How a pro kickboxer and mom-of-four duped fans out of thousands with fraudulent GoFundMe after claiming she had CANCER

An Australian kickboxer and mother of four has been accused of faking cancer to earn more than $25,000 from a fraudulent GoFundMe campaign.

Tara Enoka was arrested on June 6 and appeared in court in Perth on Friday, where she faced a fraud charge stemming from the alleged scam, which dates back to 2021.

The professional fighter claimed she was battling breast cancer and cervical cancer in a since-deleted YouTube video promoting the crowdfunding page.

Western Australian police will allege that between March and September 2021, more than 500 people from 16 countries donated more than $25,00 ($37,000 AUD) to Enoka, believing the money would help her combat a ‘rare medical condition’ .

Authorities claim the 35-year-old transferred the money to her personal bank account before the GoFundMe was ultimately deleted.

Tara Enoka is facing a fraud charge for the alleged scam

“It will be alleged that the woman has not been diagnosed with the medical condition as alleged in the fundraising account and supporting video,” a police spokesperson said.

In Enoka’s YouTube video, with the hashtag #StandWithTara, she claimed that she was “never the type to ask anyone for help,” but that she had learned “it’s okay to ask for help.”

“We’re raising the money to pay for the treatments I need to possibly save my life so I can be here for my children to watch them grow up,” Enoka said in the clip, fighting back tears.

Since the alleged fraud came to light, GoFundMe has announced that it is “proactively” refunding all people who contributed.

She claimed the money would help her ‘be here’ [her] children to see them grow up

Since the alleged fraud came to light, GoFundMe has announced it will refund those who donated

“All donors are proactively receiving refunds and we have removed this fundraiser,” a spokesperson told NewsWire.

“The grantee has also been banned from using the platform for future fundraising,” they continued.

“GoFundMe’s Giving Guarantee offers a full refund in the rare event something goes wrong; this is the first and only guarantee of donor protection in the crowdfunding sector.”

Little is known about Enoka’s kickboxing career, but she will compete in the ANBF Australasian Lightweight Championship in August. a promotional poster.