Arthur Peabody

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/01/s...pelotonia.html

I hadn't heard of these.

DrIsotope

I have to admit, I feel bamboozled. Not by the subject in question, but by the article. He was a liar! A fraud! They know he pocketed about $1,300, and he was ordered to pay $1,800 in restitution and a $2,000 fine. I thought this guy was going to have embezzled millions, or something. As far as twist endings go, a helluva downer. I'm not excusing lying about cancer for 20 years-- but as far as frauds go, this one is so mild I'm surprised it warranted an article.

indyfabz

qft

That sort of thing happens more often than one might think.

MoAlpha

Seen it more than once from inside the health care system. Pisses a lot of people off, but I find it hard to work up a full head of righteous rage against someone running a scam to get sympathy, community, and a sense of purpose. The exception is people who do it by proxy, e.g., with their kids.

livedarklions

It's a petty theft, but it does major damage to an otherwise reputable charity. He engaged in the deception for many years and was one of the most visible members. Obviously, the attention was a bigger motivation than the paltry amount he stole, otherwise that's an awfully long con for such a small payoff. If he had never taken the money, he probably would have continued to get away with it, and frankly, I don't know if I'd even care that he was lying if it was an effective way of getting money to worthy recipients.

CliffordK

Glioblastoma is NASTY!!!! And, a charity that has him riding with Stage 4 cancer (and repeating it multiple years)... they had to know something was amiss.

ThermionicScott 

Y'know, Lance should have been dead a couple times over from his cancer, too. Makes you think...

GrainBrain

Right? The article states his partner of twenty years was in the dark!? Who are these people 'cause I got a bridge for sale!