Mother Admits to $11,000 Fraud After Fabricating Son’s Cancer Diagnosis

A mother from West Lakes has admitted to fabricating her six-year-old son’s cancer diagnosis in a scheme that defrauded the community of $60,000 in donations.

The woman was taken into custody last December after authorities discovered her elaborate ruse, which included using an online fundraising platform and soliciting donations through her son’s school. Prosecutors revealed that she even placed her son in a wheelchair and wrapped him in bandages to mimic the effects of radiotherapy.

While charges against the woman’s husband were dismissed in May, she now faces a series of serious charges, including one count of criminal neglect, 56 counts of deception to obtain a benefit, and 14 counts of dishonestly dealing with property.

In court today, prosecutors announced that the case reached a resolution following plea bargain discussions, resulting in the woman’s guilty plea.

Today, prosecutors told the court the case had been resolved after plea bargain negotiations.

The woman, who appeared in court via video link from the Adelaide Women’s Prison, admitted 10 charges of deception to obtain a benefit, totalling $11,500, for amounts ranging from $500 to $3000, between November 21 and December 12, 2024.

The criminal neglect charge did not proceed and the woman instead pleaded guilty to one aggravated count of acts likely to cause harm to a person aged under 12.

When police revealed the allegations last year, acting Assistant Commissioner John DeCandia said he “couldn’t think of a more devious and cruel scheme”.

“It’s abhorrent that (a person) would seek to profit for their own personal greed and selfishness from such an insidious condition such as cancer which impacts so many families in our community,” he said.

Magistrate Patrick Hill remanded the woman in custody to face the District Court on November 28, when a date for sentencing submissions is expected to be set.