Stolen images of an adult entertainment star are being used to con victims out of thousands of dollars.
For over a decade, stolen images of a former adult star have been used to scam victims out of thousands of dollars. How does it feel to be the unwitting face of so many romance scams?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.
For a while, things were great. Vanessa enjoyed the relationship with her fans, who would pay up to $20 per minute to watch and interact with her. "I want to please them. I want to have fun with them. And they get hooked," she says. More victims came forward with similar stories, posting comments during her shows, and asking her to prove her identity. Scammers also popped up with weird requests for her - like putting on a red hat - images they then used to trick victims.
Vanessa thinks it's in many men's nature to want to take care of women, which explains why they send money to someone they haven't met.Roberto Marini, an Italian in his early 30s, was hooked by a fake Janessa. It began with a message on Facebook from a striking young woman calling herself Hannah, who complimented him on his start-up business - a sustainable farm on the island of Sardinia.
Their love felt real, so he wondered whether she did not want to reveal her true identity in case it complicated their relationship. He asked her a few more questions trying to find out if they had spoken before. This email exchange was the first and only contact they'd ever had. She says messages are often sent by criminal networks working in teams to groom victims, sharing images and information. She has even found an example of the manuals they use - practical how-to guides that also list excuses to avoid a phone call which might expose them.
When shown images of Janessa, Ofa said he had not used them himself, but understood why they would be a favourite among scammers. He also said that for a scam to work, he would need a variety of pictures showing the women in everyday situations - like cooking or at the gym.
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