About Con Girl

75 aliases, three continents, one woman; in this compelling documentary series, we explore the many lies and lives of serial con woman Samantha Azzopardi.

A 14-year-old is found on the streets of Dublin; police spend weeks searching for her family before discovering that she is actually 25-year-old Australian Samantha Azzopardi, a serial con woman.

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On December 16 at 21:00 CET, Viasat True Crime will debut Con Girl, a compelling new documentary series that unravels the story of Samantha Azzopardi, a serial con artist who, over the years, has deceived countless individuals without seeking financial gain. This four-part series, part of the Case of the Week lineup, offers viewers a deep dive into the life of this enigmatic Australian woman whose motives remain an open question to this day. The show’s creators transport us into a world of intrigue, manipulation, and psychological games as Azzopardi—hiding behind over 75 aliases across three continents—constructed fictitious worlds and identities, drawing her unsuspecting victims into elaborate, fabricated narratives.

Samantha Azzopardi is not the typical con artist seen on screen. She did not seek wealth or fame, nor did she often engage with money at all. Her crimes were subtle, yet shockingly complex and deeply damaging to her victims. She preyed upon their trust, manipulating their emotions and forging connections based on fabricated promises. Viewers of Con Girl will meet her victims, who recount the trauma and disorientation of their encounters with her. While Azzopardi never physically harmed anyone, her actions left behind profound emotional scars.

Azzopardi’s fame is rooted in her ability to slip seamlessly into various roles, from a young trafficking victim to a Swedish princess to a Russian gymnast whose family supposedly perished in a murder-suicide. With her delicate appearance, youthful looks, and skilled voice modulation, Samantha could even convince the skeptical. She often assumed the role of a teenager, successfully passing as much younger despite being in her mid-20s to early 30s. One of her most infamous episodes unfolded in 2013 when she was found on a Dublin street, prompting Irish authorities to believe she was a mute 14-year-old trafficking victim, dubbed “GPO Girl” after her discovery near the Dublin General Post Office. By remaining silent and communicating only with gestures, she sustained this illusion for weeks, triggering an international effort from child protection experts. Ultimately, “GPO Girl” was unmasked as an adult whose only purpose was to elicit sympathy and attention.

The Dublin story is just one of many. Months later, Azzopardi surfaced in Calgary, Canada, claiming to be a kidnapped 14-year-old named Aurora Hepburn. Her story again captivated law enforcement and social services, consuming valuable resources. Through investigations linking her actions in Dublin and Calgary, authorities finally unveiled her true identity. Azzopardi was charged in Canada with providing false information and later deported back to Australia.

Her deceit continued back on her home continent. One of her most shocking incidents was in 2019 when, posing as an “18-year-old au pair” named Sakah, she earned the trust of a French family who entrusted her with their children. Azzopardi asked permission to take the children on a picnic but instead drove over 200 kilometers before police intercepted her. Earlier, in Geelong, she had even approached a counseling center as a pregnant teen, spinning new stories and entangling yet more people. Finally, she was detained and brought to court, where she pleaded guilty, citing mental health conditions like pseudologia fantastica—a compulsive lying disorder characterized by creating intricate fictional scenarios.

While Azzopardi’s motives remain ambiguous, psychologists suggest that her actions may stem from personal trauma that fueled her need to escape reality by assuming new identities. Courts have acknowledged that Azzopardi might require psychiatric treatment rather than prison time, which may not be effective for her complex mental health needs. Yet due to a lack of suitable facilities, prison often became the default option, even as experts recommend specialized long-term care.

In her most recent case in Australia, Azzopardi was sentenced to two years in prison for child abduction. Her incarceration highlighted growing concerns over whether the criminal justice system could effectively manage someone with such a complex psychological profile. Her case challenges not only the legal system but also mental health services, which now face the unique issues presented by pseudologia fantastica and deep-seated identity disorders.

The premiere of Con Girl on Viasat True Crime plunges viewers into this darkly intriguing story, providing insights into the lives of Samantha’s victims and the lasting impact of her deception. The series reveals Azzopardi not merely as a common fraudster but as someone profoundly lost in her fantasies and relentless need to be someone else—a portrayal as fascinating as it is disturbing.

Join us on December 16 at 21:00 CET to uncover how Samantha Azzopardi constructed an illusory world of lies and manipulation, leading her victims into a maze of deception that left them scarred and traumatized. This series offers a unique opportunity to explore the enigmatic life of a woman who mastered the art of illusion, creating personal realms filled with fantasy and falsehood, hiding deeply rooted psychological struggles.

STEP INTO A WORLD SHROUDED IN MYSTERY AND DECEIT