Those who have an out-of-control greed gene have been known to concoct all kinds of tales of woe to con cash out of the unwary.

But in a category all their own are the lowlifes who collect on behalf of a charity and pocket the cash. Some go so far as to set up a fake foundation, supposedly to raise funds for research and treatment of some disease, when in fact the cash ends up in the con artist's personal account. Some are so adept at taking advantage of our sympathy and generosity that they collect millions.

Sadly, this sort of crime is not rare. The most recent example is a young Burlington woman accused of faking cancer in an effort to get attention and money.

The woman is alleged to have shaved her head and starved herself to look like someone undergoing chemotherapy.

She may not have perpetrated her scam with the panache of the likes of George C. Parker, who sold the Brooklyn Bridge twice weekly for years, but like him and other notorious con artists, the crime of which she is accused shows a characteristic selfishness and lack of conscience.

Hollywood has often portrayed con men as charming scoundrels with hearts of gold (slightly tarnished). They invariably come up with an elegant and witty scam to pull on some cold-blooded Mafia villain. The con man gets the cash, uses it to save the orphanage, and rides off into the sunset with the villain's former girlfriend.
In real life, con artists can be extremely charming. They can be anything they need to be to get their victims to let down their guard and hand over the money.

But they rarely target underworld kingpins, Mafia hitmen or other worthy opponents – people who would do them serious injury if caught.

They prefer easy prey, and they do not cheat their victims for altruistic purposes, but to line their own pockets.

One can hope Hollywood does not find the story of the fake cancer patient sufficiently interesting to use it as a plot for a movie. Cancer is not fodder for light entertainment. It takes a tragic toll on people from all walks of life, rich and poor, young and old. Everyone has been touched in some way.

Research has provided new medications and surgical techniques. Cancers are being discovered earlier and at a more treatable stage. We have reason to hope a cure will be found, but we cannot afford to lose a single dollar to a fake foundation or con artist. That might be the dollar that makes the difference.

We ought to use our heads as well as our hearts when we donate. Make a call, check identification, do a bit of research. Make sure our donations go where we need them to.

– from the Wingham Advance-Times