How aI Deepfake of 007 Star Left Art Gallery Owner’s World in Tatters

It was the dream signing for the owner of an unidentified Nottingham gallery – an exhibit featuring the work of Hollywood actor-turned-artist Pierce Brosnan, who would also attend to meet fans.

But the gallery’s owner has actually exposed how her income and reputation 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 spoken for the very first time about how she fell for the intricate synthetic intelligence (AI) fraud which led to her losing her ₤ 30,000 Long Eaton gallery.

Ms Simms told The Mail on Sunday she was after offering ₤ 20,000 worth of tickets to art lovers with the pledge of meeting 71-year-old Brosnan, just to discover she had actually been fooled.

Scammers used AI to produce a convincing 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 speaking with me’ before taking the bait and sending the scammers ₤ 3,000 for ‘shipping charges’ for the art.

Her problem began when she called what she thought to be Mr Brosnan’s genuine Facebook page at the start of 2023 and asked if he would exhibit his paintings at her place.

She then states she was called 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 going over the exhibit.

The AI deepfake of 007 star Pierce Brosnan that duped art gallery owner Simone Simms

Mrs Simms (pictured, left) fell victim to a rip-off that resulted in her losing her ₤ 30,000 art gallery

More than 20,000 tickets were offered with the pledge of meeting 71-year-old Brosnan, who fraudsters had actually deepfaked to resemble 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 unique Irish accent goes over the upcoming exhibition.

‘Simone, it’s Pierce Brosnan here, how’s it going? Just desired to apologise for not having the ability to set up a conference,’ the voice says.

‘I have actually been overloaded lately. Please let your group know that I genuinely appreciate the invite to the art exhibition.

‘I have high expectations it will be a huge success.’

In a subsequent video call, Mr Brosnan’s image appeared on the screen but the noise was off. Messages from the person 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 believed she had had with Brosnan, and were both fooled, insisting she was not an ‘idiot’.

One of them, artist Neil Adcock, said: ‘It appeared like his real face. He said his boy had set it up for asteroidsathome.net him. He said the noise problem was on our end. It continued for visualchemy.gallery a while.’

Pierce Brosnan at the Art Miami VIP opening in Miami Florida

After the phony occasion was reserved, Mr Brosnan put out a statement damning the gallery, insisting he ‘would never ever charge for a meet and greet’

The real Pierce’s artwork. Mrs Simms advertised ₤ 500 ‘satisfy and welcome’ tickets with the deepfake Mr Brosnan

Another painting the genuine Mr Brosnan. Mrs Simms states she wishes the star would acknowledge her as a victim rather than a villain

Others have 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 booked and marketed her show, the real Mr Brosnan saw an advertisement for the exhibit including his art online and released a statement damning the gallery, insisting he ‘would never ever charge for a meet and welcome’.

His lawyers sent her an immediate cease-and-desist letter in November 2023, 3 days after she advertised the ₤ 500 VIP meet-and-greet tickets.

A ‘horrified’ Ms Simms realised her error and tearfully remembered: ‘It was the worst time of my life and it tainted my track record.

‘Pierce harmed me by issuing the statement. He must have done more research study before he did because he would understand I was only a fan reaching out however he villainised me and that’s where it began to fail.

‘I want 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 don’t dislike him, since he is a victim too. People abused his picture. If I knew it wasn’t him, I would never have actually set up the exhibition or offered the tickets.’

A photo by Piers Brosnan portraying a green location on the coast

Ms Simms reimbursed 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 genuine Pierce Brosnan’s paintings portraying a woman lying down

As quickly as she realised she had been fooled, Ms Simms refunded the ₤ 20,000 in tickets but was required to shut her gallery in August 2024 after the legend left her track record in tatters, with numerous still believing she had actually attempted to scam them.

Others have actually reported being gotten in touch with by a fake Facebook account, claiming to be Mr Brosnan, asking which of his films is their favourite before requesting for cash.

It comes as last month The Mail exposed how a separated lady was duped into turning over ₤ 700,000 to a fraudster posing as Brad Pitt and requested money to money his immediate kidney cancer treatment.

Mr Brosnan has been approached for smfsimple.com comment.

NottinghamPierce BrosnanHawaii