Maribeth Ellen Jones is accused of pretending to have cancer and scamming over 200 people out of more than $40,000. Image is courtesy of the Collier County Sheriff's Office.
NAPLES, Fla. - A Florida woman who deputies say claimed to have cancer is accused of scamming more than 200 people out of tens of thousands of dollars, which she used to pay personal debts.
Fraud Allegations in Collier County
What we know:
According to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, Maribeth Ellen Jones, 51, of Bonita Springs, who worked as an activities director in the community told residents between 2022-2024 that she had cancer.
Detectives said she even cut her hair to make it look like she was preparing for chemotherapy and pretended her condition was getting worse.
Residents created a GoFundMe page for Jones, which linked to her personal bank account, according to CCSO.
Investigators said residents also gave her cash and personal checks.
The investigation also revealed Jones had been the beneficiary of two previous GoFundMe campaigns in which she claimed to have cancer.
Detectives said they discovered that Jones lied about having cancer and used the money to pay personal debts. They accuse her of defrauded 238 Naples residents out of more than $40,000.
Jones turned herself in at the Naples Jail Center this week after detectives obtained a warrant for her arrest on the second-degree felony charge. She has been charged with grand theft between $20,000 and $100,000
Status of the Legal Case
What we don't know:
Authorities have not released details regarding whether Jones has retained legal representation or when she will make her initial court appearance.
Law Enforcement Response
What they're saying:
"This is an appalling case because it exploited the kindness and generosity of people who truly wanted to help someone they believed was fighting for her life," Sheriff Kevin Rambosk said. "If you lie to steal from the generosity of others in Collier County, we will arrest you and hold you accountable."
"This type of scam not only hurts victims financially, it undermines trust in legitimate fundraisers for people who genuinely need help," Sheriff Rambosk added.
A spokesperson for GoFundMe shared the following with FOX 13:
"GoFundMe has zero tolerance for the misuse of our platform and anyone who seeks to take advantage of the generosity of others. We can confirm fundraisers organized on behalf of Maribeth Jones were removed from our platform, and her account was banned for any future fundraising. More than $41,000 was refunded to donors on the platform through GoFundMe’s Giving Guarantee, which offers a full refund in the rare case something isn’t right."
Guidelines for Online Donors
What you can do:
CCSO offers these tips to consider before donating to an online fundraiser:
Always do your homework first before donating. Verify the story through trusted family members and friends.
- Look for updates, documentation and transparency from the organizer.
- Look at the comments and donations. Are family, friends or community members making donations and leaving supportive comments?
- Be cautious if you’re pressured to donate quickly or if the story can’t be independently confirmed.
- When possible, donate directly to the individual, hospital or a verified charity.
The Source: The information in this story was gathered from the Collier County Sheriff's Office, which detailed the investigation and arrest in a public statement, as well as official court charging documents.