Third fake cancer scam artist arrested in Canada

A Toronto man is alleged to have faked having cancer in order to perpetrate a fraud. Christopher Gordon, 39 appeared in court Friday morning and was released on bail. He has been charged with theft under $5,000.

According to police, Gordon told friends he had been diagnosed with terminal brain cancer in September 2008. Through a fundraiser, he managed to collect $3,000 which he subsequently spent. Just this month, he apparently admitted he had lied about having cancer.

This is the third person charged with fraud for allegedly faking cancer.

On Nov 9, Jessica Ann Leeder, 21, pleaded guilty in Timmins after defrauding her workplace of over $5000. The 21 year old woman had pretended to have stomach and lung cancer.

On Nov 2, Ashley Kirilow, 23, of Burlington, pleaded guilty to one count of fraud over $5,000 for her cancer hoax and is still facing six counts of fraud under $5,000. Kirilow went to great lengths to carry out her scam. She shaved her head, plucked her eyebrows and starved herself so that she would lose weight.

Gordon is due back in court on Nov. 30.

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