NSW mother-of-four accused of faking three types of cancer to scam money

Melissa Quinn, 35, (above) allegedly spun an elaborate web of deceit over the course of several years by lying to friends and family about having cancer

A former cricket player and mother-of-four is accused of faking three different types of cancer in order to fleece thousands of dollars from fundraisers and donors.

NSW woman Melissa Quinn, 35, allegedly spun an elaborate web of deceit over the course of several years by lying to friends and family about having cancer.

The accomplished cricketer allegedly pretended to have ‘inoperable’ brain cancer, ovarian cancer and chronic myeloid leukemia in a cruel bid to scam $45,000 for her bogus treatment, Adelaide Now reports.

Quinn, who once played for the NSW women’s under-19 team, allegedly fooled the local cricket community into desperately raising funds for her fake cancer.

She even allegedly tricked former Australian captain Michael Clarke into donating signed and framed shirts for a 2014 fundraiser. 

Quinn, (pictured) who once played for the NSW women's under-19 team, allegedly fooled the local cricket community into desperately raising funds for her fake cancer

Quinn, (pictured) who once played for the NSW women’s under-19 team, allegedly fooled the local cricket community into desperately raising funds for her fake cancer

The mother was also given substantial monetary aid from her employer Cricket NSW, where she worked as a cricket development officer. 

Before the fundraisers Quinn told her local paper, The Northern Star, she had only two years left to live.

‘I had cancer two-and-a- half years ago in the uterus, so it wasn’t a huge surprise that it’s come back,’ she said in 2014.

And in 2016 Quinn claimed to the same news outlet she had a tumour growing in her leg and that she was having surgery for it.

‘It’s a bit of a tough time for me at the moment and I’m just looking forward to getting back on my feet,’ she said at the time.  

Quinn alleged she needed to raise $20,000 for eight weeks of airfares, clinical fees and everyday expenses for a medical trip to California. 

She was also chosen as one of only 10 Australians to receive government-funded proton therapy overseas at the staggering cost of $200,000 per patient.

Quinn (pictured) alleged she needed to raise $20,000 for eight weeks of airfares, clinical fees and everyday expenses for a medical trip to California

Quinn (pictured) alleged she needed to raise $20,000 for eight weeks of airfares, clinical fees and everyday expenses for a medical trip to California

Before the fundraisers Quinn (pictured) told her local paper, The Northern Star, she had only two years left to live

Before the fundraisers Quinn (pictured) told her local paper, The Northern Star, she had only two years left to live

She even allegedly tricked former Australian captain Michael Clarke (pictured) into donating signed and framed shirts for a 2014 fundraiser

She even allegedly tricked former Australian captain Michael Clarke (pictured) into donating signed and framed shirts for a 2014 fundraiser

Is is alleged Quinn travelled overseas in December of 2014 using the money raised for her cancer.

Her cancer journey was widely publicised in Australian media and was even a feature story on ABC’s 7.30. 

Police allege Quinn faked three types of cancer and she was charged with four counts of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception, among other charges.

Quinn was released on bail and she is now understood to be working at a bottle-shop in her hometown of Casino, in the northern rivers of NSW.

She is due to face Casino Local Court on April 18. 

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