Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more!
Woman Allegedly Scammed $5K From Online Fling After Faking Pregnancy, Birth
Billie Jo Brenizer, 23, is accused of carrying out online romance scams targeting “numerous” victims, authorities said.
A Pennsylvania woman is accused of conning thousands of dollars out of love interest after deceiving him into believing he was the father of her fictitious child.
Billie Jo Brenizer, 23, allegedly swindled at least $5,000 out of a Newberry Township man she’d met on social media in February 2019, Newbury Township police said, according to local station WPMT.
Brenzier used the pseudonym “Kaylee Nicole” to communicate with the victim and carry out the online romance scam, according to an arrest affidavit cited by the outlet. The man eventually learned the woman wasn’t using her real name and had “catfished” him, WPMT reported. He told authorities she threatened to tell police he'd sexually assaulted her if he didn't meet with her again, which he did. He then told investigators they carried on a months-long sexual relationship that lasted until December 2019.
After the relationship ended, Brenizer allegedly contacted him and told him she was pregnant with his child, providing fabricated photos of a positive pregnancy test. After supposedly giving birth, she insisted the infant boy was plagued by medical issues, according to court documents cited by WPMT.
The man, who demanded a paternity test and to visit the child, never once saw the baby in-person. He never told loved ones or friends about the infant, according to the York Dispatch.
Brenizer allegedly agreed to keep quiet about the birth if he provided money to help her care for the newborn. The victim ultimately handed over a total of $4,960, before reporting her to police in June 2020, according to authorities.
As they were conducting their investigation, Newbury Township Police learned from Pennsylvania State Police that Brenizer was suspected of pulling similar scams involving "numerous" victims through the use of a handful of social media accounts and phone numbers. She allegedly admitted to state authorities that she didn't have a child.
Brenizer has been charged with theft by deception, false impression, theft by extortion and harassment charges in the incident. She posted a $2,000 bail and was released, according to the York Dispatch. However, the 23-year-old was re-arrested Thursday morning for a probation violation, York County Sheriff’s Office confirmed with Oxygen.com.
Brenizer has a preliminary hearing in district court scheduled for March 31. It’s unclear if she’s retained legal representation.
The Newberry Township Police Department didn’t immediately respond to Oxygen.com’s requests for comment on Thursday.