The effects of faking a cancer diagnosis and defrauding the public are more far-reaching than a quantum leap over moral lines.


Many of the suspects we've written about (seen below)[1] who are accused of the crime have taken money from their colleagues, family and friends.


One woman, Brittany Ozarowski of New York, allegedly conned her grandmother into selling her home[2] to raise money for her treatment.


Stephanie Weddle of Indiana reportedly told her own son that he had cancer[3] to corroborate her lie so others would donate money to her. When he didn't get sick, his coach -- who's also a police officer -- started to investigate.


View the slideshow below to find out what happened to these scammers.





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  • Kody Grode


    Kody Grode, 24, told her best friend of nine years and colleagues at a local daycare that she had stage-three ovarian cancer. Grode allegedly grifted over $2,000 before being caught. Grode has been sentenced to 90 days in jail. <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/05/kody-grode-sentenced-to-j_n_3708971.html" target="_blank">Read the full story here.</a>




  • Kristopher Cook


    Kristopher Cook, 28, was accused of faking brain cancer in a scam to get money from well-wishers. Cook allegedly made $7,500 before being caught. In jail, Cook was reportedly beaten within 24 hours and suffered a lacerated spleen and broken nose.




  • Brittany Ozarowski


    Brittany Ozarowski, a 21-year-old alleged heroin addict, was accused of pretending to be cancer-ridden to scam money. She even got her grandmother to sell her house.

    <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/10/brittany-ozarowski-cancer-heroin-lie-hoax-long-island-new-york_n_3054786.html" target="_blank">Read the full story here</a>




  • Jessica Vega


    Jessica Vega, 25, was charged with fraud after she allegedly scammed over $13,000 in a fake cancer scheme to pay for her wedding and honeymoon. Vega told friends and family, including her then-fiance, that she was dying of leukemia and faked doctors' notes. The couple divorced, then later got back together. <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/25/jessica-vega-admits-faking-cancer_n_1453474.html" target="_blank">Read the full story here.</a>




  • Martha Nicholas


    Martha Nicholas, a 44-year-old mother mother of two, was arrested in 2011 on charges of obtaining money under false pretenses when she claimed to have cancer. Police said there was no evidence of her ever having cancer. Nicholas made over $10,000 and convinced her children, ages 10 and 13, that she was dying.

    <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/11/martha-nicholas-fake-cancer-arrested_n_1142187.html" target="_blank">Read the full story here.</a>




  • Sara Ylen


    Sara Ylen, 38, allegedly convinced her congregation to hold a fundraiser for her after claiming to have cancer with only 6 months to live. A blood test showed she did not, in fact, have cancer. Ylen was charged with fraud and false pretenses <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/09/sara-ylen-cancer_n_3569761.html" target="_blank">Read the full story here</a>




  • Lori Stilley


    Lori Stilley, 40, allegedly told friends and family she had bladder cancer in a scam to have a dream wedding. Stilley made more than $10,000 An investigation found that She had never been treated for nor diagnosed with cancer, prosecutors said. Stilley was charged with theft by deception.

    <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/27/lori-stilley-fake-cancer_n_1918694.html#slide=1574733" target="_blank">Read the full story here
    </a>