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An Adelaide couple have been charged after allegedly faking the cancer diagnosis of their six-year-old son in a "cruel" money-making endeavour.
The mother allegedly shared that her boy would be going through treatment for eye cancer on social media about three weeks ago.
The next day, the couple, who are both aged 44, allegedly set up a crowdfunding page and pleaded for donations for their son's ongoing treatment.
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Police alleged the couple raised about $60,000 through friends, family and the child's private school in a relatively short time.
The alleged ruse was reported to police on November 26 and an investigation began.
The mother, who works at a hairdresser in Adelaide's west, allegedly asked a colleague to help shave her son's hair and eyebrows off.
She then allegedly placed him in a wheelchair with bandages.
Police alleged she did all this to mimic the side effects of stereotactic radiotherapy treatment.
Officers confirmed that the boy was not being treated for cancer and the couple was arrested this morning.
"I couldn't think of a more devious or cruel scheme that the parents have done to their own child," Acting Assistant Commissioner John DeCandia said.
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"It's abhorrent that people would seek to profit for their own greed and selfishness from such an insidious disease as cancer which impacts so many families in our community."
DeCandia said that both the six-year-old boy and his sibling had been removed from their parents and placed with a relative as a short-term measure.
"We believe this farce illness is causing significant and serious psychological harm to the child and their sibling," DeCandia said.
The children will be receiving ongoing support from the Department of Child Protection and Child Protection Services to deal with the alleged "traumatic" events.
The parents are both now facing two counts each of criminal neglect and deceiving another to benefit self.
The couple appeared at Port Adelaide Magistrates Court via videolink and contested the charges. They also both applied for bail.
The mother was denied bail after the prosecution said it held concerns she may interfere in the investigation.
She will remain behind bars until early next month when she can apply for release on home detention.
The court heard the father was less involved in the alleged scam and the magistrate ordered a home detention report.
The father will learn if that report is successful next week.
Police have asked anyone with information or who believes they have donated money to the family to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or attend a police station.
