A mum-of-three from Port Adelaide, SA, is accused of defrauding her friends and family out of $325K by faking ovarian cancer.
Kelly Smith, 38, is alleged to have used her son’s illness plus her own to con people into handing over money.
An anonymous family friend told 7News: “They gave thinking that they could change the outcome for that family and it wasn’t true.
“People have taken from their super, people have withdrawn from their home loans.
“I think when it’s someone close to you and you think they’re going to go through something so tragic, you do everything you can to make sure that doesn’t happen to them.”
The family friend added: “It just hurts everyone and there’s too many people that have given and been hurt by this and trusted her.”
Ms Smith was supposed to front court yesterday but didn’t show up.
Her next court appearance will be in September and if she doesn’t attend, an arrest warrant will be issued.
