Nurse fakes cancer to get cash

But authorities say Stover (35) never had cancer and allegedly made up the illness to get cash from friends and other donors.
Her alleged scam was discovered when a co-worker tipped off her employer that she feared Ms Stover was faking her illness.
An investigation revealed that Ms Stover had not received any treatment for cancer and her claims that she was undergoing experimental treatment turned out to be false.
Colleague Rosemary Swingle said she was among the 16 people who were allegedly cheated out of money.
“Our hearts went out to her. She went to the doctor and she was having some issues. She didn’t want to talk about it much. The next thing I know is that she has cancer,” said Ms Swingle.
“And I believed her, you know? I believed her and I wanted to help her,” she added.
Ms Swingle said one of her friends even dipped into her life savings to help Stover, giving her more than US$12 000.
“She has a heart of gold. She didn’t even question it. Didn’t even question it. Believed her,” Ms Swingle said.
Ms Stover resigned from her job as a carer at the Collier Hospice Centre in Wheat Ridge, Colorado, after bosses began to question the amount of time she was taking off.
Court records show Ms Stover told her bosses she needed the time off to undergo treatment for her cancer but quit in June 2010 when she was unable to provide documentation showing she had medical appointments.
Jefferson County District Attorney Scott Storey says victims of this type of scam are always willing to help a friend who is sick.
“Cancer is a devastating disease, as we all know – both physically and financially,” Mr Storey said.
“So when the call to help comes from somebody who is in this condition, people rally around that, so they’re easy prey.”
Ms Stover was indicted by a grand jury earlier this month on theft of US$20 000 or more and charitable fraud.
She turned herself in on Tuesday and later posted a US$5 000 bond.
9News in Colorado discovered Ms Stover is now working at the Hospice of St John on a temporary basis.
Spokesman Steven Cooper says Ms Stover’s background was thoroughly checked before they hired her.
“We’re launching an immediate investigation. We have to. I feel so sad that something like this would happen in our industry,” he said.
“99 per cent of all the people who work in our industry are really loving and caring people. The majority of our admissions are cancer patients and our staff has a particular empathy for them,” Cooper said. – Daily Mail.