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 likewise take care of meet fans.
But the gallery's owner has exposed how her income and credibility were 'destroyed' 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 sophisticated 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 offering ₤ 20,000 worth of tickets to art enthusiasts with the promise of meeting 71-year-old Brosnan, only to she had been fooled.
Scammers utilized AI to produce a persuading likeness of Mr Brosnan video-calling her from his ₤ 80million home in Hawaii.
Ms Simms remembered 'how real' 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 oke.zone sending the fraudsters ₤ 3,000 for 'shipping charges' for the art.
Her nightmare began when she contacted 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 place.
She then says she was contacted by what she believed was the star and around 200 messages were exchanged between them on the Telegram messaging app, trademarketclassifieds.com including 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) succumbed to a fraud that led to her losing her ₤ 30,000 art gallery
More than 20,000 tickets were sold with the guarantee of conference 71-year-old Brosnan, who fraudsters had deepfaked to look like he was calling Mrs Simms from his ₤ 80million home in Hawaii
A Pierce Brosnan painting. Mrs Simms exchanged 200 messages by means of Telegram with who she believed was the Bond actor
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In one audio message, listened to by The Mail on Sunday, a voice with Mr Brosnan's unique Irish accent talks about the forthcoming exhibit.
'Simone, it's Pierce Brosnan here, how's it going? Just desired to apologise for raovatonline.org not being able to set up a meeting,' the voice states.
'I have actually been overloaded lately. Please let your team understand that I genuinely appreciate the invitation 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 noise was off. Messages from the individual on the other side of the phone claimed there was a technological concern.
Two of Ms Simms's buddies were likewise in the video meeting, one of two Ms Simms believed she had actually had with Brosnan, and were both fooled, insisting she was not an 'moron'.
One of them, artist Neil Adcock, said: 'It appeared 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 fake occasion was scheduled, Mr Brosnan put out a statement damning the gallery, insisting he 'would never ever charge for a fulfill and welcome'
The genuine Pierce's art work. Mrs Simms marketed ₤ 500 'meet and greet' tickets with the deepfake Mr Brosnan
Another painting the real Mr Brosnan. Mrs Simms says she wants the star would acknowledge her as a victim rather than a villain
Others have reported being gotten in touch with by a phony Facebook account, claiming to be Mr Brosnan. Pictured: Among the real Mr Brosnan's paintings
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Meanwhile, after Ms Simms scheduled and marketed her program, the real Mr Brosnan saw an ad for the exhibition featuring his art online and released a declaration damning the gallery, insisting he 'would never ever charge for a satisfy and greet'.
His attorneys sent her an immediate cease-and-desist letter in November 2023, 3 days after she marketed 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 track record.
'Pierce harmed me by issuing the declaration. He must have done more research before he did due to the fact that he would understand I was just a fan reaching out but he villainised me which's where it started to fail.
'I want he would acknowledge me as a victim and not as a villain. He needs to tell the public about what genuinely happened and set the tone.
'I do not hate him, because he is a victim too. People abused his photo. If I knew it wasn't him, I would never have established the exhibition or sold the tickets.'
A picture by Piers Brosnan depicting a green area on the coast
Ms Simms reimbursed the ₤ 20,000 in tickets however was required to shut her gallery in August 2024 after the event left her reputation in tatters. Pictured: A painting by Pierce Brosnan
Among the real Pierce Brosnan's paintings depicting a female resting
As quickly as she understood she had actually been deceived, Ms Simms reimbursed the ₤ 20,000 in tickets but was forced to shut her gallery in August 2024 after the saga left her reputation in tatters, with lots of still thinking she had actually tried to scam them.
Others have reported being gotten in touch with by a phony Facebook account, claiming to be Mr Brosnan, asking which of his movies is their preferred before requesting for money.
It comes as last month The Mail exposed how a separated female was deceived into turning over ₤ 700,000 to a fraudster impersonating Brad Pitt and asked for money to fund his urgent kidney cancer treatment.
Mr Brosnan has been approached for comment.
NottinghamPierce BrosnanHawaii
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How aI Deepfake of 007 Star Left Art Gallery Owner's World in Tatters
Alonzo Castiglia edited this page 2025-02-11 23:06:18 +01:00