A poker participant who needed to enter the World Sequence of Poker in Las Vegas lied about having terminal colon most cancers to lift as much as $50,000 on GoFundMe. Rob Mercer (pictured left) says he didn’t have stage 4 most cancers when he began a GoFundMe to lift $10,000 to take part within the No-limit Maintain’em World Championship. ‘I did lie about having colon most cancers. I haven’t got colon most cancers. I used that to cowl my state of affairs,’ Mercer mentioned in an interview with the Las Vegas Overview-Journal.
In line with the Overview-Journal, Mercer obtained donations estimated between $30,000 to $50,000, together with a set on the Bellagio throughout the occasion. Even worse, the beginner poker participant says he has no intention to repay the cash as he believes he has undiagnosed breast most cancers and that he actually is sick. Speaking with the outlet, Mercer doubled down on his apology about mendacity however maintained that he doesn’t plan to offer the cash again. ‘What I did was improper. I should not have instructed folks I’ve colon most cancers. I did that simply as a spur-of-the-moment factor when somebody requested me what sort of most cancers I had,’ Mercer mentioned in a telephone interview. ‘I am sorry for not being trustworthy about what my state of affairs was. If I’d have finished that from Day One, who is aware of what would have occurred,’ he continued.
In whole, the person’s GoFundMe raised simply over $12,000. One particular person recognized as Benjamin Lee donated almost half of the funds, a whopping $4,649. Others donated tons of and one different particular person donated $1,000. Mercer mentioned he was contacted by a GoFundMe consultant who instructed him the fund wouldn’t be allowed to simply accept extra items because it violates the phrases of service.
Except for the financial donations, Mercer obtained perks together with a set on the Bellagio, which might value a number of thousand {dollars} relying on a number of elements. In a press release to the Overview-Journal, a consultant for the Bellagio mentioned that they might not affirm if Mercer was a visitor or how a lot the suite value. ‘There are lots of various factors that go into costs, so there’s no definitive value I may give you,’ the spokesperson mentioned. The authenticity of Mercer’s most cancers prognosis was first raised by members of the poker group, primarily poker influencer Doug Parscal Jr.
Parscal first responded to a DM from Mercer in February through which Mercer requested Parscal for assist as a result of he had most cancers. The influencer provided to stake him – bankroll his sport – for a event in Lincoln, California earlier this yr. ‘He responded and mentioned, ‘I am too sick proper now, however I admire the provide,’ Parscal mentioned to the Las Vegas outlet. ‘And that was it.’ In June, nonetheless, Mercer reached again out to Parscal and requested him to unfold the phrase about his GoFundMe to cowl his buy-in for the WSOP occasion. Parscal then used his personal connections to assist his fellow participant increase cash, together with connecting him with well-known participant Nick Vertucci.
In line with the Overview-Journal, Vertucci provided to cowl the distinction if Mercer’s GoFundMe didn’t find yourself reaching its purpose. The fundraiser ended up reaching its purpose in addition to personal donations and items. On the event, Mercer was eradicated a number of hours into the sport and the lie started unfolding in entrance of the world. Vertucci mentioned that Mercer was seen playing within the on line casino after his elimination, leaving many to marvel if he was spending fundraised cash. When he was confronted, he turned defensive, Vertucci instructed the outlet.
After that, the senior poker participant distanced himself from the beginner. It was solely after one other poker participant and donor pulled him apart on the World Sequence of Poker occasion that they realized he could also be mendacity about his well being. Cody Daniels – a chronically unwell poker participant who donated $2,500 to Mercer – mentioned Mercer gave imprecise solutions to his questions on his well being whereas they have been speaking. ‘He was very imprecise on the solutions,’ Daniels mentioned. ‘No one needed to say it. It was fishy to us, and clearly we weren’t the one ones.’
Parscal made the invention after asking Mercer for proof of his most cancers, through which he gave a MyChart.org be aware the place he requested his physician to substantiate his prognosis. Mercer offered the same be aware to the poker group in June and the message was by no means responded to by the physician. Parscal began to have doubts about Mercer’s story after the WSOP and obtained a number of telephone calls from donors who expressed related considerations. After being confronted, Mercer deactivated his social media accounts.
He mentioned he understood why it seemed suspicious. ‘Clearly I used to be simply making an attempt to maintain up with my story,’ Mercer mentioned. ‘I did not need to get uncovered as a result of it appears to be like dangerous. It does look dangerous. I lied. I am not going to disclaim that. I lied. I ought to have simply been clear and cozy with what’s going on with me and inform folks what was taking place,’ he continued.
Mercer maintains that he has most cancers however that he lied as a result of he was embarrassed to confess he might have breast most cancers, which additionally has but to be confirmed. ‘On the finish of the day I lied to lots of people as a result of I used to be scared to inform the reality,’ Mercer mentioned. ‘And I suppose I will must pay for that,’ Mercer mentioned.
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