Samantha Azzopardi is an Australian con artist who has crafted over 70 fake identities and pulled off audacious deceptions across the globe. But where is she now after her latest conviction? And what really drives her compulsive lying? A new documentary tries to reveal the enigma behind this master manipulator.
Samantha Azzopardi’s story is certainly perplexing. By the time she was 25 years old, she had crafted no less than 75 alter egos and conned people on 3 different continents. Her misleading schemes involved everything from posing as a victim of sex trafficking to faking her way into schools and families. Yet she never seemed motivated by financial gain or malice. So what compelled Azzopardi to incessantly lie and manipulate those around her?
Who is Samantha Azzopardi?
Samantha Azzopardi was born in 1988 in Campbelltown, Australia to parents who divorced when she was just 2 years old. After living with her mother until age 11, custody was granted to her estranged father. Azzopardi’s compulsive deception appears to have roots in her unstable childhood.

As Azzopardi bounced between schools, she began inventing elaborate background stories about herself. The lying only intensified as she got older. By the time she was 19, Azzopardi had masqueraded as famous actress Dakota Johnson and tried to fraudulently enroll in multiple Brisbane schools.
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But it was the infamous “GPO Girl” incident that first brought Azzopardi international notoriety. In 2013, she was discovered mute and wandering the streets of Dublin. Irish police believed she was a teenage human trafficking victim. But when Azzopardi’s photo was circulated, her Australian family identified the mysterious “GPO Girl” as the now 25-year-old Azzopardi.
Samantha Azzopardi Parents & Family
While very little is known about Samantha Azzopardi’s family life, her unstable upbringing likely contributed to her compulsive lying from a young age. Unpacking her family history provides insight into the origins of her deceptive psychology.

Samantha Azzopardi Mother
Azzopardi’s mother is Joan Marie Campbell. After divorcing Azzopardi’s father when their daughter was 2, Campbell took custody of her. They lived together until Azzopardi was 11 before she went to live with her father.
Growing up frequently moving between parents seemed to lay the foundation for Azzopardi’s fabricating stories about herself. Her mother’s side of the family is of Maltese heritage.
Samantha Azzopardi Father
Azzopardi’s father is Bruce Azzopardi. After gaining custody when Azzopardi was 11, she proceeded to bounce around between various schools. Her compulsive lying appeared to take root during this turbulent transition.
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Some theorize Azzopardi’s father may have been less attentive as a parent compared to her mother. This lack of stability perhaps fueled her extreme behavior.
Samantha Azzopardi Siblings
There are no reports indicating Samantha Azzopardi has any siblings. As an only child shuffled between divorced parents, she may have acted out to gain attention, ultimately creating elaborate false identities.
Other Family Details
Azzopardi came from a middle class family residing in the Campbelltown suburb of Sydney. Beyond her transient upbringing, little is known about the family environment.
But given Azzopardi’s lying started so young, it was likely an unstable household without consistent parenting. This probably contributed to her desire for sympathy and need to imagine fanciful histories.
Though details on her family remain scarce, Azzopardi’s chaotic upbringing undoubtedly played a role in kindling her talent for deception. Being denied stability as a child seems to have fueled her manipulative alter egos.
What did Samantha Azzopardi do in past?
Being exposed apparently did little to deter Azzopardi’s duplicitous habits. In 2014, she turned up at a Canadian health center under the guise of Aurora Hepburn, a survivor of sexual assault and kidnapping. Canadian authorities spent over $150,000 investigating before discovering it was just another Azzopardi con.

Azzopardi served two months in jail for public mischief before being deported. But she quickly resumed her old ways back in Australia. Posing as 13-year-old “Harper Hart,” she enrolled in an Australian school and was placed with a foster family. When the truth surfaced, Azzopardi received a one-year prison sentence.
In 2019, Azzopardi insinuated herself into a French couple’s home as their 18-year-old au pair “Sakah.” She then abducted their children, claiming to be a pregnant teen in distress. This resulted in a two-year incarceration.
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Just this past November, Azzopardi admitted to impersonating an abused French girl to Australian police. Though initially handed 17 months in prison, her sentence was reduced to only three months. Azzopardi was released in mid-December 2022. Her current whereabouts are unknown.
Where is Con Girl Samantha Azzopardi now?
After receiving a reduced 3-month sentence in November 2022 for impersonating an abused French girl, Samantha Azzopardi was released from prison in Australia in mid-December of last year. Given her lifelong history of dishonesty and deception, Azzopardi’s current whereabouts are shrouded in mystery.
Intriguingly, before her release, the judge in Azzopardi’s case expressed hope that she would take the opportunity to seek help for her mental health issues. However, it remains doubtful whether even intensive psychiatric treatment could unravel the complex factors driving her compulsive lying.

According to professionals, Azzopardi exhibits symptoms of both borderline personality disorder and pseudologia fantastica, a rare condition characterized by elaborate, pathological lying. The origins of these psychological conditions often stem from childhood trauma and a lack of stability.
Indeed, by fabricating false identities, there is speculation that Azzopardi is trying to claim the attention and care she was denied as a child shuffled between estranged parents. Her outlandish stories cast her as either hero or victim in an imaginary realm where she controls the narrative.
So while Azzopardi is now free after her latest conviction, it is almost certain that this Australian con artist is still up to her usual tricks of deception and manipulation. With over 70 fictitious personas under her belt already, the possibility of her spinning fresh yarns and ruses is quite high.
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Wherever Azzopardi has disappeared to after her release, one thing is for sure – given her lifelong penchant for dishonesty and masquerade, it is only a matter of time before a new alter ego is hatched. Whether her motivation stems from psychological troubles or simply a talent for deception, expect more fantastical tales spun from this master manipulator.
What Drives Samantha Azzopardi’s Deceptions?
So what compels someone to construct over 70 fictitious identities? According to psychologists, Azzopardi exhibits signs of two mental health conditions:
Borderline Personality Disorder: Causing unstable relationships, impulsivity, and identity issues.
Pseudologia Fantastica: An extreme, pathological form of lying. Sufferers spin detailed, imaginative stories casting themselves as hero or victim.
Both disorders often stem from traumatic childhoods. Indeed, some experts theorize Azzopardi’s fabrications are an attempt to gain the attention and sympathy she lacked as a child shuffled between parents.
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But the exact motivation behind her lies remains murky. As detective Michael Gallagher noted, “Is she a danger to herself, or is she a danger to others? In Ireland, she wasn’t a danger to herself or others, albeit she was a considerable nuisance.”
Inside the Mind of a Con Girl as a Documentary of Samantha Azzopardi
Azzopardi’s perplexing tale is the subject of the new Paramount+ documentary series Con Girl. Through dramatic reenactments and interviews, the show delves deep into the convoluted psychology behind Azzopardi’s deceitful behaviour.

Actress Emma Krieg portrays Azzopardi throughout the series. In preparation for the role, she sought to humanize someone who defrauds and manipulates. “You have to come from a place of empathy,” Krieg explained. “To put yourself in the headspace to justify the means of lying.”
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Con Girl also features Azzopardi’s victims speaking out for the first time. Irish citizen Joe Brennan recalls the chaos triggered when Azzopardi turned up in his small village pretending to be a visiting relative.
The show represents a wider effort to understand exactly what motivates con artists like Azzopardi. Are their actions driven by mental illness? A desperation for attention? Or some complex inner turmoil yet to be unpacked? Con Girl takes a deeper look at these probing psychological questions.
Conclusion
- Samantha Azzopardi is an Australian con artist who created over 70 fake personas to carry out globe-spanning deceptions.
- Her lying likely stems from childhood trauma, with her parents divorcing when she was only 2.
- She gained notoriety as the “GPO Girl” in Ireland and later carried out cons in Canada and Australia.
- Psychologists have diagnosed Azzopardi with borderline personality disorder and pseudologia fantastica, a condition defined by pathological lying.
- Her motives remain unclear, but some believe she craves the attention denied as a child shuffled between parents.
- Azzopardi is the subject of the Paramount+ docuseries Con Girl, which delves into the psychology behind her duplicity.
In the end, Samantha Azzopardi’s story illustrates the complex factors that can drive someone into a life of deception. Mental illness, past trauma, pathological impulses — all collide to form an individual capable of amassing over 70 false identities. Perhaps there are no simple explanations. But shows like Con Girl bring us one step closer to unraveling the mystery behind con artists.
Where is Samantha Azzopardi Now in 2023 – FAQs
1. When and where was Samantha Azzopardi born?
Samantha Azzopardi was born on August 21, 1988 in Campbelltown, New South Wales, Australia.
2. How many fake identities is Azzopardi believed to have created?
It is estimated that Azzopardi has crafted over 70 fake identities and aliases over the years to carry out her elaborate cons and deceptions.
3. What was Azzopardi’s first major impersonation?
Azzopardi’s first major impersonation was in 2007 when as a 19-year-old she claimed to be actress Dakota Johnson and was charged with intent to defraud.
4. What crimes has Azzopardi been convicted of in Australia?
In Australia, Azzopardi was convicted of crimes including child abduction, enrollment in school under a false identity, and obtaining financial advantage through deception.
5. Where is Samantha Azzopardi believed to be now in 2023?
After her release from prison in Australia in December 2022, Azzopardi’s current whereabouts are unknown. She served 3 months for impersonating an abused French girl.