West Australian man allegedly fakes cancer to scam more than $1m from family

A West Australian man allegedly faked cancer and then pretended to be a victim of fraud to scam more than $1m from his family.

A man allegedly faked cancer and pretended to be a victim of fraud himself to scam more than $1m from his family.

Victorian police charged a 30-year old West Australian man over an elaborate plot that began when he allegedly failed to hand over money from the sale of a family home in Alfredton, about 120km northwest of Melbourne.

Police allege the man used the profits of the family home without telling his partner, then attempted to hide the missing funds by claiming he made an investment and was set to receive a $2m profit.

Police allege a man scammed more than $1m from his family Picture: NewsWire / Diego Fedele

When he could not produce the $2m, it’s alleged that he told his family he had been given a cancer diagnosis and was a victim of fraud.

Police claim the man deceived his family into handing over an additional $1.2m, created fake email accounts and impersonated lawyers to back up his story.

It’s also alleged that he created a shonky document to obtain a new car worth about $70,000 from a Horsham dealership, 300km northwest of Melbourne.

He was charged with 28 offences. Picture: NewsWire/Tamati Smith

The West Australian man was first arrested in Ararat on July 8 last year.

Horsham Family Violence Investigation Unit detectives conducted a lengthy investigation and charged the 30-year old with 28 offences, including 10 counts of obtaining property by deception, and 13 counts of creating false documents.

He is due to face the Horsham Magistrates Court on June 24.

Originally published as West Australian man allegedly fakes cancer to scam more than $1m from family