It was the dream signing for the owner of an unknown Nottingham gallery - an exhibit featuring the work of Hollywood actor-turned-artist Pierce Brosnan, who would also address meet fans.
But the gallery's owner has actually exposed how her income and reputation were 'ruined' after the Pierce Brosnan with whom she invested months working out the exhibit of a lifetime turned out not to be the Bond star however a 'deepfake'.
Simone Simms has actually spoken for the very first time about how she succumbed to the sophisticated artificial intelligence (AI) scam which led to 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 enthusiasts with the guarantee of conference 71-year-old Brosnan, only to find she had actually been duped.
Scammers utilized AI to generate a convincing similarity of Mr Brosnan video-calling her from his ₤ 80million home in Hawaii.
Ms Simms recalled 'how genuine' he appeared on Zoom and how she 'squealed with excitement that he remained in my to me' before taking the bait and sending the fraudsters ₤ 3,000 for 'shipping fees' for the art.
Her problem 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 show his paintings at her location.
She then says she was called by what she thought was the star and around 200 messages were exchanged in between them on the Telegram messaging app, consisting of a variety of voice notes discussing the exhibit.
The AI deepfake of 007 star Pierce Brosnan that deceived art gallery owner Simone Simms
Mrs Simms (imagined, left) fell victim to a rip-off 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 appear like 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 actor
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In one audio message, listened to by The Mail on Sunday, a voice with Mr Brosnan's distinctive Irish accent goes over the forthcoming exhibition.
'Simone, menwiki.men it's Pierce Brosnan here, how's it going? Just wished to apologise for online-learning-initiative.org not being able to set up a conference,' the voice states.
'I've been overloaded lately. Please let your team understand that I truly value the invite to the art exhibit.
'I have high expectations it will be a substantial 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 issue.
Two of Ms Simms's good friends were likewise in the video meeting, one of 2 Ms Simms thought she had had with Brosnan, and were both tricked, insisting she was not an 'idiot'.
One of them, artist Neil Adcock, said: 'It appeared like his real face. He said his son had set it up for him. He said the sound issue was on our end. It carried on for a while.'
Pierce Brosnan at the Art Miami VIP opening in Miami Florida
After the phony occasion was reserved, Mr Brosnan put out a declaration damning the gallery, insisting he 'would never ever charge for a satisfy and greet'
The real Pierce's artwork. Mrs Simms marketed ₤ 500 'satisfy and greet' tickets with the deepfake Mr Brosnan
Another painting the real Mr Brosnan. Mrs Simms says she wishes the star would acknowledge her as a victim rather than a villain
Others have reported being called by a phony Facebook account, claiming to be Mr Brosnan. Pictured: Among the genuine Mr Brosnan's paintings
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Meanwhile, after Ms Simms reserved and marketed her show, the genuine Mr Brosnan saw an ad for the exhibition featuring his art online and released a declaration damning the gallery, insisting he 'would never charge for a fulfill and welcome'.
His lawyers sent her an immediate 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 error and tearfully remembered: 'It was the worst time of my life and it tainted my track record.
'Pierce harmed me by providing the statement. He ought to have done more research study before he did since he would understand I was only a fan connecting 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 requires to inform the public about what genuinely took place and set the tone.
'I do not hate him, due to the fact that he is a victim too. People abused his image. If I knew it wasn't him, I would never ever have actually set up the exhibit or offered the tickets.'
An image by Piers Brosnan depicting a green location on the coast
Ms Simms reimbursed the ₤ 20,000 in tickets but was forced to shut her gallery in August 2024 after the incident 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 duped, Ms Simms reimbursed the ₤ 20,000 in tickets however was required to shut her gallery in August 2024 after the saga left her credibility in tatters, with lots of still believing she had tried to rip-off them.
Others have actually reported being called by a fake Facebook account, claiming to be Mr Brosnan, asking which of his movies is their preferred before requesting cash.
It comes as last month The Mail exposed how a separated lady was fooled into turning over ₤ 700,000 to a scammer presenting as Brad Pitt and requested cash to money 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
Albertha Kirsova edited this page 3 months ago