Disgraced wellness blogger Belle Gibson faced a fresh backlash this week, after it was alleged that she had been paid a sum of up to $45,000 for a tell-all interview to air on 60 Minutes this Sunday night.
Soon after the story broke, a petition began circulating, asking Gibson, who faked a cancer diagnosis and lied about the healing properties of organic foods, to donate any proceeds from the interview to cancer research.
Overnight, it emerged that Gibson is being investigated in relation to charity fraud and deceiving consumers, and may be facing hefty fines and even jail time, depending on the outcome.
Consumer Affairs Victoria are currently investigating Gibson over breaches of the state’s fundraising act and consumer law, after charities claimed that they did not receive hundreds of thousands of dollars in promised donations.
The group gave a statement to News Corp Australia, saying that they are “currently making inquiries with Belle Gibson and associated companies, as to the nature of any fundraising appeals that may have occurred.”
This investigation includes “details of beneficiaries and net proceeds given”, and will attempt to uncover “whether, in trade or commerce, there was conduct that was misleading or deceptive or likely to mislead or deceive.”
Gibson solicited donations for five charities, at least four of whom, including Melbourne’s Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, had no idea that this was being done on their behalf.
She made one donation, of $1000, to the education charity One Girl, but has claimed that subsequent donations were held by her company because its finances were “a mess.”
Individuals who breach the fundraising act can face 12 months in jail, and fines exceeding $14,000. The petition for Gibson to donate her 60 Minutes money to cancer research can be found here.
via News Limited
