Mom's Alleged Cancer GoFundMe Scam

A mother of four has been accused of defrauding generous people of more than $37,000 by falsely claiming she was battling breast cancer.

Tara Michelle Enoka was accused earlier this month of obtaining proceeds by fraud, after creating a GoFundMe to help her alleged battle with breast and cervical cancer.

WA Police said a man created a GoFundMe account, which “indicated the fundraiser was to help a woman he knew who had been diagnosed with a rare disease”.

Police say Ms Enoka registered herself as a beneficiary of the funds collected.

The 35-year-old then allegedly created a video on a separate website to help promote the fundraising activity, with police saying she claimed the money raised would be “used to pay for her medical treatment”.

“Between March and September 2021, more than 500 people from 16 countries donated a total of just over $37,000. It will further be alleged that between March 2021 and October 2021, the woman transferred more than $36,000 from the fundraiser to her personal bank account,” a WA Police spokesperson told NewsWire.

“It will be alleged that the woman did not receive a medical diagnosis, as claimed in the fundraising account and supporting video.”

Ms. Enoka's video remains on YouTube, where she appeals to her audience for help with the hashtag #StandWithTara.

In the video, she says she's “never been one to ask someone for help,” but has learned “it's okay to ask for help.” 'help “.

“We are raising money to help pay for the treatment I need to potentially save my life, sorry I can be here for my children to watch them grow up,” Ms Enoka said in the YouTube video.

GoFundMe said it was “proactively” refunding all donors who contributed to the party.

A GoFundMe spokesperson told NewsWire that it has a “zero tolerance” policy for misuse of the platform and will cooperate with the police investigation of anyone accused of wrongdoing.

“All donors will be proactively refunded and we have removed this fundraiser,” the spokesperson said.

“The beneficiary has also been banned from using the platform for any future fundraising.

“The GoFundMe Donation Guarantee offers a full refund in the rare event something goes wrong; it is the first and only guarantee of donor protection in the crowdfunding industry.

It is understood that GoFundMe processes refunds as quickly as possible and advises donors that they do not need to take any action.

Ms Enoka was arrested on June 6 and charged with profiting from fraud.

Police said there is no allegation that the man who created the GoFundMe knew the woman's claims were not true.

Ms Enoka will return to court in August.