First of all, he's a perfect example for con man person, he hasn't been honest with the people even with himself, I don't know what was the motive to did this, but maybe he has to get money to support himself or give money to his family, so I think that if he want to get back the money or give it to a cancer institute like a  donation, its a good idea.
In Mexico some people do the same, but they do fishy things like pirate things or doing fake calls to get money from the people who call they, other act of fraud is when the people (homeless) borrow money on the street but they don't need the money, they just want the money to get drugs or alcohol.