Close X
Friday, October 4, 2024
ADVT 
National

Ontario Woman Accused Of Faking Rare Neurological Disease To Raise $100,000

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 08 May, 2015 01:34 PM
    BURLINGTON, Ont. — An Ontario woman has been charged with fraud after police say she allegedly faked a rare neurological disease to raise over $100,000 in donations.
     
    Police say Cynthia Lynn Smith claimed to be suffering from Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy and acted out many of its symptoms.
     
    They say her family and friends helped the Burlington, Ont., resident start a charity to raise money for experimental medicines in the U.S. to deal with the illness.
     
    An online "GoFundMe" page was started in Smith's name in November 2014 and, in combination with other local donations, it raised over $100,000.
     
    Halton Regional Police began investigating Smith in late March after a local reporter raised concerns about the validity of her charity.
     
    Investigators then determined that Smith had never been diagnosed or treated for the illness she claimed to be suffering from.
     
    Smith has been arrested and charged with defrauding the public over $5,000.
     
    "Smith acted on her own creating this deception, using the unsuspecting assistance of her family and friends and the generosity of the public," said Det.-Sgt. Troy Izlakar.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Canada's Q4 could be brighter than forecast, but clouds over 2015: economists

    Canada's Q4 could be brighter than forecast, but clouds over 2015: economists
    OTTAWA — Canada's gross domestic product rose by an unexpectedly strong 0.3 per cent in October, which led several economists to consider revising their estimates for the final quarter of 2014 — although they also warned that they're less bullish about 2015 due to a drop in commodity prices, especially for oil.

    Canada's Q4 could be brighter than forecast, but clouds over 2015: economists

    Manning sorry for not encouraging consultation before Wildrose defections

    Manning sorry for not encouraging consultation before Wildrose defections
    EDMONTON — The former leader of the Reform Party says he made a mistake when he encouraged members of Alberta's Wildrose to unite with the governing Progressive Conservatives.

    Manning sorry for not encouraging consultation before Wildrose defections

    Fear of falsification prevents release of some electronic data: minister

    Fear of falsification prevents release of some electronic data: minister
    OTTAWA — The Conservative cabinet minister responsible for freedom of information says some federal data cannot be released to the public in electronic format because people might alter it and spread falsehoods.

    Fear of falsification prevents release of some electronic data: minister

    Co-owners of seniors' home drop lawsuit against Quebec town over fatal blaze

    Co-owners of seniors' home drop lawsuit against Quebec town over fatal blaze
    L'ISLE-VERTE, Que. — The Quebec town of L'Isle-Verte says the co-owners of a seniors' home where 32 people died in a blaze last January have dropped a lawsuit against the municipality.

    Co-owners of seniors' home drop lawsuit against Quebec town over fatal blaze

    Canadian teacher jailed in Indonesia devastated over outcome of related trial

    Canadian teacher jailed in Indonesia devastated over outcome of related trial
    JAKARTA, Indonesia — A Canadian teacher accused of sexually abusing three students at an international school in Indonesia found it "devastating" that five janitors also accused in the case were sentenced to up to eight years in prison, his family said Monday.

    Canadian teacher jailed in Indonesia devastated over outcome of related trial

    Hamilton man to face 4th trial in the 1981 murder of a young woman

    Hamilton man to face 4th trial in the 1981 murder of a young woman
    TORONTO — An Ontario man will be tried for a fourth time in September 2016 in the murder of a nursing assistant who was killed 33 years ago in the Hamilton area.

    Hamilton man to face 4th trial in the 1981 murder of a young woman