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 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 livelihood and credibility were 'destroyed' after the Pierce Brosnan with whom she spent months working out the exhibition of a life time turned out not to be the Bond star but a 'deepfake'.
Simone Simms has actually promoted the first time about how she succumbed to the intricate expert system (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 conference 71-year-old Brosnan, just to discover she had actually been duped.
Scammers used AI to create a persuading similarity of Mr Brosnan video-calling her from his ₤ 80million home in Hawaii.
Ms Simms remembered 'how genuine' he appeared on Zoom and how she 'screeched with excitement that he remained in my living-room talking to me' before taking the bait and sending the scammers ₤ 3,000 for 'shipping fees' for the art.
Her headache began when she called what she believed to be Mr Brosnan's genuine Facebook page at the start of 2023 and asked if he would display his paintings at her location.
She then says 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 number of voice notes going over the exhibit.
The AI deepfake of 007 star Pierce Brosnan that fooled art gallery owner Simone Simms
Mrs Simms (pictured, left) came down with a fraud that resulted in her losing her ₤ 30,000 art gallery
More than 20,000 tickets were offered with the promise of meeting 71-year-old Brosnan, who fraudsters had actually deepfaked to resemble he was calling Mrs Simms from his ₤ 80million home 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 distinctive Irish accent talks about the forthcoming exhibit.
'Simone, it's Pierce Brosnan here, how's it going? Just wished to apologise for not having the ability to establish a meeting,' the voice says.
'I've been overloaded recently. Please let your group know that I genuinely appreciate 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 however the sound 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 2 Ms Simms thought she had actually had with Brosnan, and were both tricked, insisting she was not an 'moron'.
One of them, artist Neil Adcock, said: 'It appeared like his authentic face. He said his boy had set it up for him. He said the noise issue was on our end. It carried on for a while.'
Pierce Brosnan at the Art Miami VIP opening in Miami Florida
After the fake occasion was scheduled, Mr Brosnan put out a the gallery, insisting he 'would never ever charge for a fulfill and wolvesbaneuo.com greet'
The genuine Pierce's art work. Mrs Simms promoted ₤ 500 'satisfy and welcome' tickets with the deepfake Mr Brosnan
Another painting the genuine Mr Brosnan. Mrs Simms says she wishes the actor would acknowledge her as a victim instead of a villain
Others have actually reported being contacted by a fake Facebook account, claiming to be Mr Brosnan. Pictured: One of the real 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 provided a statement damning the gallery, insisting he 'would never ever charge for a fulfill and welcome'.
His attorneys sent her an instant cease-and-desist letter in November 2023, three days after she promoted the ₤ 500 VIP meet-and-greet tickets.
A 'frightened' Ms Simms understood her mistake and tearfully recalled: 'It was the worst time of my life and it tainted my track record.
'Pierce hurt me by providing the declaration. He should have done more research study before he did because he would understand I was only a fan reaching out however he villainised me which's where it began to fail.
'I want he would acknowledge me as a victim and not as a villain. He needs to inform the public about what genuinely happened and set the tone.
'I don't hate him, since he is a victim too. People abused his image. If I knew it wasn't him, I would never have established the exhibit or offered the tickets.'
A picture by Piers Brosnan illustrating a green area on the coast
Ms Simms refunded the ₤ 20,000 in tickets however was required 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 illustrating a woman lying down
As soon as she understood she had actually been duped, Ms Simms refunded the ₤ 20,000 in tickets but was required to shut her gallery in August 2024 after the saga left her credibility in tatters, with many still believing she had attempted to rip-off 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 revealed how a separated female was fooled into handing over ₤ 700,000 to a fraudster impersonating Brad Pitt and requested for money to fund his immediate kidney cancer treatment.
Mr Brosnan has been approached for remark.
NottinghamPierce BrosnanHawaii