‘I have cancer, please help’: Social media star cheats followers of lakhs, surrenders to police

CAIRO: As social media continues to grow, the number of online celebrities and influencers has also increased. While many people use these platforms for positive causes, others misuse them for fraud and criminal activities. Often, people trust information shared online without checking its authenticity.

Now, a shocking fraud case involving a woman vlogger who falsely claimed to have cancer and collected huge amounts of money has become a major talking point.

The incident took place in Egypt. A young woman named Donia Fouad claimed on social media that she was suffering from cancer and needed money for treatment. Using this story, she allegedly collected nearly four million Egyptian pounds, which is around Rs 71 lakh.

The truth came out after medical tests confirmed that she did not have cancer. Soon after this, Donia surrendered to the police. Many people who had donated money have now started legal action against her.

Some people had earlier complained that Donia was collecting money through suspicious means. Based on these complaints, police questioned and arrested her husband during the investigation.

After the fraud was exposed, Donia claimed that she was actually suffering from mental health issues and needed treatment for that condition. She said that when people believed she was ill, she received love, care and emotional support from others, which gave her emotional comfort. Donia also admitted that she had earlier ignored her friends’ advice to seek treatment for her mental health problems.