Jackie | Betrayal Weekly

Summary

Betrayal: Weekly — “Jackie” (Aired September 18, 2025)

Episode Overview

In this episode of Betrayal Weekly, host Andrea Gunning shares the gripping story of Jackie Crenshaw, a trusted healthcare worker whose search for late-in-life companionship results in a devastating multimillion-dollar scam. Through Jackie’s account, the episode lays bare the sophisticated tactics of romance and financial fraud, examines the lasting toll on victims, and highlights how the illusion of trust can be weaponized against even the most savvy and self-assured individuals.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Jackie’s Background and Strengths

• Career and Community: Jackie is a veteran mammographer in New Haven, Connecticut, the first Black woman to manage the imaging center at Yale New Haven Hospital, and an advocate against racial disparities in breast cancer detection.
  • [04:00] “Statistically, African American women are diagnosed later as the breast cancer has progressed. I am the outreach coordinator. So I teach people how to examine their breasts… We go to beauty shops and I teach breast cancer prevention.” — Jackie Crenshaw
• Family: Though she never had children of her own, Jackie dedicated her life to supporting a large extended family.
  • [05:18] “I probably have 50, 60 nieces and great nieces and nephews. So a lot of checks to college. You name it, I did it.” — Jackie Crenshaw

2. Jackie’s Independence and Readiness for Connection

• Personal Fulfillment: By her late 50s, Jackie was financially independent and emotionally fulfilled, content with her single life but open to companionship.
  • [06:09] “I had everything I needed. I owned my condo, I had a nice car, good job… I had everything I wanted as far as material things.” — Jackie Crenshaw
• Online Dating: A friend encourages Jackie to try a dating site for African Americans for her first foray into online matchmaking.

3. The Romance Begins: Brandon’s Arrival

• Charming and Strategic: Brandon—purportedly a construction worker and widower with two sons—courts Jackie across texts and regular phone calls.
  • [08:03] “Hi Jacqueline, my name is Brandon and you’re beautiful, blah, blah, blah.” — Jackie Crenshaw (reading Brandon’s first message)
  • [09:13] “He’s like, oh, you know, I just went back to work two years after losing my wife.” — Jackie Crenshaw
• Emotional Investment: Brandon shares intimate stories, claims a tragic past, and quickly establishes emotional rituals like nightly prayers.
  • [14:32] “I started praying not like I ever had before.” — Jackie Crenshaw

4. Love Bombing and Gifts

• Gifts and Gestures: Jackie is wooed with flowers, food deliveries, and personalized presents such as a necklace with both of their photos.
  • [11:04] “It was a bouquet of flowers and balloons. It made her smile.” — Andrea Gunning
  • [20:04] “He even sent me a necklace that had my picture on one side and his on the other.” — Jackie Crenshaw
• Building Trust: These repeated small gestures, alongside increasing emotional intimacy, disarm Jackie’s suspicions.

5. Financial Manipulation: The “Investment Opportunity”

• Crypto Introduction: Brandon introduces Jackie to cryptocurrency investments via a “trusted friend” (Mike), promising sky-high returns and initial genuine-seeming profits.
  • [21:03] “He said, ‘Oh, have you heard of crypto?’ I said, ‘Eh, I’ve heard about it…’” — Jackie Crenshaw
  • [22:31] “This didn’t make sense. No returns could be that high …” — Andrea Gunning
• Upping the Stakes: After initial “success,” Jackie invests more, cashing out her retirement and going all-in.
  • [26:17] “She cashed out one of her retirement accounts, which was 419,000 after taxes.” — Andrea Gunning

6. The Grand Illusion: Parties and the "Life Together"

• Blank Check Promise: Brandon offers a "blank check" for Jackie’s 60th birthday party, transferring thousands to her account and offering to pay for extravagant elements.
  • [24:13] “And I was like, well, what’s the budget? He says, blank check. Blank check.” — Jackie Crenshaw
• Plans for the Future: They discuss relocating, real estate, and fostering a family life.

7. Red Flags and the Tipping Point

• Suspicious Payments and Unfamiliar Checks: A $100,000 check arrives from a stranger, prompting Jackie’s friend to urge caution.
• Police Alert: An anonymous call leads to a police investigation, confirming Jackie is being targeted in a scam.
  • [30:06] “He says, this Jacqueline Crenshaw? I say, yes. He said, ‘Jacqueline, we got a call, an anonymous call from a gentleman with a thick Indian accent stating you were being scammed and they felt sorry for you.’” — Jackie Crenshaw

8. The Confrontation and Unraveling

• Website Locks and Realization: Jackie can’t access her “investment” account; the reality crashes down.
  • [36:06] “My head exploded. Like I said, oh, my God, oh my God, oh my God…” — Jackie Crenshaw
• Attempted Damage Control: Despite police requests, she can’t continue the charade with Brandon and confronts him. He disappears, and fraudulent credit applications start to proliferate.

9. Scope of the Scam Revealed

• International Scale: Police track crypto wallets to Shanghai and Nigeria; Jackie's scam is linked to a global operation.
  • [41:04] “The state trooper traced two of the crypto wallets, went to Shanghai, one to Nigeria.” — Jackie Crenshaw
• Use of Stolen Identities: The real "Brandon" is identified as an Australian construction worker whose image was used without his knowledge.

10. Aftermath: Emotional and Financial Ruin

• Financial Devastation: Jackie estimates losses at over a million dollars, including drained retirement, fraudulent loans, and a ruined credit score.
  • [45:24] “It’s definitely over a million.” — Jackie Crenshaw
• Personal Toll: Jackie files for bankruptcy, faces foreclosure, and must drastically change her lifestyle.
  • [47:04] “I got a tax bill from the IRS for the 403B. I owe 55,056 now, and I’ll have to make a payment plan.” — Jackie Crenshaw
• Resilience and Advocacy: Though devastated, Jackie finds purpose in speaking out, becoming an AARP spotlight speaker and advocating for scam prevention.
  • [49:42] “I was a spotlight speaker for April, and one woman, you know, confessed that she was scammed. And she's like, you know, how do you move on? I said, one day at a time.” — Jackie Crenshaw

11. Reflecting on Vulnerability and Hope

• Emotional Manipulation: Jackie underscores that beneath all her independence and savvy, her human need for connection was exploited.
  • [44:14] “It’s a psychological thing where I feel like I got softened by that partner being just that great and supportive … But I am human. And I think that human factor got in…” — Jackie Crenshaw
• Core Message: Her story is a call for empathy, vigilance, and open discussion, especially for older adults who are frequent targets of such sophisticated scams.
  • [51:11] “I have to tell myself every day. I'm a victim. Whoever is on these websites, scamming people, their entire job is to distance me with my money. And I know just talking to people, they are plagued with fear and embarrassment. And that fight in me said, if you go hide and you don't tell your story and you know you're embarrassed, you're not going to help anyone.” — Jackie Crenshaw

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Being Ready for Love:
  • “I didn’t feel like I was desperate or lonely or any of those things, but I was ready for some companionship.” – Jackie Crenshaw [06:57]
• On Early Suspicion:
  • “This didn’t make sense. No returns could be that high. This must be someone else’s money.” — Andrea Gunning [22:35]
• Confronting Financial Devastation:
  • “My credit went from 790 to now 500. I’ve never ever had bad credit. I never missed a payment on anything. But now having to see what bad credit does.” — Jackie Crenshaw [46:19]
• On Enduring:
  • “I don’t let it consume me because that would paralyze me. I’m like, I gotta go to work … There’s a ignition in me that is gonna prevail with this.” — Jackie Crenshaw [48:27]
• On the Power of Shame:
  • “They are plagued with fear and embarrassment. And that fight in me said, if you go hide and you don’t tell your story and you know you’re embarrassed, you’re not going to help anyone.” — Jackie Crenshaw [51:11]

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Important Timestamps by Segment

| Time | Segment Highlight | |----------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 03:07 | Scam traces to overseas crypto and computer warehouses | | 04:00 | Jackie’s career, values, and outreach about breast cancer disparities | | 09:13 | Introduction of Brandon as a widower, beginning emotional intimacy | | 11:04 | First gifts and acts of care by Brandon | | 14:32 | Spiritual connection, nightly prayers | | 20:04 | Personalized gifts: Photo necklace | | 22:31 | Jackie invests the first $40,000 | | 26:17 | Jackie goes “all-in” with $419,000 retirement account | | 28:02 | Arrival of suspicious $100,000 check | | 30:06 | Police tipoff: Anonymous call reveals scam | | 36:06 | Jackie realizes she’s been scammed; account access revoked | | 41:04 | International reach of the scam revealed by police | | 45:24 | Jackie tallies her losses: over a million dollars | | 46:19 | Bankruptcy, ruined credit, and anxiety about the future | | 48:27 | Jackie shares her mindset for resilience | | 49:42 | Advocacy work with AARP; providing support to other victims | | 51:11 | Jackie reflects on the importance of breaking silence and helping others|

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Closing Thoughts

This episode is a powerful and sobering reminder of how sophisticated and emotionally manipulative romance scams have become, targeting even those with formidable independence and life experience. Jackie’s willingness to share her ordeal is both a warning and an encouragement for listeners to stay vigilant, cultivate open conversations about financial vulnerability, and offer support to those affected—no matter how invulnerable they may appear.

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Betrayal Weekly continues to deliver heartfelt, complex narratives that illuminate both the devastation and the resilience found in stories of broken trust.

Transcript

[Andrea Gunning]

This is an iHeart podcast.

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[Jackie Crenshaw]

Goodbye.

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[Andrea Gunning]

Learn [e-mail] hey Betrayal fans, I have exciting news to share. Season 3 of Betrayal is now a docuseries on Hulu. It's the gripping story of Stacy Tyler and the doctor who betrayed them. See the voices you've come to know in Betrayal under his eye streaming now on Hulu.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

The state trooper traced two of the wallets, one to Shanghai, one to Nigeria. And she said the building was as big as a casino, full of tables and computers and people scamming.

[Andrea Gunning]

I'm Andrea Gunning, and this is Betrayal, a show about the people we trust the most and the deceptions that change everything.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

I've always been an advocate for the underdog. I would give anything to help people, and I always stick up for people as well.

[Andrea Gunning]

That's Jackie Crenshaw. She's a mammographer in New Haven, Connecticut. That means she administers breast cancer screenings, and she's been doing that for over 30 years. She was the first black woman to manage the imaging center at Yale New Haven Hospital.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

And when I go to, like, conferences around the country, they might be like, oh, I've heard your name.

[Andrea Gunning]

It's more than a career for her. She's passionate about addressing racial disparities in breast cancer detection.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

Statistically, African American women are diagnosed later as the breast cancer has progressed. I am the outreach coordinator. So I teach people how to examine their breasts. Some people just do well when they see someone like themselves. I actually do. They're called beauty shop chats. So we go to beauty shops and I teach breast cancer prevention.

[Andrea Gunning]

She's the one calling her four older sisters, checking to see if they've had their annual breast exam.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

I have to say I'm not bossy, but I've always taken the lead, even as the fifth of five girls. A rainy day. Back then there was no computers or any of that stuff, so I was the teacher.

[Andrea Gunning]

As the youngest, Jackie never had kids.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

Of her own, but I have raised many. I probably have 50, 60 nieces and great nieces and nephews. So a lot of checks to college. You name it, I did it.

[Andrea Gunning]

She always put her career and her friendships over romantic relationships.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

The last serious relationship I had was about 15 years ago. It was a 10 year relationship.

[Andrea Gunning]

She ended it because he seemed threatened by her independence. Her whole life Jackie's been the breadwinner and she's had a hard time finding a partner who was comfortable with that.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

Most of my people around me would say, oh, people are intimidated by you because of my career and, you know, wit and everything.

[Andrea Gunning]

And Jackie was comfortable on her own at that time.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

Say In May of 2023, I had everything I needed. I owned my condo, I had a nice car, good job. I basically was at a place where I could have gotten anything I wanted and I had everything I wanted as far as material things.

[Andrea Gunning]

Around that time, Jackie started thinking about what she wanted the last chapter of her life to look like she'd been saving for retirement for decades.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

I would put extra away, just putting away a nice amount every two weeks and stacking things up. I thought I would, you know, retire. First I thought about 62 and then I'm like, Nah, 65.

[Andrea Gunning]

She wanted to travel and take it slow in retirement. And the more she thought about it.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

She realized I didn't feel like I was desperate or lonely or any of those things, but I was ready for some companionship.

[Andrea Gunning]

She'd never been on social media, much less on a dating app.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

And then a friend of mine suggested this website which specializes in African American dating.

[Andrea Gunning]

So Jackie gave herself a pep talk.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

I was like, okay, Jack, maybe try this site. Because again, she helped me set up my profile because I didn't know anything.

[Andrea Gunning]

She picked her photos and set her preferences for a potential match. She wanted someone self sufficient, someone who had their own thing going. But she also wanted someone fun to experience the next stage of her life with.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

Someone who like to take care of theirselves. You know, they didn't have to be a muscle head or anything like that. And someone who liked to travel.

[Andrea Gunning]

Within a few days she got a match. That piqued her interest. She opened his message.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

Hi Jacqueline, my name is Brandon and you're beautiful, blah, blah, blah.

[Andrea Gunning]

When she looked at his photos, one thing immediately stood out.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

The eyes. These blue eyes.

[Andrea Gunning]

Brandon worked in construction and he looked like a family man.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

There's pictures of him with the kids, pictures of him at work.

[Andrea Gunning]

Brandon was also a little cheeky. She hovered over one photo in particular.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

It's like a picture, beautiful face and you could like see his bum a little bit just laying on the bed. I was like, oh my God, you showing your assets.

[Andrea Gunning]

His messages kept coming the first few times.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

It might have been twice a day or something like that, but it became very regular.

[Andrea Gunning]

Brandon Wanted to start talking on the phone. So a few days later, he gave her a call.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

He didn't have a deep, deep voice, but it was just very calm and soft spoken.

[Andrea Gunning]

They started talking on the phone almost every night, sharing their life stories.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

He's like, oh, you know, I just went back to work two years after losing my wife.

[Andrea Gunning]

His wife had died in a car accident right at the beginning of COVID leaving him as a single parent to their two sons. He had kids later in life after starting a successful career. Now Brandon was 50 and ready to date again. He trusted Jackie with really personal challenges.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

He told me one of his sons had like stopped talking when the wife died. But he said, oh, but we'll have enough money to, you know, get him special help and all these different things.

[Andrea Gunning]

Brandon lived in New York City, a two and a half hour drive from New Haven. And after a few weeks of talking, they set a date to meet in Connecticut.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

He made reservations at a really nice seafood restaurant, which I'm like, how does he know?

[Andrea Gunning]

He'd clearly done his research and picked a place that would really impress. It would be his first date after his wife's death. So this was a big deal. And he knew Jackie was nervous too. So he offered to get her a gift in advance. A new date night outfit, something she would feel beautiful in. He sent her a few hundred dollars and she got an expensive dress. But as the date approached, Jack, Jackie started to get cold feet. So she asked her older sister for advice.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

She's like, no, don't go, you're going to get kidnapped or something. So I didn't go to the restaurant.

[Andrea Gunning]

She sent him a text to let him know. Brandon said he understood. They were both new to online dating. He could see why she'd be cautious. So they decided to slow things down and get to know each other more. Brandon started wooing her from afar.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

So he's like, oh, what's your address? I'm going to send you something. And he did.

[Andrea Gunning]

It was a bouquet of flowers and balloons. It made her smile. And from there he started sending little.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

Deliveries, like if I got home late and, you know, I worked a 10 to 12 hour day or something like that. And I'm like, I'm just going to eat both cereal, then did beef food delivered. And that was like every single weekend.

[Andrea Gunning]

He asked about her favorite restaurants. Whenever she had a long day, he started sending her food that would be waiting for her at her front door.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

Oh my God, he must really care about me that he was feeding me and just looking out for me.

[Andrea Gunning]

Whenever he saw an opportunity to make her feel special, he took it.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

Oh, there were love songs, poems, you know, very touching. And it's like, oh, I haven't had this in a while.

[Andrea Gunning]

They looked at the calendar to see if there was another weekend they could meet in person. A redo of their first date when Jackie got spooked. But Brandon traveled a lot for work. If he was on a work contract, he could be tied up for weeks, if not months. Plus, being a single dad made it even more difficult to find time. But he wanted Jackie to know he was serious about her.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

He's like, I feel like we have a connection and we should get off the site. That's when we really started talking quite a bit, like maybe three, four times a day. It felt good.

[Andrea Gunning]

After that, they were official.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

He was the best, like, perfect boyfriend that you could think of. He just kept saying, I'm here for you. I'm going to take care of you.

[Andrea Gunning]

Jackie told her friends and family about Brandon.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

They were almost relieved. I think they were generally happy for me, you know, oh, she's found somebody, finally.

[Andrea Gunning]

He was a good match. Someone who grounded her when she got overwhelmed.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

He'd always say to me, calm down, calm down, calm down.

[Andrea Gunning]

A few months in, they started saying those three words. He said it first, but she felt it too. Brandon opened up more about his two sons. The loss of their mother caused both the kids to shut down. It sounded like the whole family was just coming out of a very dark period.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

He was like, oh, I thought about taking my own life, you know, And I'm like, you gotta leave these kids. With no parents.

[Andrea Gunning]

On the phone at night, Brandon would sometimes cry. Jackie had helped her siblings raise their kids, and she knew how exhausting it could be to be a single parent. Brandon also traveled for work, which meant that the kids mostly stayed with a nanny.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

He'd just be like, can't wait to get back with the boys after this job.

[Andrea Gunning]

Faith had been a huge part of Brandon's life and had helped him through the grieving process. So on the phone one night, Brandon asked if they could pray together. It became something they did every night.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

And it was like, oh, pray that the kids and the this and that. And it's just, now it's your turn. Now it's my turn, you know, back and forth.

[Andrea Gunning]

Jackie's a spiritual person, but praying together with a partner was new to her. It took her spiritual practice to another level.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

I started praying not like I ever had before.

[Andrea Gunning]

Jackie was about to turn 60 and for the first time in her life she had a true partner, someone who would take care of her.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

All that I've given to my community and taking care of everyone, I said, oh, it's finally my turn for someone to take care of me. Like God's answer my prayers.

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[Sephora Advertiser]

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[Jackie Crenshaw]

Goodbye.

[Andrea Gunning]

This is Andrea Gunning from Betrayal. I want to take a moment to talk about something that impacts how we feel every day. Our gut health. If you've been dealing with sluggish digestion, constant fatigue, brain fog, trouble losing weight or poor sleep, your gut may need some extra care. Your gut plays a vital role in your overall well being because scientists now say it's the foundation of your vitality and long term health. That's where Bioma comes in. This novel supplement has everything you need for a healthy and thriving gut. With every serving you get prebiotics, probiotics and postbiotics that are science backed and third party tested so you can enjoy comfortable digestion, boundless energy, better focus and restful sleep, and even smoother weight management. When following A healthy lifestyle. Just take two tiny bioma capsules each morning before breakfast and start feeling your best. Visit Bioma Health and use code betrial to get 15% off your first order. That's Bioma Health. Code betrial for 15% off. I used to think home security was just an alarm that goes off after a break in. Scaring the intruder off and maybe getting a neighbor's attention if you're lucky. But that's reactive. By the time someone's inside your home, it's already too late. Your feeling of safety is gone. That's why I use Simplisafe. Real security should stop a crime before it even starts. And Simplisafe does exactly that. I love Simplisafe because their system gives me total peace of mind knowing my home is protected 24 7. Their smart AI powered cameras can spot threats outside your home and alert Simplisafe's professional monitoring agents instantly. Those agents jump into action and can use two way audio to confront the person, trigger sirens and spotlights to scare them off, and even request police dispatch, all while the intruder is still outside. That's not just an alarm, that's real proactive protection. Join the more than 4 million Americans who trust Simplisafe every day, including me. With a 60 day money back guarantee and no long term contracts, you've got nothing to lose. Visit simplisafe.com betrayal to claim 50% off a new system. That's simplisafe.com betrayal. There's no safe like Simplisafe. Jackie met her new boyfriend, Brandon Miller on a dating site for black singles. Within a few months, he was saying things to her like, oh, you seem.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

Like someone I want to settle down with. You're the one. I want you to raise my kids. We're going to be together. I used to call Mr. Miller. I'd be like, hey, Mr. Miller.

[Andrea Gunning]

And he had his own pet names for her.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

He would always say, queen. My queen baby, you know, Mrs. Miller. Yeah, like perfect.

[Andrea Gunning]

It was easy to envision a future together. She wasn't intimidated by the idea of helping him raise his sons.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

I've been taking care of children my entire adult life. So it wasn't like, oh my God, I'd be overwhelmed by children at my age. How are you going to meet someone who does not have children?

[Andrea Gunning]

Plus, he could afford a full time nanny for the kids. And he continued to send Jackie gifts.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

He even sent me a necklace that had my picture on one side and his on the other.

[Andrea Gunning]

When she would send him pictures of her Day, he noticed she wasn't wearing the necklace.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

He's like, oh, you're not wearing the necklace. I said, no, I'm not going to wear it until you get here.

[Andrea Gunning]

They hadn't met in person yet, but it was always just around the corner. The next time he finished a work contract and had time available, he promised to come visit her.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

I'm gonna come. I'm gonna see you. We're gonna be together.

[Andrea Gunning]

One of Brandon's side hobbies was investing. He had invested the payout from his wife's life insurance, which helped him to stay afloat during COVID He used that.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

Money to invest and get all this money to be able to invest more and just keep investing. Cause that's all he had to do during COVID with the kids at home, was learning all about investing, and he.

[Andrea Gunning]

Wanted to help Jackie learn how to do the same.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

He said, oh, have you heard of crypto? I said, eh, I've heard about it, but most people, you know, don't like it. And he's like, oh, I've really got to read up on it. And, you know, I know a lot about it. Let me know if you think you want to invest.

[Andrea Gunning]

He sent her screenshots of his returns.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

So then he starts to send me these statements, which she had, I think, at that time, I don't know, invested 2 million and had 4 million.

[Andrea Gunning]

Jackie thought about her own accounts and what it would mean to double that number. Doubling her retirement fund would mean being able to travel more. Maybe she could buy a vacation home and bring her family there too.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

I'm like, I really want to retire. All right, so, okay, I'm gonna do it.

[Andrea Gunning]

She decided to start small with $40,000 from her 401k. The account would be in her name, and she would be the only one with access to it. But Brandon would help her set it up. He put her in touch with a friend of his who could broker the deal.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

This second person, whose name is Mike, he has, like an English accent. He calls me, and he's gonna help me set up the account, show me how to buy bitcoin.

[Andrea Gunning]

So Jackie invested $40,000. It was pretty easy. And the next month they sent me.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

A statement, and I was like, what is this? It's $100,000. $100 and something.

[Andrea Gunning]

This didn't make sense. No returns could be that high. This must be someone else's money. And that meant someone else had access to her account. She called Brandon, and I said to.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

Him, you told me nobody would have access. And I even have a email that I sent and I said, I want my money back because I was told that this was only going to be my account. He said, no, no, no. I wanted to put this in so you could grow your money faster.

[Andrea Gunning]

Brandon had invested some of his own funds as a gift to increase her returns. And he also wanted to open up a shared account, one where they could both invest in their future.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

So then he's like, you know, I'm going to send you $100,000, and we'll invest it, you know, more.

[Andrea Gunning]

They started painting the picture of what their life together could look like, what this money could buy them. They also started planning for the moment they'd finally meet in person.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

So the holidays come, and he's not able to come again. But it's like, look, I'm going to make this up to you. Your 60th birthday is coming. And I said, well, you know, I had a 50th birthday party on a yacht.

[Andrea Gunning]

If a yacht is what she wanted, Brandon could make it happen. He offered to pay for Jackie's 60th birthday party. He wanted it to be the celebration of a lifetime because she deserved it. This party was especially meaningful because Brandon would be there to meet all of Jackie's family and friends.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

And I was like, well, what's the budget? He says, blank check. Blank check.

[Andrea Gunning]

Blank check is the kind of phrase that does something to your body. She'd never been worried about money, but this was the first time in her life she'd gotten to play with money.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

Now I know how to plan a party. So I find this boat, I start making all these plans. I mean, I had a photo booth, cigar bar, sparkles, DJ, everything you could think of to the tune of 80 grand. Now, if I was retiring, there's no way in the hell I would have paid that much for a party. My other party, 10 years before, it might have been 20,000, but, you know, my birthday's in July, and I always want to give my friends and family an experience that they would never have.

[Andrea Gunning]

When it came time for Brandon to.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

Pay, he sends 16,000 back my way through wire transfer to my account. I get a cashier's check, and I pay the vendors.

[Andrea Gunning]

Her confidence in him and their relationship started to deepen. Whenever he said he would do something, he was good for it. When Jackie's niece joined the party planning, Brandon was happy to connect with her.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

My niece and I went to see the boat, and he called, and he was talking to myself and my niece.

[Andrea Gunning]

Plus, Jackie was already seeing Returns from her initial investment. So she decided to invest more with Brandon's broker.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

And I showed several people and I was like, they're like, oh, wow, you're making all this money.

[Andrea Gunning]

That's when Jackie got a letter about a shareholder opportunity. It was from one of Brandon's connections in the finance world.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

This letter is addressed to both of us.

[Andrea Gunning]

It was an opportunity to get in on the ground floor of a new crypto company.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

It was a million dollar buy in.

[Andrea Gunning]

Brandon agreed to split it with her. At this point, Jackie was all in. She cashed out one of her retirement.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

Accounts, which was 419,000 after taxes.

[Andrea Gunning]

And she made the transfer bought bitcoin.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

Transfer to the wallet.

[Andrea Gunning]

Their party was still a few months away. The relationship felt strong and the returns on their investment were even stronger.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

By now, I think he has like 10 million in his gout and I think mine may have reached 2 million.

[Andrea Gunning]

Jackie was counting down the days until her party. She'd booked the vendors and sent out the invites.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

So all the build up for my 60th birthday party was going to be. Everyone was so excited to meet Brandon. They were going to meet Brandon and the kids. And this is a person who I was going to spend my life with. And I think everyone was knowing I deserved a partner to spend the rest of my life with, knowing how I've dedicated my life to my family and all my co workers and the hospital. I've been loyalty to a fault. So they were really, you know, looking forward to it.

[Andrea Gunning]

Brandon planned to come a few days in advance to finally meet her and help with last minute preparations. And in the weeks leading up to it, they were constantly in touch.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

So we're planning a party. I'm buying dresses and sending in pictures. Oh, that's beautiful. You're gonna look beautiful.

[Andrea Gunning]

That blank check Brandon mentioned, he followed through. Jackie got a check for $100,000.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

So eventually the check did come. And I'm like I told my girlfriend.

[Andrea Gunning]

Jackie's friend was excited for her, but she was also a little skeptical. $100,000 was a huge amount of money to receive in the mail. And there was something else about this check that didn't seem right. Brandon's name wasn't on it. Instead, it was a woman's name. A woman Jackie had never heard of. When she asked Brandon about it, he.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

Told me that she was one of his clients and she owed him money. I'm like, all right.

[Andrea Gunning]

But Jackie's friend wasn't convinced. She encouraged Jackie to go to the police to make sure the Check was safe to cash.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

I go to the police and I say, I got this check. I don't know if it's fraud or it's fake or whatever, but they just blew me off, took down my statement and just said, oh, see if it clears.

[Andrea Gunning]

The check cleared. If the cops weren't worried about it, Jackie wasn't either. Brandon had one more surprise. The day after the party. He wanted to take her on a trip.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

We were going to Santorini.

[Andrea Gunning]

That trip would be the beginning of their life together, finally in the same place.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

So he wanted to move to Connecticut. I was like, you know, the weather's like here. And he's like, yep. He, you know, had been in New York and Virginia. And that's when he started sending me along with these statements, he's sending me real estate listings of million dollar homes in affluent parts of Connecticut.

[Andrea Gunning]

They were strategizing about which town and neighborhood would be best for his kids.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

He's like, oh, what are the schools like around there? And I'm telling them about the country day schools and where they are.

[Andrea Gunning]

The date of the party was growing closer. Brandon was finishing up a work contract across the country.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

And he's still, he's coming, he's coming, he's coming. He's wrapping up the job in California.

[Andrea Gunning]

About a week before the party, I.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

Get a call on my cell phone and I says, east Haven police. I'm like, oh, what the hell do they want? She picked up and it's a Detective Tran. He says, this Jacqueline Crenshaw. I say, yes. He said, jacqueline, we got a call, an anonymous call from a gentleman with a thick Indian accent stating you were being scammed and they felt sorry for.

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[Andrea Gunning]

Goodbye this is Andrea Gunning from Betrayal. I want to take a moment to talk about something that impacts how we feel every day. Our gut health. If you've been dealing with sluggish digestion, constant fatigue, brain fog, trouble losing weight or poor sleep, your gut may need some extra care. Your gut plays a vital role in your overall well being because scientists now say it's the foundation of your vitality and long term health. That's where Bioma comes in. This novel supplement has everything you need for a healthy and thriving gut. With every serving you get prebiotics, probiotics and postbiotics that are science backed and third party tested so you can enjoy comfortable digestion, boundless energy, better focus and restful sleep, and even smoother weight management when following a healthy lifestyle, just take two tiny Bioma capsules each morning before breakfast and start feeling your best. Visit Byoma Health and use code BETRIAL to get 15% off your first order. That's Byoma Health code BETRIAL for 15% off. Everyone's talking about weight loss meds, but these days fewer people are talking about how hard they are to access. But hers is changing that with transparent pricing, expert care and a personalized plan that's actually built in price for where you're at. Weight loss by hers is realistic, not restrictive. HERS provides access to affordable weight loss plans built around oral medication kits and GLP1 injectable options. Oral medication kits start at just $69 per month for a 10 month plan when paid up front. If prescribed, you get medication as part of a doctor developed weight loss program, complete with ongoing care, check ins, dosage and medication adjustments and access to 24. 7 online support at no additional costs, no hidden fees and no membership fees. So if you've been struggling with your weight loss journey, it's time you find the best option that works for you through hers. Whether you want to lose weight, grow thicker, fuller hair or find relief for anxiety, hers has got you covered. Visit forhers.combetrayal to get a personalized, affordable plan that gets you. That's f o R-H-E-R-S.com betrayal fourhers.com betrayal Weight loss by hers is not available everywhere. Compounded products are not approved or reviewed for safety, effectiveness or quality by the fda. Prescription required. See website for full details, important safety information and restrictions. Actual price depends on product and plan. Purchased after planning a blank check. 60th birthday party. Scheduling a trip to Santorini and going in on million dollar investments. Jackie still hadn't met Brandon. That's when she got a call from a detective.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

He says, is this Jacqueline Crenshaw? I say, yes. He said, jacqueline, we got a call, an anonymous call, call from a gentleman with a thick Indian accent stating you were being scammed and they felt sorry for you. I think I like blanked out, maybe had a little seizure or just the gut punch. He was like, hello? I said. He said, are you being scammed? And I said, no, like very doubtful, like, oh. So I hung up immediately.

[Andrea Gunning]

Jackie tried to sign into her online account where she managed all of her investments, but the website was down. She was locked out. In that moment, everything clicked for Jackie. The doubts she pushed away about Brandon, about that hundred thousand dollar check. She wasn't ready to admit it out loud, but she knew the truth.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

My head exploded. Like I said, oh, my God, oh my God, oh my God, oh my God. I sat for probably two hours, numb, very numb, thinking, oh my God, oh my God, oh my God, oh my God. And just trying to tally up all the losses.

[Andrea Gunning]

The loss was massive. She'd cashed out the all, all of her retirement accounts. Hundreds of thousands. She'd even borrowed against the value of her home. While she was reeling, she knew one thing. She couldn't let Brandon know that she had been tipped off.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

So the next day, Brandon called. I said, oh, I'm not feeling well, you know, I've got a sinus headache. And I didn't say anything. I just was trying to figure out what the hell I was, was going to do.

[Andrea Gunning]

She went to the police again. This time it wasn't a suspicion. She knew something was wrong and she wanted her money back.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

I get an appointment with the state police and he's like, you know, try to bring you all the information you can.

[Andrea Gunning]

And Jackie had the receipts, thousands of them. She went to Geek Squad Best Buy to transfer all of her text messages and emails with Brandon to a hard drive.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

It took them six hours. I think there has to be over 10,000, I don't know, 20,000 text messages and all this stuff. I made copies and I have a suitcase full of these text messages. So I went dramatically to the state police dragging a suitcase in this C drive.

[Andrea Gunning]

The investigation would take some time and the cops wanted to get as much out of Brandon as they could.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

When I went to the state police, they tried to get me to still talk to him, but I, I just couldn't fake it any longer.

[Andrea Gunning]

She needed to confront Brandon about all the money he had stolen from her.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

I said, you ruined my life, you know, he denied it. He's like, oh, where is this coming from? And I was like, I can't even believe this. And he just like, no, let me talk to my broker. I'm going to get this straightened out.

[Andrea Gunning]

This confrontation wouldn't be without consequence.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

I was getting all these rejection letters from credit unions, Christian credit unions, credit card companies all over. I'm like, what is this? I did not apply for any of this.

[Andrea Gunning]

Since Brandon knew Jackie was onto him, he made a last ditch effort to squeeze her for all she was worth. Suddenly, Jackie was getting notifications from banks and credit card companies she'd never heard of.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

How could I owe Citibank $100,000 when my limit was 40,000 on my credit report? There is an account from Fifth Third Bank. I do not have have at the Fifth Third account. So if that account was open at that bank, they may have used checks to make payments to my MasterCard, which were fake checks anyway, but they paid them.

[Andrea Gunning]

After that, Brandon went mia. He disappeared from Jackie's life entirely. And the police investigation uncovered that the real person in Brandon's photos was a gentleman from Australia. The guy in the pictures had no idea who Jackie was. He lived in Australia, worked in construction, and unbeknownst to him, someone somewhere had been stealing his photos straight from his public social media profiles. Jackie was reeling because she'd spoken to Brandon's two kids on the phone. All of a sudden she realized those must have been adults disguising their voices and playing the part of children.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

He was controlling it all because he was like texting me at the same time, I guess, acting like he was the kids.

[Andrea Gunning]

It was so intricate. There was no way Brandon could have done this alone. The police had been investigating her case and they came back with a few answers.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

The state trooper traced two of the crypto wallets, went to Shanghai, one to Nigeria.

[Andrea Gunning]

The investigation led the police across the world to warehouses full of computers.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

And the police actually investigatively had traveled to Thailand and Cambodia and said the building was as big as a casino, full of tables and computers and people scamming. So I stepped into something huge. I think it is international, and I have no idea where this person is.

[Andrea Gunning]

As far as that hundred thousand dollar check Jackie got in the mail, the police went back to check it out. They found out that it was sent from a woman in Florida who was another victim of this complex scam.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

I find out later from the state police that she sent two people $100,000 and she thought I was an investor. That's what she was told.

[Andrea Gunning]

One thing she doesn't have the answer to is who called to tip off the police. She wonders if it was Brandon himself, disguising his voice, or someone else who she'd never met.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

My girlfriend thinks that maybe it was him. And she's like, I think he had feelings for you. And I think somebody probably. If you were talking to me for a year, you probably get feelings for me too.

[Andrea Gunning]

While detectives chased wallets across borders, Jackie had to live in the wreckage at home. There was still the question of her party, which was supposed to be the following week.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

Why would I cancel if we've already I. Someone's invested, like, 72 grand.

[Andrea Gunning]

She'd already paid for the party, so she might as well enjoy it.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

It was a white party. It was open bar. It was unbelievable. Some people will never experience this again in their life. You know, it was a beautiful day. So, you know, we're all just on this 60th birthday party having a great time.

[Andrea Gunning]

But the whole party was built on an illusion. And Jackie was one of the only ones that day who knew the truth. It was hard enough for Jackie to go through with the party. She couldn't bring herself to tell her friends and family what really happened.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

So we go on, the party goes on without a hitch. You know, they're like, oh, where's the o? Couldn't. You know, couldn't make it because I was kind of. It was kind of dark, and I'm going through with the state police and the investigation.

[Andrea Gunning]

But after the party, it was time to face the music.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

I'm starting to have to deal with what is happening now with all these finances. It seemed like mission impossible with how I was trying to deal with this.

[Andrea Gunning]

She had to tell her family and friends what happened.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

I tell my niece and I tell my best friend. If my godmother, who's in her 80s. I thought she was gonna have, like, a heart attack. She was so heartbroken that someone would.

[Andrea Gunning]

Do this to me, even Jackie was having a hard time believing it. Everything about Brandon felt so real. They prayed together. He sent her meals multiple times a week. He really knew her. It made Jackie question the things she knew to be true about herself.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

I thought I was like a sharper tack in the box. It seems ridiculous because there was some of my friends are like, jack, come on. Can't show his face. This is a scam. Only maybe twice I heard this is a scam.

[Andrea Gunning]

When she reflects on how this happened.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

It'S a psychological thing where I feel like I got softened by that partner being just that great and supportive. And I'm so proud of you and da da, da, this and that. But I am human. And I think that human factor got in and he was able to, whether you say manipulate me or just have me trust him.

[Andrea Gunning]

The emotional manipulation is the thing that she struggles to make sense of. She wasn't desperate for a partner. She was just open to connection. And Brandon, whoever he was, took advantage of that. It was enough of an opening for this scam to work.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

He really sold me, like, yep, we're going to be together. So I think just that vulnerability, which I didn't at the time think I had, it is so hard to stop my brain from just, you know, rehash, rehash, rehash.

[Andrea Gunning]

Jackie's had to face steep financial consequences. When we asked her the total amount, she started shuffling through papers.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

40,0004-200001-89000, plus another 150,000, plus 100,000 to bank of America, 30,000 to Navy Federal. Did I say Citibank? 100,000. It's definitely over a million.

[Andrea Gunning]

She'd been wiped out for the first time in decades. She had to budget for every dollar.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

I was in my local grocery store and this cheese company had some smoked Gouda cheese. So I said, oh, I'll taste that. And I said to him, oh, how much is this? It was 8.99. And I said, shit, I can't justify by paying almost $10 for a little tiny ball of cheese.

[Andrea Gunning]

Jackie borrowed money from her niece to get an attorney to file for Chapter 13 bankruptcy.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

I owe Citibank $100,000. They want $2,500 a month. What I tried to do was negotiate, but it's not working. My credit went from 790 to now 500. I've never ever had bad credit. I never missed a payment on anything. But now having to see what bad credit does. I work hard, I make my money, and it's going right Back out because.

[Andrea Gunning]

Of this scam, she'll never have the retirement she planned and saved her entire life.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

That part brings a lot of anger and hurt. I got a tax bill from the IRS for the 403B. I owe 55,056 now, and I'll have to make a payment plan.

[Andrea Gunning]

And because she borrowed against the value.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

Of her home, I'm in a short sale. We got to find somewhere to live. I'm just not sure what the future holds.

[Andrea Gunning]

She held out hope for a few months that the police could recover her assets. But because crypto transactions use the blockchain and not traditional banks, that money can't be traced back to individuals. The police hit a dead end.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

I know I'm not going to get a dime of that money back, but they are keeping the case open.

[Andrea Gunning]

The police were so worried about Jackie's mental health that they sent a social worker to do a wellness check.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

Maybe because I do have a gun permit and I have a gun that they might look like. Oh. Because people have taken their lives or harmed themselves with all of this going on and with just the pure magnitude of how much money I lost. But that was never a thought. Ever a thought.

[Andrea Gunning]

Jackie's resilient. She kept going.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

I don't let it consume me because that would paralyze me. I'm like, I gotta go to work. I gotta face these people. And that, right, was one of the hardest things I had to do at that time was put a smile on my face and continue on. There's a ignition in me that is gonna prevail with this.

[Andrea Gunning]

She says her line of work puts loss in perspective.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

Working at a cancer hospital, you know, I like stuff. I like nice things, but you can't take any of it with you.

[Andrea Gunning]

Her niece stepped up and started a fundraising campaign, which helped Jackie cover a few bills.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

Maybe like, 4,000 people gave what they could, But I was overwhelmed with people just being generous.

[Andrea Gunning]

Unfortunately, this type of crime is prevalent in older demographics, and Jackie's story, while devastating, is not unique. Aarp, a nonprofit organization that provides resources related to aging, reached out to Jackie. They wanted to work with her to help educate others about these types of scams.

[Jackie Crenshaw]

I was a spotlight speaker for April, and one woman, you know, confessed that she was scammed. And she's like, you know, how do you move on? I said, one day at a time. There's times I want to beat myself up, but nope, I just educate people. And I always say, don't do what I did. That's what is motivating. Me to fight.

[Andrea Gunning]

Jackie wants to help prevent this kind of scam from happening to other people. To show how sophisticated these scams can be. Jackie didn't trust Brandon based on his online messages alone. He invested real money into her life, and she saw the payoff. Her favorite meals were delivered to her door. Expensive jewelry arrived in the mail. Her bank accounts grew. It was more than just a promise of luxury. It was the true taste of it. For many months, scammers like Jackie's are willing to spend $100,000 on their victims if it means they will eventually get a million back. These scams don't happen in the blink of an eye. The scammers invest money, emotion, and time into their victims for months before pulling their rug out from under them. We end every weekly episode with the same question. Why do you want to share your story?

[Jackie Crenshaw]

I have to tell myself every day. I'm a victim. Whoever is on these websites, scamming people, their entire job is to distance me with my money. And I know just talking to people, they are plagued with fear and embarrassment. And that fight in me said, if you go hide and you don't tell your story and you know you're embarrassed, you're not going to help anyone.

[Andrea Gunning]

On the next episode of Betrayal Weekly, within seconds, I get a Facebook message, is this about your dad? And I got, like, a chill down my back. I responded with yes with like, a bunch of dots. And he immediately replied with, I know this because it happened to me, too. Before we end the episode, I have some exciting news. Betrayal will be doing our first ever live show as part of the Virgin Voyages True crime cruise. We'll be answering listener questions and discussing them live on stage with Stacy and Tyler from Betrayal season three, as well as Caroline from season four. So if you have a question for us, please email [e-mail] with the subject line listener question. And if you want to join us on the Caribbean cruise, there are still spots available. Search virginvoyages.com truecrime if you would like to reach out to the Betrayal team or want to tell us your Betrayal story, email [e-mail] that's betrayal podmail.com or follow us on Instagram betrayalpod. You can also connect with me on Instagram andreagunning To access our newsletter, view additional content and connect with the Betrayal community, join our [e-mail] we're grateful for your support. One way to show support is by subscribing to our show on Apple Podcasts and don't forget, forget to rate and review Betrayal. Five star reviews go a long way. A big thank you to all of our listeners. Betrayal is a production of Glass Podcasts, a division of Glass Entertainment Group in partnership with iHeart Podcasts. The show is executive produced by Nancy Glass and Jennifer Faison, hosted and produced by me, Andrea Gunning. Written and produced by Monique Laborde. Also produced by Ben Federman. Associate producers are Caitlin Golden, Olivia Hewitt and Kristin Melchiori. Casting support from Curry Richmond. Our iHeart team is Ali Perry and Jessica Krynczyk. Audio editing and mixing by Matt d' Alvecchio Additional audio editing by Tanner Robbins Betrayals theme composed by Oliver Baines Music Library provided by Mib Music and for more podcasts from iHeart, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

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[Jackie Crenshaw]

It's football season and now you can get anything you need for game day delivered with Uber Eats. Well, almost. Almost anything. You can't get a running back, but baby back ribs? Yes, Uber Eats official on demand food delivery partner of the NFL.

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[Andrea Gunning]

This is an I Heart podcast.