It was the dream finalizing for the owner of an unknown Nottingham gallery - an exhibition featuring the work of Hollywood actor-turned-artist Pierce Brosnan, who would also take care of meet fans.
But the gallery's owner has actually exposed how her income and track record were 'destroyed' after the Pierce Brosnan with whom she invested months working out the exhibit of a life time 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 fancy artificial intelligence (AI) scam which resulted in her losing her ₤ 30,000 Long Eaton gallery.
Ms Simms informed The Mail on Sunday she was 'villainised' after selling ₤ 20,000 worth of tickets to with the guarantee of meeting 71-year-old Brosnan, just to find she had been fooled.
Scammers used AI to generate a convincing similarity of Mr Brosnan video-calling her from his ₤ 80million house in Hawaii.
Ms Simms recalled 'how genuine' he appeared on Zoom and how she 'screeched with enjoyment that he remained in my living-room speaking with me' before taking the bait and sending out the fraudsters ₤ 3,000 for demo.qkseo.in 'shipping charges' for the art.
Her nightmare began when she contacted 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 location.
She then states she was contacted 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 talking about the exhibition.
The AI deepfake of 007 star Pierce Brosnan that duped art gallery owner Simone Simms
Mrs Simms (imagined, left) succumbed to a rip-off that led to her losing her ₤ 30,000 art gallery
More than 20,000 tickets were offered with the pledge of conference 71-year-old Brosnan, who scammers had 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 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 distinctive Irish accent discusses the forthcoming exhibit.
'Simone, it's Pierce Brosnan here, how's it going? Just wanted to apologise for not being able to set up a conference,' the voice states.
'I've been swamped recently. Please let your group understand that I really appreciate the invitation to the art exhibit.
'I have high expectations it will be a big success.'
In a subsequent video call, Mr Brosnan's image appeared on the screen however 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 conference, one of 2 Ms Simms thought she had actually had with Brosnan, and were both fooled, insisting she was not an 'moron'.
Among them, artist Neil Adcock, said: 'It appeared like his real face. He said his kid had actually set it up for him. He said the noise problem was on our end. It continued for a while.'
Pierce Brosnan at the Art Miami VIP opening in Miami Florida
After the phony occasion was booked, Mr Brosnan put out a declaration damning the gallery, insisting he 'would never charge for a satisfy and welcome'
The real Pierce's artwork. Mrs Simms promoted ₤ 500 'meet and welcome' tickets with the deepfake Mr Brosnan
Another painting the real Mr Brosnan. Mrs Simms says she wishes the actor 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: One of the real Mr Brosnan's paintings
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Meanwhile, after Ms Simms scheduled and marketed her program, the genuine Mr Brosnan saw an ad for the exhibit including his art online and released a declaration damning the gallery, insisting he 'would never 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 'horrified' Ms Simms realised 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 ought to have done more research before he did because he would understand I was only a fan connecting but he villainised me and that's where it began to fail.
'I wish he would acknowledge me as a victim and not as a villain. He requires to tell the public about what really 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 knew it wasn't him, I would never ever have set up the exhibition or offered the tickets.'
A picture by Piers Brosnan illustrating a green area on the coast
Ms Simms reimbursed the ₤ 20,000 in tickets but was forced to shut her gallery in August 2024 after the event left her reputation in tatters. Pictured: A painting by Pierce Brosnan
One of the genuine Pierce Brosnan's paintings depicting a female resting
As quickly as she realised she had been deceived, Ms Simms refunded the ₤ 20,000 in tickets but was forced to shut her gallery in August 2024 after the legend left her reputation in tatters, with lots of still believing she had actually attempted to scam them.
Others have reported being gotten in touch with by a fake Facebook account, claiming to be Mr Brosnan, asking which of his films is their preferred before requesting for engel-und-waisen.de cash.
It comes as last month The Mail exposed how a divorced woman was fooled into turning over ₤ 700,000 to a fraudster posturing as Brad Pitt and requested for money to fund his immediate 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
Abby McPhee edited this page 2025-02-09 22:19:56 +01:00