Current:Home > FinanceGoFundMe refunds donations to poker player who admits to lying about cancer for tournament buy-in-InfoLens
GoFundMe refunds donations to poker player who admits to lying about cancer for tournament buy-in
View Date:2024-12-23 14:44:34
LAS VEGAS (AP) — The fundraising platform GoFundMe said Thursday it has refunded money to donors after a poker player admitted to lying about a terminal cancer diagnosis and accepted thousands of dollars in donations so he could play in a World Series of Poker tournament in Las Vegas.
GoFundMe said it has also banned Rob Mercer from the platform and removed the poker player’s fundraising campaign from its website.
“GoFundMe has zero tolerance for the misuse of our platform and takes swift action against those who exploit the generosity of our community,” the company said in an emailed statement to The Associated Press.
Mercer told the Las Vegas Review-Journal he made up a stage 4 colon cancer diagnosis for his GoFundMe page in June, the newspaper reported Wednesday.
The California resident was trying to raise enough funds to meet the $10,000 buy-in for the No-limit Hold’em World Championship. He received contributions worth between $30,000 and $50,000, including a stay at a suite in the Bellagio. Even a fellow player from Arizona who suffers from chronic illness donated $2,500.
“I’m sorry for not being honest about what my situation was,” Mercer said. “If I would have done that from Day One, who knows what would have happened.”
Las Vegas police didn’t immediately respond Thursday to an inquiry about whether an investigation has been opened into Mercer. GoFundMe said in its statement it would cooperate with a law enforcement investigation.
However, the 37-year-old said he would not be refunding anyone because he believes he has undiagnosed breast cancer.
veryGood! (4511)
Related
- Hurricane-damaged Tropicana Field can be fixed for about $55M in time for 2026 season, per report
- Biden administration finalizes a $1.1 billion aid package for California’s last nuclear power plant
- Some US states and NYC succeed in getting 2020 census numbers double-checked and increased
- Freezing temperatures complicate Chicago’s struggles to house asylum-seekers
- A pair of Trump officials have defended family separation and ramped-up deportations
- US Justice Department to release long-awaited findings on Uvalde mass shooting Thursday
- Why Kyle Richards Felt Weird Being in Public With Mauricio Umansky Before Separation
- Lawmakers questioned Fauci about lab leak COVID theory in marathon closed-door congressional interview
- NBC's hospital sitcom 'St. Denis Medical' might heal you with laughter: Review
- Capitol rioter who assaulted at least 6 police officers is sentenced to 5 years in prison
Ranking
- Voters in Oakland oust Mayor Sheng Thao just 2 years into her term
- Who is Jaish al-Adl, the Sunni group that Iran targeted in an airstrike on Pakistani soil?
- Virginia Senate panel defeats bill that aimed to expand use of murder charge against drug dealers
- Police investigating homicide after human remains found in freezer of Colorado home
- Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly are expecting their first child together
- Quaker Oats recall list: See the dozens of products being recalled for salmonella concerns
- Colts owner Jim Irsay found ‘unresponsive’ inside home last month, police say
- Burt's Bees, Hidden Valley Ranch launch lip balm inspired by buffalo chicken wings
Recommendation
-
Trump on Day 1: Begin deportation push, pardon Jan. 6 rioters and make his criminal cases vanish
-
Spiritual adviser at first nitrogen gas execution asks Alabama for safeguards to protect witnesses
-
Illinois House speaker assembles lawmakers to recommend help for migrant crisis
-
CES highlighted the hottest gadgets and tools, often fueled by AI
-
School workers accused of giving special needs student with digestive issue hot Takis, other abuse
-
Shooter in Colorado LGBTQ+ club massacre intends to plead guilty to federal hate crimes
-
Timbaland talks about being elected to Songwriters Hall of Fame: Music really gives me a way to speak
-
Gov. Andy Beshear’s allies form group to promote the Democrat’s agenda in GOP-leaning Kentucky