Tara Enoka: Accused fake cancer GoFundMe fundraiser and aspiring boxer doesn’t know how to return stolen cash

An aspiring boxer accused of pocketing almost $37,000 in donations after falsely claiming she was battling cancer has been warned a term of imprisonment was a very real possibility — after she admitted she did not know how to return the stolen cash. Tara Michelle Enoka received the stern caution after she asked Joondalup Magistrates Court to postpone her sentencing, delaying the already-protracted matter yet again. The 36-year-old was charged with fraud in June 2024 following an investigation stemming from an online GoFundMe appeal she posted in March 2021, in which the mother claimed that she had been diagnosed with rare breast and cervical cancer, alongside a hashtag #StandWithTara. Enoka pleaded not guilty to that offence in August, when police said more than 500 people from 16 different countries donated to the GoFundMe campaign between March and September 2021. However, following negotiations with police prosecutors, the fraud charge was dropped and replaced with the less-serious offence of possession of stolen property, which carries a maximum penalty of two years’ imprisonment or a fine of $24,000. She pleaded guilty to that crime on January 29 and the matter was set down for sentencing. But that sentencing did not go ahead as planned on Monday morning, after Magistrate Raelene Johnston was told Enoka didn’t know how to return the tens of thousands of dollars she’d stolen. At the time Ms Enoka was charged, police alleged more than 500 people from 16 different countries had donated more than $36,000 to Enoka’s GoFundMe page between March and September 2021. They also alleged she subsequently registered herself as the beneficiary of the funds being raised, and then transferred the funds to her bank account. “I’ve never been the type of person that’s ever asked anybody for help,” her online campaign read. “And in the last couple of weeks I’ve learned that it’s okay to ask for help. “We’re raising the money to help pay for the treatments that I need to potentially save my life sorry that I can be here for my kids to watch them grow up.” In Joondalup Magistrates Court on Monday, Enoka’s lawyer said her client wanted to pay back the stolen money to GoFundMe, but didn’t know how. Ms Johnston questioned why it had taken so long for this issue to go unresolved, pointing out that a forfeiture order had been made in March. “It’s been two months since the forfeiture order was made so I don’t know what’s been done in those two months to make those enquiries,” she said. “Obviously this is a serious charge. Imprisonment is definitely open for this.” Ms Johnston acknowledged that Enoka’s sentence could be impacted by whether she’d paid back the thousands she’d stolen. “There’s obviously some mitigation in her making that payment,” she said, adding that if Enoka and her lawyer couldn’t work out how to forfeit the cash in the next few months, she could at least provide documentation that showed her intention to return the money. Enoka’s sentencing was pushed until August 4. A GoFundMe spokesperson confirmed every person who had donated money to Enoka had been refunded by the crowdfunding platform after the woman was charged in June 2024, under its “Giving Guarantee”. “GoFundMe has a zero tolerance policy for misuse of our platform and cooperates with police investigations of those charged with wrongdoing,” they said. The woman’s registration as a boxing contestant was suspended by the Combat Sports Commission in the wake of her arrest last year. However, after applying to the State Administrative Tribunal for a review of the decision and a “stay” to lift the suspension, she was reinstated. The Commission’s decision in Enoka’s favour was handed down late last year but only published last month. One of the reasons the mum’s application succeeded was a financial impact of not being able to compete, which was seemingly “modest”. Enoka did not speak to waiting journalists outside court on Monday.