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 likewise take care of meet fans.
But the gallery's owner has revealed how her livelihood and track record were 'messed up' after the Pierce Brosnan with whom she spent months negotiating the exhibition of a life time ended up not to be the Bond star but a 'deepfake'.
Simone Simms has actually spoken for the very first time about how she fell for the fancy expert system (AI) fraud which led to 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 fans with the promise 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 home in Hawaii.
Ms Simms recalled 'how genuine' he appeared on Zoom and how she 'screeched with enjoyment that he remained in my living room talking to me' before taking the bait and sending the fraudsters ₤ 3,000 for 'shipping costs' for the art.
Her headache 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 display his paintings at her venue.
She then says she was called by what she believed was the star and around 200 messages were exchanged between them on the Telegram messaging app, consisting of a variety of voice notes discussing the exhibition.
The AI deepfake of 007 star Pierce Brosnan that deceived art gallery owner Simone Simms
Mrs Simms (visualized, left) fell victim to a rip-off that led to her losing her ₤ 30,000 art gallery
More than 20,000 tickets were offered with the promise of meeting 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 via 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, 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've been overloaded lately. Please let your group know that I genuinely value the invitation to the art exhibition.
'I have high expectations it will be a substantial 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 problem.
Two of Ms Simms's good friends were likewise in the video conference, one of 2 Ms Simms thought she had had with Brosnan, and were both deceived, insisting she was not an 'moron'.
One of 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 problem was on our end. It continued for a while.'
Pierce Brosnan at the Art Miami VIP opening in Miami Florida
After the phony event was scheduled, Mr Brosnan put out a declaration damning the gallery, insisting he 'would never ever charge for tandme.co.uk a satisfy and greet'
The genuine Pierce's art work. Mrs Simms advertised ₤ 500 'satisfy and greet' tickets with the deepfake Mr Brosnan
Another painting the genuine Mr Brosnan. Mrs Simms says she wishes the star would acknowledge her as a victim rather than a villain
Others have 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 scheduled and marketed her show, the real Mr Brosnan saw an advertisement for the exhibit featuring his art online and issued a declaration damning the gallery, insisting he 'would never charge for a fulfill and greet'.
His attorneys sent her an immediate cease-and-desist letter in November 2023, three days after she advertised the ₤ 500 VIP meet-and-greet tickets.
A 'frightened' Ms Simms understood her error and tearfully recalled: 'It was the worst time of my life and it tainted my reputation.
'Pierce injured me by issuing the statement. He should have done more research study before he did due to the fact that he would realise I was just a fan connecting however he villainised me and that'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 happened and set the tone.
'I do not dislike him, due to the fact that he is a victim too. People abused his picture. If I understood it wasn't him, wiki.dulovic.tech I would never ever have established the exhibition or offered the tickets.'
A photo by Piers Brosnan depicting a green area on the coast
Ms Simms reimbursed the ₤ 20,000 in tickets however was forced to shut her gallery in August 2024 after the incident left her credibility in tatters. Pictured: A painting by Pierce Brosnan
One of the real Pierce Brosnan's paintings a lady resting
As quickly as she understood she had been fooled, Ms Simms reimbursed the ₤ 20,000 in tickets but was required to shut her gallery in August 2024 after the legend left her credibility in tatters, with many still thinking she had tried to rip-off them.
Others have reported being called by a phony Facebook account, claiming to be Mr Brosnan, asking which of his films is their favourite before asking for cash.
It comes as last month The Mail exposed how a separated lady was deceived into handing over ₤ 700,000 to a fraudster impersonating Brad Pitt and requested for money to money his urgent kidney cancer treatment.
Mr Brosnan has actually been approached for remark.
NottinghamPierce BrosnanHawaii