Fake cancer patient charged with fraud

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CALGARY, Alberta, Sept. 12 (UPI) -- A Canadian man has been charged with fraud after telling friends he had brain cancer and then fleeing with fundraising proceeds to British Columbia.

The fundraiser was held at a bar in Calgary, Alberta, in July 2011, where more than $7,500 was raised for Kristopher Cook, the Calgary Sun reported.

Family and friends became suspicious when Cook showed off a new Macbook Pro the next day and then vanished.

Cook, 28, had allegedly told people he had the same type of cancer that killed his sister although his father told Calgary police he was an only child.

Fraud investigators could not find any evidence Cook had been treated at area hospitals, the Sun said.

Acting on a tip this week, Calgary police contacted authorities in Victoria, British Columbia, and Cook was arrested Tuesday and charged with two counts of fraud over $5,000.

He is scheduled to be returned to Calgary in coming days, police said.