Florida cancer scam allegedly fooled 238 donors

A Florida woman accused in a cancer scam allegedly convinced hundreds of Naples residents to donate more than $40,000 after telling them she was battling the disease. Maribeth Ellen Jones, 51, was arrested this week on grand theft charges after investigators said she passed herself off as a patient between 2022 and 2024 and used the story to bring in money through bogus fundraising efforts.

According to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, Jones allegedly fooled 238 residents into believing she needed help for cancer treatment. Detectives said she did not stop at asking for donations online. Community members also cut her hair under the impression they were helping prepare her for chemotherapy, a detail police said showed how far the deception went. The sheriff’s office said Jones, of Bonita Springs, “went to great lengths to make her story believable.”

Investigators said the donations came through GoFundMe pages tied to her personal bank account, along with cash and checks given directly by residents who believed they were helping someone in need. Police also said Jones had already benefited from two earlier GoFundMe campaigns that claimed she had cancer. Authorities alleged the money was used to pay off her personal debts.

Sheriff Kevin Rambosk called the case a betrayal of people who were trying to do the right thing. He said it was “appalling” because it took advantage of the kindness of others, and warned that anyone who lies to steal from residents in Collier County will be arrested and held accountable. He added that scams like this do more than drain money from victims; they also damage trust in legitimate fundraisers for people who truly need help.