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

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An Australian kickboxer and mother-of-four has been charged with faking cancer in order to profit more than $25,000 from a fraudulent GoFundMe campaign. 

Tara Enoka was arrested on June 6 and appeared in a Perth court on Friday, facing one count of gains benefit by fraud over the alleged scam, which dates back to 2021.

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

Western Australian police will allege that between March and September 2021, more than 500 people from 16 countries donated over $25,00 ($37,000 AUD) to Enoka, thinking the funds would help her fight a 'rare medical condition.' 

Authorities claim the 35-year-old transferred the funds to her personal bank account, before the GoFundMe was eventually deleted. 

An Australian kickboxer and mother-of-four has been charged with faking cancer

Tara Enoka is facing one count of gains benefit by fraud over the alleged scam 

'It will be alleged the woman had not been diagnosed with the medical condition as the fundraising account and supporting video claimed,' a police spokesman said.

In Enoka's YouTube video, which featured the hashtag #StandWithTara, she claimed that she has 'never been the type to ask anybody for help' but she had learned 'it is OK to ask for help'.

'We're raising the money to help pay for the treatments that I need to potentially save my life so that I can be here for my kids to watch them grow up,' Enoka said in the clip, fighting back tears. 

Since the alleged fraud came to light, GoFundMe announced it is 'proactively' refunding all the people who contributed.

She claimed the funds would help her 'be here for [her] kids to watch them grow up'

Since the alleged fraud came to light, GoFundMe announced it is refunding those who donated

'All donors will be proactively refunded and we have removed this fundraiser,' a spokesperson told NewsWire.

'The beneficiary has also been banned from using the platform for any future fundraisers,' they went on. 

'GoFundMe's Giving Guarantee offers a full refund in the rare case when something isn't right; this is the first and only donor protection guarantee in the crowd-funding industry.'

Little is known about Enoka's kickboxing career, however she's slated to compete in the ANBF Australasian Lightweight Championship in August, per a promotional poster.