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Behind every catfish, there's the bait.
Who is Janessa Brazil? Stolen images of an adult entertainment star are being used to con victims out of thousands of dollars, breaking hearts in the process. Journalist Hannah Ajala embarks on a quest to find Janessa, in this 8-part true crime series. And who is responsible for catfishing scams?
Love, Janessa is produced for the BBC World Service and CBC Podcasts by Antica Productions and Telltale Industries.
Introducing: Love, Janessa
"I love her. I just love her!" You meet someone online. It turns out many others think they have fallen for the same person. Introducing the search for the unwitting face of a digital con.
Episode 1: From My World To Yours
New Year's Eve. Simon receives a message from a beautiful stranger, named Shirley: "Greetings…from my world to yours." A digital flirtation begins. Then Shirley needs cash – fast. Shirley's photo is actually adult entertainment "cam girl" Janessa Brazil and many accounts are using her image to lure victims. Who is Janessa? Has she any idea that she's the bait in worldwide catfishing schemes?
Episode 2: The Big Fish
Roberto is in love. Without ever seeing her or talking to her, he thinks he falls deeply for Janessa. He sends thousands of dollars and begs her to leave the adult entertainment world. Everyone tells the Italian sustainable farmer that he's being scammed. Then why is Janessa coming to meet him at an airport in Europe?
Episode 3: Meet The Boys
Tracking down scammers – how and why do they do it? One tells host Hannah Ajala: "I always feel bad". Researchers estimate half of global romance scams originate in West Africa. In Ghana, there are the Sakawa Boys. The conning process can involve staying up late, chatting on the phone… building trust and deepening the connection - a bit like a real relationship. It takes time to fall "in love".
Episode 4: Helen of Troy
Where is Janessa Brazil? She seems to have vanished. Then, she turns up somewhere unexpected. Is that really Janessa on a radio show, with the wife of a scam victim? Meanwhile, Hannah discovers that justice is hard to come by. Can victims of romance fraud even get their money back?
Episode 5: Bubba
"I'm an offensive person." Can a shock jock radio talk show host help us find Janessa Brazil? Meet Bubba the Love Sponge Clem. Bubba and Janessa used to host his show together and they were even housemates. Did they talk about romance scammers using her images? And does he know where Janessa is now?
Episode 6: Love, Vanessa
Her real name is Vanessa. Her model name is Janessa Brazil. Where does Janessa end and Vanessa begin? Vanessa tells her story and reveals the human cost of being the bait in catfishing schemes around the world.
Episode 7: Fantasy Meets Reality
When the fish met the bait. Roberto has a broken heart and lost thousands of dollars to scammers. Vanessa had her images stolen by scammers and her life fell apart. An emotional finale.
