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Man Fakes Wife's Death For Employment Payout

Charged: Scott Wellington is accused of deceiving his company into handing over $7,000

GREENVILLE, NH – A heartless husband desperate for cash allegedly came up with a get-rich-quick scheme by telling his employer that his wife had died.

But Scott Wellington’s alleged scam was exposed after a sympathy card sent by his bosses was opened – by his perfectly healthy wife.

Wellington, 31, from Greenville, New Hampshire, is claimed to have duped his company into handing over $7,000 after claiming that his wife had terminal cancer. He apparently claimed the cash was needed to pay for her medical costs.

According to WMUR9 News, the fraud then snowballed, with Wellington later claiming to staff at C&M Machine Co. that his wife had died from the killer disease.

As a result, the Hudson firm granted Wellington bereavement leave so that he could mourn his bride.

Police say Wellington’s wife was unaware of the hoax – until a sympathy card arrived from the company consoling Wellington for his recent loss.

Wellington was arrested after his wife contacted the company to confirm she was still alive.

Wellington was charged with two counts of theft by deception. He was held in lieu of $2,500 bail and is scheduled to be arraigned later today.

So far police have not revealed the name of Wellington’s wife while a C&M Machine Co. spokesman said the company would not be commenting on the matter.

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