How aI Deepfake of 007 Star Left Art Gallery Owner's World in Tatters
It was the dream finalizing 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 meet fans.
But the gallery's owner has revealed how her income and reputation were 'messed up' after the Pierce Brosnan with whom she spent months negotiating the exhibition of a lifetime ended up not to be the Bond star but a 'deepfake'.
Simone Simms has spoken for the very first time about how she fell for the elaborate expert system (AI) rip-off which led to her losing her ₤ 30,000 Long Eaton gallery.
Ms Simms told The Mail on Sunday she was 'villainised' after offering ₤ 20,000 worth of tickets to art lovers with the pledge of meeting 71-year-old Brosnan, only to discover she had actually been fooled.
Scammers used AI to generate 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 'squealed with enjoyment that he remained in my living room talking to me' before taking the bait and sending the scammers ₤ 3,000 for 'shipping fees' for forum.batman.gainedge.org 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, including a number 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) came down with a fraud 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 scammers had actually deepfaked to look like he was calling Mrs Simms from his ₤ 80million home in Hawaii
A Pierce Brosnan painting. Mrs Simms exchanged 200 messages via Telegram with who she believed was the Bond actor
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In one audio message, listened to by The Mail on Sunday, timeoftheworld.date a voice with Mr Brosnan's unique Irish accent talks about the upcoming exhibition.
'Simone, it's Pierce Brosnan here, how's it going? Just wished to apologise for not being able to set up a meeting,' the voice says.
'I have actually been overloaded lately. Please let your group understand that I truly value the invitation to the art exhibition.
'I have high expectations it will be a huge success.'
In a subsequent video call, Mr 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 problem.
Two of Ms Simms's friends were also 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'.
Among them, artist Neil Adcock, said: 'It appeared like his real face. He said his child had set it up for him. He said the sound problem was on our end. It continued for oke.zone a while.'
Pierce Brosnan at the Art Miami VIP opening in Miami Florida
After the fake occasion was reserved, Mr Brosnan put out a statement damning the gallery, insisting he 'would never charge for a fulfill and welcome'
The genuine Pierce's artwork. Mrs Simms advertised ₤ 500 'meet and welcome' tickets with the deepfake Mr Brosnan
Another painting the genuine Mr Brosnan. Mrs Simms states she wants the star would acknowledge her as a victim rather than a villain
Others have actually reported being gotten in touch with by a fake Facebook account, claiming to be Mr Brosnan. Pictured: Among the real Mr Brosnan's paintings
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Meanwhile, after Ms Simms reserved and marketed her show, the real Mr Brosnan saw an ad for surgiteams.com the exhibit including his art online and issued a statement damning the gallery, insisting he 'would never ever charge for a fulfill and welcome'.
His lawyers sent her an instant cease-and-desist letter in November 2023, three days after she marketed the ₤ 500 VIP meet-and-greet tickets.
A 'horrified' Ms Simms realised her mistake and tearfully recalled: 'It was the worst time of my life and it tainted my reputation.
'Pierce harmed me by releasing the declaration. He should have done more research before he did because he would realise I was only a fan reaching out 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 public about what really took place and set the tone.
'I do not dislike him, because he is a victim too. People abused his image. If I knew it wasn't him, I would never ever have actually established the exhibit or sold the tickets.'
A photo by Piers Brosnan illustrating a green location on the coast
Ms Simms refunded the ₤ 20,000 in tickets but was required to shut her gallery in August 2024 after the occurrence left her track record in tatters. Pictured: A painting by Pierce Brosnan
One of the real Pierce Brosnan's paintings illustrating a lady resting
As quickly as she understood she had been duped, Ms Simms refunded the ₤ 20,000 in tickets however was forced to shut her gallery in August 2024 after the legend left her credibility in tatters, with numerous still thinking she had attempted to scam them.
Others have actually reported being contacted by a phony 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 exposed how a separated woman was fooled into turning over ₤ 700,000 to a scammer impersonating Brad Pitt and requested for setiathome.berkeley.edu money to fund his immediate kidney cancer treatment.
Mr Brosnan has been approached for remark.
NottinghamPierce BrosnanHawaii