# Scammer lied about having cancer **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 28, 2023, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scammer-lied-about-having-cancer/978972 "2023-01-28T23:23:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2023, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scammer-lied-about-having-cancer/978972/21 "2023-03-01T20:22:23Z")
“Not Guilty” can mean anything from “I am going fight this until the end” to “We haven’t worked out a plea deal yet”. ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2023, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scammer-lied-about-having-cancer/978972/22 "2023-03-01T22:09:44Z")
So young and stupid, I feel bad for her and her family. What the hell is going on with her to fake cancer? Sad and desperate for attention, or just desperate for money. And another stupid woman here in Michigan got caught up in a grievous lie that may have permanently harmed her family relationships. > **[Michigan mother said she ‘fed off’ catfishing 2 teens, including own daughter](https://www.mlive.com/news/saginaw-bay-city/2023/02/michigan-mother-said-she-fed-off-catfishing-2-teens-including-own-daughter.html)** > > "No, it was nothing like that," Kendra Licari said when asked if the catfishing spawned out of an infatuation with her daughter's boyfriend. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2023, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scammer-lied-about-having-cancer/978972/23 "2023-08-21T05:25:29Z")
Update: She had to pay restitution, and do two years of probation. > **[Bettendorf woman who received donations for fake cancer diagnosis pleads guilty](https://qctimes.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/bettendorf-woman-who-received-donations-for-fake-cancer-diagnosis-pleads-guilty/article_7c7dea91-3b05-57ff-996b-69fd6eaf0798.html)** > > Madison Russo pleaded guilty on Wednesday and will be sentenced at a later date. ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2023, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scammer-lied-about-having-cancer/978972/24 "2023-08-21T10:15:03Z")
I detect a flaw with this premise. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2023, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scammer-lied-about-having-cancer/978972/25 "2023-10-21T00:48:03Z")
Her sentence: 10-year suspended sentence with 3 years of probation. > **[Cancer scam victims feels betrayed with Madison Russo suspended sentence](https://www.kwqc.com/2023/10/20/cancer-scam-victims-feels-betrayed-with-madison-russo-suspended-sentence/?fbclid=IwAR2M17BX-BEQ1q2dWbQm4fvi_qRZfhnwfKTqFF5o5U_83EAK9_31Is4eWHI)** > > A Bettendorf woman, who pleaded guilty to a cancer scam, involving theft of over $39,000 in donations for a false cancer claim was sentenced to a suspended prison sentence and probation, Friday at the Scott County Courthouse. Victims say they feel... ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2023, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scammer-lied-about-having-cancer/978972/26 "2023-10-21T01:13:11Z")
[Did anyone consider maybe she just wanted to hang out with her high school friends?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUJRVrf9Ztc) ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2023, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scammer-lied-about-having-cancer/978972/27 "2023-10-28T22:45:42Z")
You know you’ve “made it” as a criminal when controversial YouTuber Dr. Todd Grande does a piece about you. ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2023, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scammer-lied-about-having-cancer/978972/28 "2023-10-29T15:03:30Z")
Can’t help but think the punishment ought to be injecting her with all sorts of carcinogens and such. You want to play at having cancer? We’ll give you a hand. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2023, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scammer-lied-about-having-cancer/978972/29 "2023-10-29T15:26:43Z")
Why is he controversial? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scammer-lied-about-having-cancer/978972.md?page=1)