With photos of children suffering from cancer they promoted donations for a good cause – but in fact, hardly any money came to the needy. Two board members of the Children’s Cancer Aid Bavaria e.V. are therefore now in court.
Because of fraud and infidelity from today two board members of the association child cancer help Bavaria e.V. before the Augsburger district court. They are said to have put more than 150,000 euros in donations into their own pockets.
Advertising with photos of children with cancer
The crooks of the accused are said to have targeted the emotional side of potential donors. They posted photos of children with cancer on their website, hoping to increase their willingness to donate. Between January 2016 and October 2017, the 49-year-old woman and the 38-year-old man are said to have deceived donors.
Families became suspicious of child cancer help
Indeed, according to the investigation, those in need did not see much of the money donated to them. This happened, for example, to the family of two leukemia-affected twin brothers. The Children’s Cancer Aid Bavaria advertised with a photo of the family for donations – this hardly benefited.
The parents then became suspicious and asked the club to take the photos off the page. But months later the pictures of her sons could be found on the website.
A verdict is due next week
The name of prominent institutions such as the German Children’s Cancer Foundation, the association should have used to collect donations. Some of the projects received only small amounts – others did not land a cent. Around 250 fraud cases are listed in the indictment. The verdict against the two board members is scheduled to fall on February 14.
