It was the dream finalizing for the owner of an unknown Nottingham gallery - an exhibition including the work of Hollywood actor-turned-artist Pierce Brosnan, who would also address meet fans.
But the gallery's owner has revealed how her livelihood and track record were 'ruined' after the Pierce Brosnan with whom she invested months negotiating the exhibit of a life time turned out not to be the Bond star but a 'deepfake'.
Simone Simms has actually promoted the very first time about how she succumbed to the intricate expert system (AI) scam which led to her losing her ₤ 30,000 Long Eaton gallery.
Ms Simms told The Mail on Sunday she was 'villainised' after ₤ 20,000 worth of tickets to art enthusiasts with the pledge of meeting 71-year-old Brosnan, just to find she had been deceived.
Scammers utilized AI to produce 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 living-room speaking to me' before taking the bait and sending out the fraudsters ₤ 3,000 for 'shipping costs' for the art.
Her headache started when she called what she thought to be Mr Brosnan's genuine Facebook page at the start of 2023 and asked if he would show his paintings at her venue.
She then states she was gotten in touch with by what she thought was the star and around 200 messages were exchanged between them on the Telegram messaging app, consisting of a number of voice notes discussing the exhibit.
The AI deepfake of 007 star Pierce Brosnan that duped art gallery owner Simone Simms
Mrs Simms (pictured, left) came down with a scam that resulted in her losing her ₤ 30,000 art gallery
More than 20,000 tickets were offered with the guarantee of conference 71-year-old Brosnan, who fraudsters had actually deepfaked to look like he was calling Mrs Simms from his ₤ 80million house in Hawaii
A Pierce Brosnan painting. Mrs Simms exchanged 200 messages through Telegram with who she thought 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 distinct Irish accent discusses the forthcoming exhibit.
'Simone, it's Pierce Brosnan here, how's it going? Just desired to apologise for not being able to set up a conference,' the voice says.
'I have actually been overloaded lately. Please let your group understand that I genuinely appreciate the invitation 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 sound was off. Messages from the person on the other side of the phone claimed there was a technological issue.
Two of Ms Simms's pals were also in the video meeting, one of two Ms Simms thought she had had with Brosnan, and were both deceived, 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 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 scheduled, Mr Brosnan put out a statement damning the gallery, insisting he 'would never ever charge for a fulfill and welcome'
The real Pierce's artwork. Mrs Simms advertised ₤ 500 'meet and welcome' tickets with the deepfake Mr Brosnan
Another painting the genuine Mr Brosnan. Mrs Simms says she wants the actor would acknowledge her as a victim instead of a villain
Others have reported being contacted 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 scheduled and marketed her program, the genuine Mr Brosnan saw an ad for securityholes.science the exhibit including his art online and issued a declaration damning the gallery, insisting he 'would never ever charge for a meet and welcome'.
His legal representatives 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 realised her error and tearfully recalled: 'It was the worst time of my life and it tainted my track record.
'Pierce hurt me by providing the declaration. He needs to have done more research study before he did since he would understand I was only a fan connecting however he villainised me which's where it began to fail.
'I want he would acknowledge me as a victim and not as a villain. He needs to inform the public about what genuinely happened and set the tone.
'I do not dislike 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 offered the tickets.'
An image by Piers Brosnan depicting a green area on the coast
Ms Simms refunded the ₤ 20,000 in tickets but was forced to shut her gallery in August 2024 after the event left her credibility in tatters. Pictured: A painting by Pierce Brosnan
One of the real Pierce Brosnan's paintings portraying a female lying down
As quickly as she realised she had 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 many still thinking she had tried to scam them.
Others have reported being contacted by a phony Facebook account, claiming to be Mr Brosnan, asking which of his movies is their favourite before asking for cash.
It comes as last month The Mail revealed how a divorced lady was deceived into handing over ₤ 700,000 to a fraudster posturing as Brad Pitt and asked for money to fund his urgent kidney cancer treatment.
Mr Brosnan has been approached for remark.
NottinghamPierce BrosnanHawaii
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How aI Deepfake of 007 Star Left Art Gallery Owner's World in Tatters
Abe Pulver edited this page 2025-05-28 19:40:17 +02:00