Mom accused of telling son he had cancer to raise money for scam

A Nevada community that gave money and support to a 7-year-old boy they thought had cancer has discovered they were duped after the child's mother was charged with lying about his illness for cash.

Fox5 reported Shawnanna Starr Flores, a 33-year-old mother from Mesquite, NV, is facing charges of fraud, theft and child abuse in a scam for which police say she lied to her own son, Rodrigo Quintero, telling him he had liver cancer.

The Desert Valley Times reported the community raised $404 at a recent car wash fundraiser for Rodrigo's medical bills and the family set up a fund for other donations.

[ Related: Montana man sentenced in latest fake cancer drug case ]

The child was also on a list of patients to receive money from the fundraising event Carnival for Cures, according to the Desert Valley Times, but Rodrigo was removed as a beneficiary because his mother did not provide medical proof of his disease. A casino also cancelled a charity dinner scheduled for Rodrigo because of the same reason, according to the story.

The entire family also shaved their heads.

Flores is among two other mothers who were recently charged with pretending their children had cancer. CNN reported Abreail Denise Winkler of Utah was charged with communications fraud in August in connection with allegations that she told people, including her daughter's father, that her 4-year-old had leukemia.

An Ohio mother, Stephanie Weddle, was also charged with forgery and theft in August after claiming her son had cancer and accepting donations, according to Fox59. Police told the broadcaster the woman used the money to buy gas and to pay registration fees for her kids' sports.