It was the dream finalizing for the owner of an unknown Nottingham gallery - an exhibit including the work of Hollywood actor-turned-artist Pierce Brosnan, who would also attend to satisfy fans.
But the gallery's owner has revealed how her income and track record 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 promoted the very first time about how she succumbed to the sophisticated artificial intelligence (AI) rip-off which resulted in 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 promise of conference 71-year-old Brosnan, just to find she had been deceived.
Scammers used AI to generate a convincing likeness 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 enjoyment that he remained in my living space speaking with me' before taking the bait and sending out the scammers ₤ 3,000 for 'shipping fees' for the art.
Her nightmare started when she called what she believed to be Mr Brosnan's legitimate Facebook page at the start of 2023 and asked if he would exhibit his paintings at her location.
She then states 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, including a number of voice notes going over the exhibition.
The AI deepfake of 007 star Pierce Brosnan that deceived art gallery owner Simone Simms
Mrs Simms (envisioned, left) fell victim to a fraud that led to her losing her ₤ 30,000 art gallery
More than 20,000 tickets were sold with the guarantee of meeting 71-year-old Brosnan, who scammers 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 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 discusses the forthcoming exhibit.
'Simone, bbarlock.com 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 lately. Please let your group know that I really value the invite to the art exhibition.
'I have high expectations it will be a big 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 problem.
Two of Ms Simms's buddies were also in the video meeting, one of two Ms Simms believed she had actually had with Brosnan, and were both tricked, insisting she was not an 'moron'.
Among them, artist Neil Adcock, said: 'It looked like his genuine face. He said his son had actually set it up for him. He said the noise problem was on our end. It carried on for a while.'
Pierce Brosnan at the Art Miami VIP opening in Miami Florida
After the phony event was reserved, Mr Brosnan put out a statement damning the gallery, insisting he 'would never charge for a fulfill and welcome'
The real Pierce's artwork. Mrs Simms marketed ₤ 500 'fulfill and welcome' tickets with the deepfake Mr Brosnan
Another painting the genuine Mr Brosnan. Mrs Simms states she wants the actor 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: One of the genuine 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 the exhibition featuring his art online and issued a statement damning the gallery, insisting he 'would never charge for a meet and wiki.vst.hs-furtwangen.de greet'.
His attorneys sent her an immediate cease-and-desist letter in November 2023, 3 days after she promoted the ₤ 500 VIP meet-and-greet tickets.
A 'frightened' Ms Simms realised her mistake and tearfully recalled: 'It was the worst time of my life and it tainted my track record.
'Pierce harmed me by providing the declaration. He should have done more research before he did due to the fact that he would realise I was only a fan reaching out but 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 requires to tell the general public about what truly took place and set the tone.
'I don't hate him, because he is a victim too. People abused his picture. If I understood it wasn't him, I would never ever have actually set up the exhibit or offered the tickets.'
An image by Piers Brosnan portraying 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 event left her reputation in tatters. Pictured: A painting by Pierce Brosnan
One of the real Pierce Brosnan's paintings illustrating a lady lying down
As soon as she realised she had actually been fooled, Ms Simms refunded the ₤ 20,000 in tickets however was forced to shut her gallery in August 2024 after the legend left her track record in tatters, with lots of still believing she had actually tried to fraud them.
Others have actually reported being contacted by a phony Facebook account, claiming to be Mr Brosnan, asking which of his movies is their favourite before requesting for money.
It comes as last month The Mail revealed how a divorced female was deceived into turning over ₤ 700,000 to a fraudster impersonating Brad Pitt and asked for cash to money his urgent kidney cancer treatment.
Mr Brosnan has actually been approached for comment.
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How aI Deepfake of 007 Star Left Art Gallery Owner's World in Tatters
Adela Rowland edited this page 2025-02-17 08:01:21 +02:00