The Con: Kaitlyn's Baby

“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. With host, Hannah Ajala. Launching 23 January 2023. Audio for this trailer was updated on February 8, 2023.

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? Please note, this series contains adult themes and strong language. For transcripts of this series, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/love-janessa-transcripts-listen-1.6770736

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? Please note, this series contains adult themes and strong language. For transcripts of this series, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/love-janessa-transcripts-listen-1.6770736

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”. Please note, this series contains adult themes and strong language. For transcripts of this series, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/love-janessa-transcripts-listen-1.6770736

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? Please note, this series contains adult themes and strong language. For transcripts of this series, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/love-janessa-transcripts-listen-1.6770736

“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? Please note, this series contains adult themes and strong language. For transcripts of this series, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/love-janessa-transcripts-listen-1.6770736

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. Please note, this series contains adult themes and strong language. For transcripts of this series, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/love-janessa-transcripts-listen-1.6770736

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. Please note, this series contains adult themes and strong language. For transcripts of this series, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/love-janessa-transcripts-listen-1.6770736

Kaitlyn Braun, a young woman in crisis, took dozens of doulas through an escalating series of disasters—pregnancy loss, rape, and even a coma. They struggled to help her, grieve with her, and even save her life. And then the truth came out. The Con: Kaitlyn’s Baby is hosted by Sarah Treleaven, launching Jan. 14, 2025.The Con is a podcast exposing the art of deception from CBC and BBC World Service. Love, Janessa — the critically acclaimed catfishing quest – is now Season 1 of The Con.

Amy, a seasoned doula, is bedridden due to illness when she receives a call from fellow doula Katie to assist a client, Kaitlyn, over the phone. Kaitlyn is pregnant as a result of sexual assault and has just learned her baby will be stillborn. Over the next 10 days, Amy and Katie are swept into Kaitlyn's escalating crises — bleeding disorders, a hysterectomy, cancer, and seemingly predatory doctors — while supporting her emotionally, over the phone. Despite exhaustion and their own trauma, they unquestioningly focus on Kaitlyn's needs. However, when Amy’s girlfriend points out strange details in Kaitlyn's story, alarm bells ring. A dog barks during a call where Kaitlyn claims she’s in the hospital, and photos Kaitlyn sent of her stillborn are traced back to Wikipedia. Something isn't right.Content warning: This episode contains references to medical emergencies, including baby loss. We also deal with sexual assault and there is some strong language. 

Seanna is a new doula and excited to help her first client: Kaitlyn, 32 weeks pregnant, who reaches out online. Seanna goes to Kaitlyn’s home, assisting her through labour. But Seanna soon realizes that something doesn’t add up. Separately, another doula, Kate, also tends to Kaitlyn. Kaitlyn appears pregnant in person. Kate provides typical doula support — massages to help alleviate discomfort, and assisting her in and out of the shower. When Seanna convinces Kaitlyn it’s time to go to the hospital, Kaitlyn receives an ultrasound. The technician, to Seanna’s shock, reveals there’s no pregnancy; the only thing in her uterus is a contraceptive device. Seanna takes to social media to warn other doulas about Kaitlyn’s scam. When Kate gets the sense that something isn’t right, she searches social media and finds Seanna’s post about Kaitlyn’s fake pregnancy. The two connect and realise they had the same traumatic experience with Kaitlyn, and plan to expose Kaitlyn’s con to the wider birth worker community.Content warning: This episode contains strong language and references to sexual abuse, sexual behaviour and baby loss.

The doulas unite, determined to do what the police don’t seem to be doing: stopping Kaitlyn. Kate and Seanna connect with other doulas through social media, discovering they’ve all been duped by Kaitlyn. As they try to get Kaitlyn help, Seanna and her mentor Teri reach out to Kaitlyn’s family to find out more about her situation. They even get Kaitlyn on the phone, who admits she knows what she’s doing is wrong but says she doesn’t know how to stop. Meanwhile, more and more doulas come forward — from other parts of North America too — to share similar stories of manipulation by Kaitlyn. Amy, another doula, calls the police for a wellness check on Kaitlyn, only to learn that law enforcement were already aware of Kaitlyn’s actions. Content warning: This episode contains strong language, and references to baby loss and sexual behaviour.

After months of waiting and dozens more victims coming forward, the police take an interest in the case and start interviewing doulas. In March 2023, Kaitlyn Braun is arrested. She faces 52 counts of fraud, harassment and sexual assault. Aizia, shares stories with host Sarah Treleaven about growing up alongside Kaitlyn. Aizia talks about Kaitlyn’s kindness and generosity — and how she says it often came with strings attached. “When she needed you, she really needed you.” Aizia is shocked and horrified at Kaitlyn’s charges, but recognizes a familiar pattern, recounting what she says were Kaitlyn’s ongoing series of tragedies over the years, and her constant need for support and attention.Content warning: This episode contains strong language and references to baby loss and sexual behaviour.

We learn that Kaitlyn is a registered social worker and are told a story that breaks from her pattern of targeting caregivers. A mother tells Sarah that Kaitlyn used her position of trust and authority as a social worker to wrongly accuse a child. And Sarah speaks to a representative of the sector’s regulatory body about how they are handling her case. Meanwhile the justice system has been processing her charges and Kaitlyn enters her plea.

At  Kaitlyn Braun’s sentencing hearing, victim impact statements are shared. A court-ordered report lists concerns about Kaitlyn’s risk to reoffend. Would house arrest, probation and restricted internet access be enough? Unexpectedly, the judge says he needs more time before making a decision, urging the lawyers to come up with a better offer. Psychological experts weigh in on the complexity of cases like Kaitlyn’s, exploring questions about intent versus compulsion. Content warning: This episode contains strong language and references to baby loss and sexual behaviour.