Notorious Cancer Faker Belle Gibson Pleads Inability to Pay Fine

Notorious cancer fake Belle Gibson has pleaded for “humanity” following questions about why she has refused to pay a $410,000 fine for duping the world. Despite her efforts to maintain a low-profile, A Current Affair tracked down the convicted con-woman, who was now living in Melbourne‘s northern suburbs. The wellness warrior said: “I haven’t paid things because I can’t afford to.”

More than a decade ago, Gibson convinced the world she had an inoperable brain tumour that left her with only four months to live, before claiming she cured herself by shunning conventional medicine in favour of alternative therapies and wholefoods. She made hundreds of thousands of dollars by peddling a phone app and wellness cookbook.

Consumer Affairs Victoria prosecuted the fraud and in 2017 the Federal Court of Australia ordered Gibson pay a $410,000 fine. But six years on, A Current Affair understands the consumer watchdog is still chasing Gibson for the entire amount.

Bella Johnston was around the same age as Gibson when she was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. She slammed Gibson’s refusal to pay up. “Offering hope to people who are literally dying is just so cruel,” Johnston said.

Lawyer Justin Lawrence from firm Henderson and Ball — who has followed Gibson’s case from the beginning — said the fact Gibson has thumbed her nose at the law with little consequence rubbed salt into her victims’ wounds. “If she’s not bankrupt then at the very least bankruptcy is something that can be pursued to really make a statement as much as anything that the community won’t tolerate this,” he said.

Consumer Affairs Victoria did not respond to specific questions about how much Gibson’s fine had ballooned to with interest and whether it would bankrupt her if she continued to ignore authorities. Premier Jacinta Allan‘s office also declined to comment.