Les escrocs de l'amour (1/2)

In January 2025, the story of Anne Deneuchatel and the fake Brad Pitt went viral. For months, this woman in her fifties was the target of a romance scam: convinced she was in a relationship with Brad Pitt, she sent him nearly €830,000. Behind this fake romance was a scammer: a con artist who traps his victims online with a well-rehearsed romantic promise, carefully crafted to exploit their vulnerabilities. What are the mechanics of romance scams? What romantic myths do scammers rely on to ensnare their victims? How can you fall under the spell of someone you've never met? To discuss this, Tal Madesta welcomes Valentina Péri, anthropologist and author of the book Le Brouteur galant: manuel de l’arnaqueur sentimental (https://uveditions.com/le-brouteur-ga...) (Éditions UV, 2024), and Alexandre Kauffmann, journalist and author of La Captive (https://editionsgouttedor.com/catalog...) (Goutte d’Or, 2025), an investigation into the story of a victim of online romance scams. In this first part of their two-part interview, they analyze the schemes and psychological mechanisms that allow scammers to establish and maintain control over their victims. REFERENCES CITED IN THE EPISODE Find all the references cited in the episode on the page: https://www.binge.audio/podcast/les-c... CREDITS Les Couilles sur la table is a podcast created by Victoire Tuaillon and produced by Binge Audio. This interview was prepared, conducted, and edited by Tal Madesta and recorded on November 27, 2025, at the Virginie Despentes studio of Binge Audio (Paris, 19th arrondissement). Sound recording, production, and mixing: Paul Bertiaux and Jude Rigaud. Editorial and production supervision: Naomi Titti. Production and editing: Marie Foulon. Communication: Lise Niederkorn. Editor-in-chief: Thomas Rozec. Production manager: Albane Fily. Administrative and financial manager: Adrienne Marino. Original music: Théo Boulenger. Graphic design: Marion Lavedeau (Upian). Sound identity composition: Jean-Benoît Dunckel. Sound identity voice: Bonnie El Bokeili. Program Director: Joël Ronez. Hosted by Audiomeans. Visit audiomeans.fr/politique-de-confidentialite (https://www.audiomeans.fr/politique-d...) for more information.