Sabrina Taylor, a 41-year-old from Tacoma, Washington, has been sentenced to jail after defrauding friends of over $600,000 by falsely claiming to suffer from multiple sclerosis (MS). Taylor, who had a deep love for Japanese culture, used her fabricated illness to gain sympathy and financial aid from close friends and acquaintances.
Taylor’s elaborate scheme involved multiple deceptions, from claiming to be a Master’s student at the University of Washington to stating she worked as a research assistant at Seattle’s Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. She persuaded her friends to cover her expenses, citing financial struggles caused by her studies, supposed illness, and even claiming that health policies under then-President Donald Trump had left her in debt.
As Taylor’s money requests grew, three of her friends in Japan—Kathryn, Ebony, and Lauren—became suspicious and began comparing their experiences. Their investigation led to startling discoveries. Lauren accessed Taylor’s iPad while Taylor was away, finding no professional emails or work accounts linked to her supposed job or studies. Further investigation revealed that Taylor was on academic probation at Seattle Central College and had never been diagnosed with MS.
In a bold move, Ebony exposed Taylor’s deceit publicly on Facebook, warning others of her fraudulent activities. “I believe in truth and integrity,” she wrote. “I cannot allow any more people to give money to a person who is lying.” Taylor’s scams had not only targeted friends but had also extended to an ex-partner whom she reportedly scammed out of $100,000 before falsely accusing him of domestic assault.
An FBI investigation confirmed the extent of her deception, including her fraudulent claims of MS. Taylor was ultimately charged with wire fraud and sentenced to prison. Her story, and the devastating impact of her lies, is part of the Channel 4 documentary Love Cheats, which chronicles similar cases of betrayal.
