others have reported being contacted by a phony Facebook account, claiming to be Mr Brosnan, asking which of his films is their favourite before asking for money.
It comes as last month The Mail exposed how a separated woman was deceived into handing over ₤ 700,000 to a scammer impersonating Brad Pitt and requested money to fund his urgent kidney cancer treatment.
Mr Brosnan has been approached for remark.
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How aI Deepfake of 007 Star Left Art Gallery Owner's World in Tatters
Abigail Waugh edited this page 2025-02-11 04:39:46 +07:00