Scrutiny on blogger over charity fraud
MELBOURNE: Disgraced “wellness” blogger Belle Gibson is being investigated for charity fraud after confessing she lied about having terminal brain cancer and then healing herself.
Consumer Affairs Victoria confirmed it was looking into the activities of Gibson, 29, and companies associated with her.
CAV said its inquiries concerned “the nature of any fundraising appeals that may have occurred, including details of beneficiaries and net proceeds given” and “whether, in trade or commerce, there was conduct that was misleading or deceptive, or likely to mislead or deceive”.
Consumer law and Victoria’s Fundraising Act make it unlawful for a person or business to make statements in trade or commerce that are “misleading or deceptive”.
Corporations can be fined more than $28,000 and individuals can face 12 months’ imprisonment and personal fines of more than $14,000.
It is an offence to conduct a fundraising appeal unless you are registered or exempt. Registration requires a fundraiser to list beneficiaries, and the beneficiaries must be aware of, and agree, to the arrangement.
The Whole Pantry poster girl promoted herself as a lifestyle guru and sold thousands of cancer sufferers and their families on the myth she recovered from the deadly disease by eating whole foods.
She was exposed earlier this year after several charities confirmed they had failed to receive promised donations of about $300,000.
She is alleged to have solicited donations from more than 200,000 online followers for at least five charities, including Melbourne-based charity One Girl, which runs education programs in Sierra Leone (which confirmed it received $1000 in March).
Four, including Melbourne’s Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, had no knowledge fundraisers had taken place on their behalf.
Ms Gibson has since claimed donations were being held by her company but had not been forwarded because the firm’s finances were “a mess”.