He pretended to have cancer, collected thousands on the web and went on a trip: the Justice ordered him to return only 6 dollars

The situation is truly scandalous. A woman pretended to have cancerhas organized a collection to address his treatment but he spent all the money he had raised on the Web.

And what did you use it for? In luxury vacation and to finance his gambling problem, that is, his own gambling addiction.

When the real situation was discovered, she was sentenced to two years and nine months in prison return – here comes the worst – a negligible sum of money.

Story of a scammer

His name is Nicole Elkabba and his farce began nearly five years ago. At the time, the woman – now 44 and living in Broadstairs, Kent, Great Britain – posted to call for help online.

In it, he said he needed money for ovarian cancer treatment.

With her eyes closed, her forehead furrowed – apparently – with pain, the young woman of slim build was seen lying between the white sheets of the hospital bed, she gave the image of a absolute vulnerabilitydescribe the Daily mail when addressing the subject.

The photo, which was posted online, made it clear that it was someone who he was in desperate need of help.

At the time, he said, he had undergone three surgeries and six chemotherapy sessions and urgently needed money to pay for an innovative drug made in Spain. That was it “the only way to be saved”He explained.

Described as a “beautiful daughter” and a “loving mother,” this former Harrods manager asked for assistance with GoFundMethe popular fundraising site.

And it was convincing. So much that more than 600 peoplefriends and strangers, they donated sums ranging from a few dollars to thousands, maintains the medium.

Quickly, the collected value amounted to over $ 55,000, an amount that, according to donors, was used to finance specialized care in Spain. Except, as those generous contributors now know, Nicole did not have cancer.

The details about the breakthrough therapy and the countless journeys for treatment were but a fiction intended to finance his gambling addiction and luxurious tastes.

The photo was his. But she was only recovering in a private hospital from to relatively minor surgery to remove the gallbladder.

Terrible discovery and unusual pain

The details of the deception have now been revealed and, after going through a trial, this single mother has to move on two years and nine months of imprisonment.

Mark Weekes, the judge in the case, said Elkabbas’ “cunning and manipulative” deception was “an insult to those who have to face the battle against cancer with sincerity and courage”published the Daily mail.

Is that while the users were moved by the case, she took it upon herself play and enjoy shopping and luxury in Italy and Spain paid for them.

The question then is: how was the hoax discovered? It happens that the news has reached the doctors which had been cured in her hometown.

Not only were they sure that the hospital in the photo was not in Spain (due to the wallpaper covering the walls), but that one of them was a gynecologist who had examined it and found “no signs of ovarian cancer”.

He contacted the Medical Defense Syndicate for advice and was advised to speak with the Policemanpointed to the medium.

Finally, in February last year, Justice has managed to verify its web of lies: The Spanish doctor has never been found and has not presented any documents confirming his illness.

According to The sunsince the scammer’s arrest, investigators have estimated that she raised a staggering total of nearly $ 450,000 through various criminal strategies.

But, and here comes what most outrages the deceived, the woman you will only have to return a little over 6 dollars in the next 28 days.

This is because a court ruled, in a forfeiture hearing, that the scammer you have no assets and no “realistic prospect” of repaying the full amount.

one of many victims of the deception she said she felt “used, betrayed, ashamed, humiliated and depressed”. A sentiment shared by many of those who, with the best of intentions of her, gave their money to help her.