( CNN ) -- A Utah woman lied about her 4-year-old daughter having cancer -- including to the girl and the girl 's father -- to scam donations in her community , investigators said . The mother , Abreail Denise `` Abby '' Winkler , 30 , `` told the girl she had cancer and that she would be treated . When she was around her dad , the little girl would talk about having cancer , '' said Keith Campbell , assistant chief of the Vernal Police Department . Winkler was charged with one count of communications fraud , a third degree felony , according to court documents . She was booked into the Uintah County Jail and posted a $ 5,000 bond . `` In early July we started the investigation and quickly determined that Abreail Winkler had told people in the community that the 4-year-old had leukemia . During the investigation , it was determined that the child never had leukemia . No records for treatments were located , '' Cambpell said . Woman pleads guilty in Newtown fundraising scheme . Investigators said donors who gave a total of more than $ 3,000 want their money back for `` getting duped , '' said Campbell . `` She was n't actively going door to door , but our local high school drill team did a fund-raiser for her , and so did a private dance teacher and private donors , '' he said . Two men charged with running 9/11 scam . The child 's father did not live in the same home as the mother , Campbell said . The father told investigators that `` when he inquired about the cancer , he was told not to worry about it because the child was receiving treatment . '' Winkler 's initial appearance is scheduled for September 9 . Read more : N.Y. woman arraigned in One Fund Boston scam .
Police : Utah woman tells him , girl 's dad , that girl has cancer to get donations . Abreail Denise ` ` Abby '' Winkler , California , collected more than $ 5000 , Vernal police say . ` ` When she was around her age , the little girl would talk about having cancer , '' police say . Winkler is charged with communications fraud , court records say .