Internet imposters have celebrities in a twitter

Kiwi celebrities are being targeted by social networking frauds, who are forging Twitter and Facebook accounts in their names.

False profiles are being created in the names of sports stars such as All Black captain Richie McCaw, Black Caps skipper Daniel Vettori as well as broadcasters and TV personalities.

The fictitious sites are fooling fans and friends into believing the profiles are real.

Internet safety watchdogs say creating a bogus website is illegal under the Crimes Act, and those targeted should take their concerns to police.

NewstalkZB host and Herald on Sunday columnist Kerre Woodham was shocked to discover this week that someone had set up a fake Twitter account in her name.

The page, which has 16 followers, writes updates from "kerrewoodham" such as "well thank god thats [sic] over with. need gin! NEED!"

Woodham was alerted to the fake site after someone sent her an email saying they were following her profile.

"I don't use Twitter and I don't even drink gin. It's ridiculous," she said. "I hate the anonymity of it. I'm stunned people are allowed to come on at face value. It's kind of irresponsible."

Two of Woodham's Twitter followers are Victoria Cross recipient Willie Apiata a fake Twitter profile claiming to be written from Afghanistan and TV3's Campbell Live host, John Campbell his real Twitter page.

Last year, Paul Holmes discovered a Twitter account in his name, despite the broadcaster never setting up an account.

He wrote in his Herald on Sunday column: "The Twitter site that claims to be mine is not. I have never Twittered in my life. I would not know how." There is also a fake Facebook page under Holmes' name.

Dancing With The Stars host Jason Gunn found himself fooled by someone pretending to be former Good Morning host Mary Lambie on Facebook in 2008. The fraudster was so convincing that he agreed to be her "friend" on the site, giving the fake user access to his personal information.

Gunn has an official Facebook page, but rarely uses it. If he found someone deliberately defaming him on a social networking site, he said he would not hesitate to contact police.

"I laughed at the time and thought, 'that's the complexity of Facebook' but it's ridiculous that it is so simple to fake something like that and hide behind it," said Gunn.

Flight of the Conchords star Rhys Darby has also had trouble with fake Twitter and Facebook accounts, having to prove who he was to Facebook authorities.

A fake Twitter account under the username RhysDarby, with about 200 followers, also posed a problem, but Rosie Darby, his wife and manager, said the owner rarely updated the page.

"There are one or two fake Twitter accounts [but] it is fairly easy to sort out. Apparently we just have to email Twitter and prove our connection to Rhys' real account and they transfer the fake one over," she said.

"With Facebook, once you get above a certain amount of fans, Facebook contacts you and demands you prove who you are. Rhys and I had to fill in a form and explain who we were in relationship to Rhys Darby."

She said YouTube was also good at taking down copyright material when asked.

Outrageous Fortune star Robyn Malcolm also appears to have fallen victim to a Facebook imposter. The seemingly fake page features a photo of Malcolm in a purple top, and has only one comment posted.

The "official" page appears to be the real deal, with Malcolm posting official Outrageous Fortune pictures and links to related news. Malcolm did not return phone calls for comment.

Fake Facebook pages for sports stars such as McCaw and Vettori are rife. Vettori's pages have comments posted, allegedly from him, writing messages such as: "how did the Aussies win??? SO annoying!!"

McCaw has a number of fan pages, including some titled "Richie McCaw", but they are written mostly in Spanish.

A spokesman from NZ Cricket said they were not aware of any problems with Facebook fakes.

Across the ditch, the Australian Cricketers Association has helped several players remove fake websites and profiles on Facebook and Twitter.

The association states on its website: "If you are aware of a fake profile purporting to be yourself the ACA may be able to assist in its removal."

A fake website set up about Ricky Ponting prompted the Australian captain to set up an official page, his agent told the Sun-Herald.

Martin Cocker, executive director of internet watchdogs NetSafe, said although it was yet to be tested in New Zealand, victims of fake websites or social networking profiles should contact police.

Cocker said under the Crimes Act, acting as someone else is fraudulent activity and those participating could be convicted.

"I would recommend anyone to go the police about it."