Abreail Winkler, a Utah mother, allegedly faked her daughter's cancer to collect money through fundraisers, according to The Huffington Post.
Winkler, 30, reportedly collected $3,183 worth of "donations" and even convinced her daughter of the scam.
Winkler was charged on Tuesday with one count of third-degree felony communications fraud and is scheduled for her first court apperance on Sept. 9. She has not entered a plea yet.
Keith Campbell, assistant chief of the Vernal Police Department told CNN that Winkler "told the girl she had cancer and that she would be treated."
"When she was around her dad, the little girl would talk about having cancer," Campbell said.
Authorities began an investigation of Winkler's fundraisers in July.
"Police quickly determined that Abreail Winkler had told people in the community that the 4-year-old had leukemia. During the investigation, it was determined that the child never had leukemia. No records for treatments were located," Cambpell said.
The girl's father, Derick Winkler, said he had no knowledge of his ex-wife's alleged scam.
"I just want the court system to run its course," he said. The girl's father said he hopes his ex-wife gets "just a slap on the wrist."
The girl is now in the care of her father. If convicted, Winkler faces up to five years in prison and up to a $5,000 fine.
That's not the only cancer scam making headlines, Dr. Farid Fata of Michigan allegedly misdiagnosed cancer patients intentionally to scam Medicare of $35 million.
Fata's bond was increased to $9 million from just $170,000 at the request of prosecutors based off of the doctor's available assets. He faces up to 20 years in prison.
The Federal Trade Commission offers tips on their website on how to avoid cancer scams and warn of products that appeal to emotions in their advertisements.
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