CANCER FAKERS

Dozens of people around the world have convinced family and friends they are dying of cancer. A small sample shows the lengths they’ll go to keep up the lie.

Ashley Kirilow — Burlington

The 23-year-old claimed she had terminal cancer after a benign tumour was removed from her breast in 2008. She kept up the ruse for 18 months, going so far as plucking her eyelashes and shaving her head and eyebrows. She raised about $12,000 for her bogus charity before her dad blew the whistle on the scheme. She pleaded guilty in 2010 to fraud over and under $5,000 and was sentenced to 10 months of house arrest, five months of curfew, two years of probation and 100 hours of community services. She was also ordered to take part in counselling. Court heard Kirilow grew up in a dysfunctional family and was seeking sympathy and attention.

Jami Lynn Toler — Phoenix, Arizona

The 27-year-old faked cancer to raise money for breast implants. She raised more than $8,000 in fundraisers she helped organize after concocting a story in 2011 about not having insurance for a double mastectomy and breast reconstruction. Instead, she used the money to pay a plastic surgeon. Suspicions were raised when she turned down a doctor who offered to treat her cancer for free. She pleaded guilty to theft and was sentenced to one year in jail, three years probation and restitution.

Jessica Vega — Walkill, New York

The 25-year-old got a dream wedding and honeymoon to Aruba donated in May 2010 after she lied about having terminal leukemia. Her husband eventually reported her to authorities and two years later she was ordered to pay $13,368.48 in restitution to her victims and perform 300 hours of community service.

Belle Gibson — Australia

The 23-year-old wellness blogger is believed to have made more than $1 million after building a successful business in 2013 on the lie that she had brain cancer. She claimed to cure terminal cancer through diet, exercise and alternative therapies on her blog The Whole Pantry and sold a recipe book and phone app. She confessed in April that none of it was true after it was revealed she didn’t donate $300,000 to charity as promised.