Florida woman arrested for faking cancer to scam donors

Maribeth Ellen Jones, 51, of Bonita Springs, Florida, has been arrested and charged with grand theft after allegedly faking a cancer diagnosis to scam more than 200 people out of $40,000.

According to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, Jones used her position as an activities director in the Naples area to deceive residents between 2022 and 2024. Investigators claim she went to great lengths to make the illness appear real, including telling community members her health was deteriorating and convincing them to cut her hair in preparation for chemotherapy.

Donations were collected through cash, personal checks, and GoFundMe campaigns that were allegedly linked to her personal bank account. Detectives stated that the funds were used to pay off personal debts rather than for medical treatment. Jones reportedly told investigators that she fabricated the diagnosis because she ‘liked the attention it brought her and enjoyed the adulation’ from those expressing concern.

Sheriff Kevin Rambosk described the incident as an ‘appalling case’ that exploited the generosity of the community and undermined trust in legitimate fundraisers.