A 19-year-old Iowa woman was arrested for theft by means of deception after allegedly faking having cancer on TikTok and collecting more than $37,000 in online donations on GoFundMe, according to Iowa police.
TikToker tells heartbreaking cancer story and collects over $37,000 from donors
A 19-year-old TikTok creator from Iowa posted her medical journey on the platform, laying out a heartbreaking story as she told followers she was battling “suffered acute lymphoblastic leukemia, stage 2 pancreatic cancer.”
At the same time, she established a GoFundMe page to raise money for her health battle entitled: “Maddie’s Fight against Pancreatic Cancer.”
The GoFundMe page had an equally heart-wrenching story…
“On February 10th, 2022 Maddie Russo found out she has pancreatic cancer and has been going to battle ever since to win this war. Maddie is currently undergoing vigorous chemotherapy and radiation treatments that make her very sick… As one can imagine, this diagnosis has been very hard on Maddie’s family. Just like with any cancer diagnosis, the cost of medical bills, gas, meals, and expenses can be a burden, and that is something this family should not have to worry about…”
Not only did Maddie tell her story online but also in three other venues, including St. Ambrose University as a guest speaker through The National Pancreatic Foundation in Chicago and in a podcast for Project Purple, according to a police press release.
But as the money from 439 donors poured in, raising $37,803 toward the goal of $40,000, a tipster told police Maddie’s claim to have “a tumor the size of a football, that wrapped around her spine,” didn’t add up, CBS reported.
Tipster alerts police about TikToker’s cancer hoax
In January, police were notified by an anonymous witness who claimed to have “medical experience” and “pointed out the many medical discrepancies found on her pictures posted on her social media site” within the claims Maddie was making about her acute lymphoblastic leukemia and Stage 2 pancreatic cancer, BuzzFeed News reported.
Authorities then obtained a subpoena for the medical records of 19-year-old Madison “Maddie” Russo of Bettendorf, Iowa. The records revealed that Russo “had never been diagnosed with any kind of cancer or tumor” at any medical facility in the area, according to police.
Russo, a student at St. Ambrose University, was taken into custody outside of her classroom on January 23, the Eldridge Police Department said. Russo was arrested and charged with theft by means of deception.
