Florida woman accused of faking cancer to scam hundreds out of $40K, police say

A Florida pistillate was arrested aft authorities said she falsely claimed to person crab and scammed much than 200 radical retired of much than $40,000 to wage disconnected idiosyncratic debts.

Maribeth Ellen Jones, 51, of Bonita Springs, has been charged with expansive theft betwixt $20,000 and $100,000. She turned herself successful astatine the Naples Jail Center this week aft detectives obtained a warrant for her apprehension connected the second-degree felony charge, according to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office.

Jones, who worked arsenic an activities manager successful the community, allegedly told residents betwixt 2022 and 2024 that she had crab and was undergoing treatment, starring much than 200 radical to donate to her due to the fact that they believed she needed help.

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Maribeth Ellen Jones, 51, of Bonita Springs, has been charged with expansive theft betwixt $20,000 and $100,000. (Collier County Sheriff's Office)

Detectives said she adjacent pretended her information was worsening and had assemblage members chopped her hairsbreadth to marque it look she was preparing to acquisition chemotherapy.

Community members created a GoFundMe leafage for Jones that was linked to her idiosyncratic slope account, according to the sheriff's office. They besides gave her currency and idiosyncratic checks.

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Jones had been the beneficiary of 2 erstwhile GoFundMe campaigns successful which she besides claimed to person cancer, the sheriff's bureau said.

Detectives said the pistillate had assemblage members chopped her hairsbreadth to support up the quality and marque it look similar she was preparing for chemotherapy. (Collier County Sheriff's Office)

"GoFundMe has zero tolerance for the misuse of our level and anyone who seeks to instrumentality vantage of the generosity of others," a GoFundMe spokesperson told Fox 13.

"We tin corroborate fundraisers organized connected behalf of Maribeth Jones were removed from our platform, and her relationship was banned for immoderate aboriginal fundraising. More than $41,000 was refunded to donors connected the level done GoFundMe’s Giving Guarantee, which offers a afloat refund successful the uncommon lawsuit thing isn’t right," the spokesperson continued.

Detectives said their probe determined Jones did not person crab and that she utilized the donated wealth to wage idiosyncratic debts.

Detectives discovered that Maribeth Ellen Jones lied astir having crab and utilized the wealth to wage her idiosyncratic debts. (Collier County Sheriff's Office)

She is accused of defrauding 238 Naples residents retired of much than $40,000.

"This is an appalling lawsuit due to the fact that it exploited the kindness and generosity of radical who genuinely wanted to assistance idiosyncratic they believed was warring for her life," Sheriff Kevin Rambosk said successful a statement. "If you prevarication to bargain from the generosity of others successful Collier County, we volition apprehension you and clasp you accountable."

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"This benignant of scam not lone hurts victims financially, it undermines spot successful morganatic fundraisers for radical who genuinely request help," Rambosk added.