About this episode

This episode explores the true story of Samantha Cookes, a master of identity fraud who manipulates trust to assume various roles over a decade.

A mother rushes through a Dublin hospital to pick up the woman she trusts: Lucy Fitzwilliams. But at reception, there’s no Lucy on the list. Just one name… and one location: “Samantha. Cubicle three.” What follows is a true story of long-form identity fraud: a woman who doesn’t just lie, she becomes whoever the room is most ready to trust. Over more than a decade, Samantha Cookes slips into real lives under new names and roles: a surrogate, a live-in nanny, a “therapist” offering help to families in crisis, and later, online, as Carrie Jade Williams. This episode isn’t about people being foolish. It’s about compassion, and how the right performance can turn kindness into a passkey. Content warning: identity fraud, deception, emotional exploitation, and manipulation. Hosted by Frank Battiston. Produced by Daniel Urdanivia. A PowerTale Podcasts production. Stay Aware · Stay Present · Stay Safe. — Follow LURKERS: Instagram:  @thelurkers_podcast TikTok:  @thelurkerspodcast YouTube:  @TheLurkersPodcast Website:  www.thelurkerspodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

More episodes of Lurkers

• 22. Alex Rodda: The Wrong Trail · July 15, 2026 · 32 min
• June 17 Remembrance: Mackenzie Lueck (Re-release) · June 17, 2026 · 15 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Lurkers podcast page.