A former adult star's images have been used in online romance scams for over a decade, with victims losing thousands of dollars. The article explores the emotional toll this has taken on the victim, Vanessa, and the prevalence of catfishing scams.
For over a decade, stolen images of a former adult star have been used to scam victims out of thousands of dollars. Almost every day, Vanessa gets messages from men who believe they are in a relationship with her — some even think she's their wife. They are angry, confused and some want their money back — which they say they sent her to pay for daily expenses, hospital bills, or to help relatives. But it is all a lie. Vanessa doesn't know these men.
Instead, her pictures and videos — lifted from her past life in adult entertainment — have been used as the bait in online romance scams dating back to the mid-2000s. Victims had money extorted through fake online profiles using Vanessa's name or likeness, in a type of romance scam called catfishing. 'I started becoming depressed, and blaming myself — maybe if my pictures weren't out there, these men wouldn't be getting scammed,' Vanessa says. For about eight years, Vanessa worked as a 'camgirl' — streaming explicit material live on the internet via webcam. Because she was a bit shy when she started out, she decided to create an alter ego called Janessa Brazil. 'It's not really me, it's Janessa, so I won't be ashamed,' she thought. She picked the surname Brazil not only because it's where she was born, but also because it's one of the most popular search terms on the internet. It was a savvy decision. 'I hate that name,' she says now. 'But it helped me get popular quickly.
Romance Scam Catfishing Online Fraud Identity Theft Victim Impact
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