In 2011, NZ Herald journalist David Fisher became aware that a woman had been caught catfishing dozens of teenage boys and young men across New Zealand.

Catfishing is a term used for people who use stolen photos to pretend to be someone else online, usually to form relationships with real people across social media.

Fisher would go on to expose the woman behind the false online accounts as Natalia Burgess. She referred to herself as ‘The Puppeteer’.

Fisher interviewed Burgess on several occasions before she went to jail for charges related to her online activity. He thought she would have learnt her lesson, but two years ago he received an email from a woman who had had her photos stolen by Burgess, and it was ruining her life.

Fisher explored Burgess’ actions in the true crime podcast, Chasing Ghosts: The Puppeteer, and he joins us today on The Front Page, to discuss what he learned.

Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Host: Chelsea Daniels
Sound Engineer: Paddy Fox
Producer: Ethan Sills

In 2011, NZ Herald journalist David Fisher became aware that a woman had been caught catfishing dozens of teenage boys and young men across New Zealand.
Catfishing is a term used for people who use stolen photos to pretend to be someone else online, usually to form relationships with real people across social media.
Fisher would go on to expose the woman behind the false online accounts as Natalia Burgess. She referred to herself as ‘The Puppeteer’.
Fisher interviewed Burgess on several occasions before she went to jail for charges related to her online activity. He thought she would have learnt her lesson, but two years ago he received an email from a woman who had had her photos stolen by Burgess, and it was ruining her life.
Fisher explored Burgess’ actions in the true crime podcast, Chasing Ghosts: The Puppeteer, and he joins us today on The Front Page, to discuss what he learned.
Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.
Host: Chelsea Daniels Sound Engineer: Paddy Fox Producer: Ethan Sills

Keeping up to date with the news just became a little easier. Available every weekday at 5am, tune in as Chelsea Daniels chats with the journalists and newsmakers, going behind the headlines to break down what you need to know on the biggest stories of the day. 

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<li>Keeping up to date with the news just became a little easier. Available every weekday at 5am, tune in as Chelsea Daniels chats with the journalists and newsmakers, going behind the headlines to break down what you need to know on the biggest stories of the day. </li>
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Every day, The Front Page takes you behind the scenes of the biggest story from the New Zealand Herald. Hosted by Damien Venuto

The Front Page

Keeping up to date with the news just became a little easier. Available every weekday at 5am, tune in as Chelsea Daniels chats with the journalists and newsmakers, going behind the headlines to break down what you need to know on the biggest stories of the day.

The Puppeteer: How one NZ woman catfished dozens of victims over 20 years

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/08e24462-0432-47c3-9d7d-b21600a42ffb/transcript

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