A 39-year-old Toronto man has been charged with fraud after allegedly pretending to have brain cancer, the third such high-profile case involving a fraudulent cancer claim in recent months.
Police allege the man began lying to his friends as far back as September 2008, telling them he had been diagnosed with terminal brain cancer.
In October 2009, friends and family organized a fundraiser that collected $3,000 for the accused. Police say the man has subsequently spent the money.
Toronto police said in a statement that the man admitted to lying about cancer to his supporters this month.
Christopher Gordon has been charged with fraud under $5,000. He appeared in court briefly on Friday and had to post bail of $500, but the matter was put over until Nov. 30.
A publication ban was imposed on the court proceedings.
The arrest is the third recent case, following closely on the heels of charges against a Timmins, Ont., woman who claimed she had stomach and lung cancer.
On Nov. 9, Jessica Ann Leeder pleaded guilty to defrauding her workplace of thousands of dollars collected for treatment.
Friends grew suspicious when the woman, originally from Orillia, Ont., continually asked for money to travel to Toronto for treatment.
At one point, her employer sent flowers to a Sudbury hospital where she was supposedly receiving treatment. The flowers were returned with a note saying she was not a patient either.
Earlier this month, Ashley Kirilow, 23, of Burlington, Ont., pleaded guilty to one count of fraud under $5,000 in a similar cancer hoax. She still faces six more counts of fraud under $5,000.
She has admitted that she made the claim "to be noticed," after setting up a charity that collected $20,000.
Kirilow is to be back in court on Jan. 27.
With files from The Canadian Press
