Scam Fundraisers Exploit Children With Cancer, Raising Millions

Khalil was asked to pretend it was his birthday.

Children with cancer and their families across multiple countries have been exploited in online fundraising scams that raised millions of dollars but delivered little or none of the money to the intended beneficiaries, a BBC World Service investigation has found.

The investigation identified at least 15 families who received minimal or no funds from campaigns created in their children’s names, despite emotionally charged videos soliciting global donations. Nine families connected to what appears to be the same scam network reported receiving none of the roughly $4 million apparently raised.

One case involved seven-year-old Chance Letikva Khalil from the Philippines, who died of cancer a year after appearing in a fundraising video. His mother, Aljin Tabasa, said she was paid a one-time filming fee of $700 but never received any of the $27,000 the campaign seemed to have collected online.

Families said they were often asked to stage highly emotional scenes, including shaving children’s heads, attaching fake medical equipment, and forcing children to cry on camera, with the promise that videos would help raise funds for treatment.

The campaigns were professionally produced, widely promoted online, and often framed as urgent, life-or-death situations. Many were linked to an organisation called Chance Letikva, registered in Israel and the United States, as well as other similarly named entities.

The investigation identified Israeli-Canadian Erez Hadari as a key figure connected to multiple campaigns. Documents reviewed by the BBC linked his name to several fundraising organisations. Families in the Philippines, Colombia, and Ukraine said he was involved directly or indirectly in filming their children.

In Colombia, the family of an eight-year-old girl diagnosed with a brain tumour said a campaign in her name appeared to have raised nearly $250,000, but they received nothing. In Ukraine, the mother of a five-year-old cancer patient was unaware a campaign using her daughter’s image had even been published, despite it appearing to raise more than €280,000.

The BBC said small test donations caused totals on some campaigns to increase, suggesting the donation counters were active. Some donors reported repeated requests for money via messages appearing to be sent by the sick children or their parents.

A whistleblower linked to the network said recruiters were instructed to find “beautiful children” aged three to nine who had lost hair due to cancer treatment.

When contacted, Hadari denied involvement in fundraising. Several other individuals and organisations named in the investigation did not respond.

Charity experts said advertising costs should normally not exceed 20 percent of funds raised, contradicting claims that donations were entirely absorbed by promotion. The Israeli Corporations Authority noted that organisations found to cover illegal activity could be denied registration, while UK charity regulators advised donors to verify the legitimacy of fundraising organisations before contributing.

The BBC reported that some campaigns linked to deceased children remain online and appear to be accepting donations, raising serious concerns over accountability and the misuse of charitable funds.