Josie Model: why this romance scam has been going on for over 10 years…

She’s called “Josie Model” or “Josie Ann Miller”. These are the most reliable pseudonyms we have on her because her photos are probably the ones that “love-scammers” prefer, even if they have been overused and reported repeatedly for more than 10 years.

Just imagine for a minute: she’s a pretty girl but not really a top model whose profile could be to easily suspected… The perfect “girl next door” ! 😉 At first, she’s contacted you on a dating site and you quickly fall in love. Shortly after, she ends up having tons of problems and asks you for money. OK, you’ve got it: it’s a plain old romance scam

The main point is that these photos of Josie Model had been taken between 2002 and 2008, and were referenced for years on many anti-fraud sites in several languages… but they still are successfully used all around the world!

Why her?

Which incentives lead scammers to use  stolen Josie Model images for their scams? The photos    and videos should be considered unusable because they have been used by dozens of different scammers time and time again. Despite this, it’s still currently easy to find victims’ testimonies about them on the internet.

Let’s put ourselves in the shoes of an African scammer. What does he need ?

  • an attractive but sensible profile
  • a great collection of photos to be sent in various situations
  • videos of someone chatting via Skype sessions
  • striptease videos for possible sextortion attempts
  • a good knowledge of the media directory we can use: he must send the right image or video at the right time

Even if the scammers have diverted a lot of images and videos, the profile quality of Josie Model has no equivalent: tens of thousands of photos and dozens of videos have been stolen on her previous websites and are now available to all! Around 2005, Josie Model was also doing many video chat sessions which is the most valuable “material” for grazers to inject those into Skype (for example with ManyCam).  This software makes it possible to convince the victims of the reality of the person with whom they exchange.

A little history of Nigerian scams

The “419 scams” or “African scams” appeared in Nigeria from the colonial era in the early part of the 20th century and multiplied through numerous scam letters sent to the United Kingdom and the United States in 80’s. Thanks to the development of the accessibility of the Internet since 1997 in some cybercafés of Lagos, these fraudulent methods will exponentially grew. Along the classical advance-fee scams (lottery, loan, inheritance …), romance scams  became more and more popular with 419 fraudsters and were exported to nearby countries in the early 2000s: Ghana, Benin, Togo and the Ivory Coast.

How the scam phenomenon has spread across Western Africa

Gradually, romance scam groups structured and streamlined their approach to maximize their profits. : have a typical scenario, go hunting for a “mugusi.e. future scam victim, get good contacts so you do not have problems with local authorities or Western Union offices. They also need resources: all kinds of fake mails, stolen identity documents and, above all, photos and videos.

It was in 2007 that these groups were well structured and that the site of Josie Model would be literally looted and that its image began to be exploited for scams. This “mine” would be used constantly, especially in the Ivory Coast for French speakers and in Ghana for English speakers.

In search of the true “Josie”

The saddest part of this story is that the victims managed to be convinced by their scammers that they were truly in contact with the “real” Josie. She explains to them that she has indeed made erotic photos but that this period is now over and she is now looking for a serious relationship. Even worse: they set up a whole story based on the fact that lots of crooks use her image and she is desperate!

But, dear gentlemen, sorry to tell you that the real Josie is no longer online for several years and she has no reason to seek love on the Internet. Unfortunately, the scammers’ mental domination on some of their “mugus” is so powerful that even blogs like this are not able to convince them… What a shame!

46 Responses

  1. Alice says:

    These guys take advantage of vulnerable people. They conned my me into depositing £17,250 (most of my savings) into this scheme. They then continued to call and text me. They are utter scum bags.

  2. Stephen Evans says:

    She’s using the name Linda Akor address
    387 wheatsone lane , Pennsylvania, lebanon 17042

  3. Mathieu says:

    Cette lory a voulu aussi me prendre dans son piège j’ai demande son watts a spp elle saï tiré

  4. Josie Ann Miller died on August 16 2019 badly beaten and stabbed … She was married to Johannes Animah And was living under the name of Martha Animah Her killers are still free She is buried in Kumasi Ghana …

  5. John Martindale says:

    At the moment she is using the name Rita Ayisha, Her Phone number is 00233 56152 6159
    and she has a couple of email address one is Rita Ayishe@gmail.com the other one in which she sends messages on to me is mkmorton4kt@icloud.com

  6. john says:

    do not get scam by forobullies.com he goes by Michael Lola

  7. anonymous says:

    in ivory coast josie model is used under the name claudine juilette jim +225 0565899782.
    he / she uses multiple email addresses and accounts supposedly under the name of lionel santerre (lawyer) Gobier Jean Marchal (bank manager) uemoa michael (ivory coast tax department) he / she even called in a mayor! sending fake passports when asked for a passport! send false documents related to inheritance and bank transfers!
    I have spoken to some of the ivorian police but they are equally corrupt and do nothing to punish these types of people.

  8. thomas schluter says:

    dear sir, did u say josie ann miller had been killed? ohh, what a shock
    can u tell me more about her?, i was told she had been bitten by a snake and is still alive living in Kumasi Ghana, do u think that would be true?
    Reguards Thomas.

  9. Marcus Williams says:

    Josie Ann Miller or Josie Model is a government employee that works for an organization that operates a clandestine program that assists law enforcement. Her real name is Grace Erica McLeod and she lives in Anniston Alabama. She has three daughters and a granddaughter and she’s a chronic masterbater. I dare someone to prove me wrong !

  10. Przyjaciel says:

    Conspiracy theories and lack of details. Can someone show photos from 2021?

  11. allen sooter says:

    Look on face book for Esther Wills, and you will find her there. I have current photos.

    • Wolfgang Freimann, Germany says:

      On this account is only her profile picture …. but she is it… but at fb are more ” dead” accounts with fotos from her ….

  12. Jimmy says:

    Some one is using her photos to she said her name was wendy Thompson who every it is been texting me and sending me photos and saying she was getting money calling me

  13. Ron Frank says:

    “She” also operates under the name of Monica Baah out of Ghana.

  14. Dennis says:

    They are now using her pictures for a scam on LinkedIn under the pseudonym Marie Jeanne Campo (campomariejeanne2@gmail.com). I already informed LinkedIn of this fake profile.

  15. JOHN STEVENS says:

    JOSIE ANN MILLER Died August 19 2019 and is buried in Kumasi Ghana so sorry but it is true She was attacked and stabbed 3 times

  16. Greg says:

    She is currently going by the name of Clara Loren. She is on facebook.

  17. Dennis says:

    Yeh I now a person on the web that goes by the name hillpriscy22@gmail.com and looks just like this josie Ann miller and she is a scammer as well so be careful

  18. Mario Mankel says:

    All of you are ignorant of the fact that the real Josie first will never ever use another name or ask for money she is my best friend and always will be leave her alone and pay her back what all of you have stolen from her God is on her side and all of you who have abused her well I feel sorry for you all

  19. lord says:

    she recently contacted me on Skype as Priscilla Apambe. she couldn’t get any money. she said that she lives in Africa because of her father`s job.

  20. Anon says:

    I have been contacted by this person
    She told me she was a student nurse living in Spain …under the guise of Isobella Donna…
    I had several video calls with her ( no sound)..which I believe or fake looped … I became suspicious – every question I asked she lost her temper thou eventually sending me a photo of her Passport under the name Isobella Donna (uk).. I believe she also works with a rose Reyyes… lots of communication via Google hangouts … interestingly enough Rose Reyes has a tattoo inscribed “ Bella” ..I spoke to both thou, could be the same person ( I believe) .. both had a catalogue of catastrophes asking for money frequently ..I never gave either any monies as I was quite dubious- there was always something not quite adding up with either’s story… both seemed to hone in on me simultaneously… I believe they are one and the same ..

  21. Wolfgang Freimann, Germany says:

    I am also in contact with this lady. She is using the name Helena Achiaa or Helena Okyere and is living in Kumasi, Ghana. Her parents died and she was living with her grandma. The grand ma died now…. and she is without support…. is only asking for small money … so far….
    Video chats without tone, but possible to call one time on WhatsApp.. was an african voice!!!
    In text chat she is really clever!!!

  22. Marcus Williams says:

    ATTENTION this is a PSA ! The Josie Ann Miller or Josie Model names are synonymous with scams. It is often reported that Josie lives all over the world from Ghana to the Ivory Coast even the United States or Europe. The dirty truth of the matter is she’s an employee for a government funded organization. Her name is Grace Erica McLeod, born February 06, 1984 in Anniston Alabama. She is 38 years old, she lives alone in a house she bought April 9, 2021, it was her grandparents house. Her dad lives behind her and her daughters live just a few houses down on the other side of the street with her dads sister. She is very much an an introvert and a recluse. She mostly keeps too herself but she can be seen outside once a week when she cuts her grass. Now Erica isn’t as stupid as she portrays but close, somehow she gets by.

    • Harold says:

      I’m talking to her now and even have a photo of her holding a piece of paper with my name and the date of 12-26-2022

      • Me lo podrías decir por favor …yo estoy hablando con jossie Ann Miller su verdadero nombre es james Williams vive en ontario ..podría ser la misma tengo su vida q se la hice para España quisiera saber si es ella

      • Jørgen says:

        Jeg har ligeledes et billede hvor hun holder et skilt op med mit navn fra juli md 2023
        Her hedder hun Marie-Claire Hollas . Hun var igang med en arvesag og var rejst til Abidjan for at hente arven i Bicici banken . Hun sagde at hun boede i Perpignan Frankrig .
        Jeg har set 14 profiler med hendes billeder og med forskellige navne på.

  23. Terry Lytle says:

    Now Rebecca Lucas on Linkedin is using Josie’s pictures as her own, very convincing to pry money from you.

  24. Peter Burling says:

    Have been contacted by probably close to 30 people using this ladies pictures on skype. Including 6 in one night. Requests have ranged from $6000 to $100.
    Surprisingly, a couple have continued conversations after their request are refused.
    But a warning here, there are a lot of videos out there, never any sound though. Have had one video chat which ran for 2 hours and 2 that have run for an hour and shown no signs of a loop. Others are obvious loops or poorly sequenced compilations

  25. Arturo says:

    Me lo podrías decir por favor …yo estoy hablando con jossie Ann Miller su verdadero nombre es

    • Luis says:

      Be careful she is a crook in Ghana she stole over 60 k from me went to pick her up in Michigan she said she was picked up by police all lies then ;ster 3 days later she says they took her iphone Wich I bought her and left her on the streets of Michigan all bullshit

  26. jason hartley says:

    Went by Michelle Russell from Spain and said of an inheritance she owed and told me of a fake lawyer to pay and then came up with all kinds of stories

  27. Luis says:

    She goes by the name of Ruth Andoh she scammed me of a lot of money unfortunately beware of this crook also she says she has an inheritance and any money you send her she will pay back she went as far as supposedly burning her lawyers house also saying her family killed her mother she comes up with all kinds of stories even saying she claimed assylum in America the story goes on and on and on

  28. Luis says:

    She goes by the name of Ruth Andoh she scammed me of a lot of money unfortunately beware of this crook also she says she has an inheritance and any money you send her she will pay back she went as far as supposedly burning her lawyers house also saying her family killed her mother she comes up with all kinds of stories even saying she claimed assylum in America the story goes on and on and on if you know who this bastard is call the cops and file a report that’s what I am about to do

  29. Antonio says:

    She also says she has a lawyer named Camille Vazquez also another crook same as Ruth Andoh her Canadian passport is fake every document she shows you is a fake document I just wish I had caught her lies sooner

  30. Stan says:

    She’s good at what she does

  31. Curtis says:

    She caught me in ChristianFilipina as Gloria Brown Mensah. Wanted to come to America to see me and needed help with visa. Cost a pretty penny. Then, suddenly dear mama got sick and she turned up in South Africa. Wanted money to help old mama with cancer. Said no. Then tried to run inheritance scam on me with 40 kg of gold. I blew that up. Yesterday got email from her friend Hilda Love (HaHaHa) saying Gloria was devastated I’d blocked her and wanted me back. Told Hilda to go f$&# herself. Sorry to hear real girl is dead. Seemed like a nice person

  32. Mark says:

    Chatting to some female. Her name arya. But going by her grannys name Yvonne. We had just done a video call on skype. Would this be the real Josie Miller. Her age is 26 living in Slough. She persisted we do call.

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