Va. woman arrested in alleged "cancer for cash" scam

(CBS/WTVR) HANOVER, VA - Police say a Virginia woman was arrested Wednesday after allegedly faking cancer as part of a scam to raise money.

Martha Nicholas, 42, was arrested on two charges of misdemeanor obtaining money by false pretenses, reports CBS affiliate WTVR.

Police reportedly say they received an anonymous tip in April that the Mechanicsville woman was faking her battle with cancer to receive financial support.

According to police, Nicholas told the American Cancer Society that she was a three time cancer survivor on the brink of death, reports WTVR.

The Daily Mail reports that even Nicholas' two children, 10 and 13-year-old, may have believed their mother was dying of cancer.

Investigators said they found no evidence Nicholas had received any cancer treatment, WTVR reports. They also found evidence that people had given money to Nicholas because she claimed to have cancer.

Nicholas' lawyer, Sam Simpson, reportedly told ABC News, "This was not a scam to rip people off. There is an illness. It's a mental illness, and I can't say more about this."

Nicholas is expected to be arraigned on Dec. 16.