Man accused of faking cancer for Calgary fundraiser arrested in Victoria

CALGARY – A man wanted on charges he raised $7,500 at a fundraiser by pretending to have cancer has been arrested in Victoria.

Calgary police say Kristopher Nicholas Cook, 28, was taken into custody without incident on Tuesday afternoon.

Cook was wanted on two counts of fraud over $5,000.

Police allege a silent auction was held July 8, 2011, to raise funds for cancer treatment for Cook, and that both the items to be auctioned and the venue were donated.

Following the event, attendees became skeptical and contacted police.

Last year, Ashley Kirilow of Hamilton, Ont., pleaded guilty to fraud after admitting she raised $12,000 in donations by convincing people that she had cancer.

Kirilow was given a 15-month conditional sentence and was ordered to complete 100 hours of community service.

A Halifax woman convicted of embezzling almost $70,000 from her former employer was also caught lying about having cancer.

Sherri Dawn (Lee) George, 38, admitted lying to the court and her own lawyer about having cancer, saying she had initially concocted the story when she was feeling overwhelmed by her job at a spa.

(CHQR)