International conwoman Samantha Azzopardi strikes again
More victims of serial conwoman Samantha Azzopardi have emerged, including a 13-year-old aspiring model flown to Melbourne for bizarre fake “training”, as investigators piece together the scammer’s life. WATCH THE VIDEO
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A woman believed to be a serial conwoman masquerading as a talent scout flew an aspiring teen actor and her family from Sydney to Melbourne in what is suspected to be one of her latest deceptions.
Police are understood to be closing in on the fraudster, believed to be Samantha Azzopardi, who has scammed families and authorities across three continents.
The Herald Sun yesterday revealed authorities were probing reports Ms Azzopardi was in Melbourne, and had posed as an au pair, allegedly ripping off her host’s identity.
It can now be revealed the woman flew a family from interstate in what is suspected as an elaborate ruse where she posed as a modelling scout.
The woman, who used the name “Coco”, allegedly checked into the family’s accommodation using the identification of Brighton East woman Jazze Jervis. It is believed the woman may have nicked the ID while she worked as the Jervis family’s au pair, under the name Harper Hernandez.
Coco flew 13-year-old Georgia Bevege, her mum Mel Bevege and sister Tiarnna Boreham, to Melbourne for modelling and acting “training” after approaching the teenager on Instagram.
In a bizarre series of events, the family claims Coco had the teen physically clean international currency and rehearse strange roles that included playing a girl whose sister had died.
As part of her training, Georgia was made to enter offices, approach the front desk and perform roles, believing people behind the counters were actors.
The family contacted Ms Jervis on Facebook after finding the woman had allegedly used her ID, and have since confirmed both Coco and Harper Hernandez had the same mobile phone number.
Ms Jervis also identified the woman as the family’s au pair in a photo of her with Georgia at Crown Casino on Tuesday last week.
She recognised the woman’s distinctive braids, jacket and shoes, as well as her voice in a video of a tense standoff with the family after they confronted the woman about the alleged con.
In the video, the woman claims to be Ms Jervis’ sister. “I feel like I am now being interrogated,” she said.
Victoria Police confirmed it was investigating multiple reports of “deceptions”. “Police have received reports this month of alleged deceptions occurring since July last year,” spokeswoman Natalie Dean said.
“Investigators are determining what offences have been committed.”
Ms Azzopardi has a long history of scamming authorities and families across three continents, having previously posed as a sex-trafficking victim in Canada and Ireland.
She was also jailed after pretending to be a schoolgirl named Harper Hart in Sydney in 2017.
Ms Bevege said she had “goosebumps from head to toe” after a friend sent her an article on Ms Azzopardi, believing it to be Coco.
She said the woman had used a website and “elite modelling” email addresses to convince the family it was a legitimate business.
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Ms Bevege said she constantly questioned Coco during the bizarre four-day stay but: “We didn’t know any different, we haven’t done this before.
“When I look back on everything I just think ‘oh my god, how was that not a red flag?’ I can’t even fathom why I didn’t pick up on half of the s--- she told me.”
Ms Jervis told the Herald Sun three bayside families had contacted her, believing the woman had responded to their online ads for an au pair.
“It is not going to be easy to track her down,” she said. “Even though it wasn’t that long ago, it was a week since it came out … so who knows where she could be.”
Police urged anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.