I happened to have run across this story over at Ace’s blog. I really do not know what this woman was thinking; but man did she ever step into it! 
The Story from one of the blogs over at Houston Press:
There are times when the good deeds that happen by the magic of the Internet make us quite giddy. This time? Well, this time they make us cringe, to the tune of $100,000.
If you haven’t read the “insightful” personal narrative that recently went viral, “Why I Make Terrible Decisions, or poverty thoughts,” there’s a good chance it’s somewhere on your Facebook news feed. This thing is everywhere.
The essay, which is being touted as a poignant look at the “terrible” decision-making processes of the poor, is the product of writer Linda Walther Tirado’s personal experience with poverty. Linda, a married mother of two, speaks of having to live in seedy motels, where there are roaches that she stabs with toothpicks. She can’t cook for her family because she lacks a kitchen, and she’s afraid of attracting more roaches, so they survive on junk food in said seedy motel.
Oh, and not only does Linda say she’s living in seedy motels and stabbing roaches, but she’s also working two jobs, taking a full load of college courses, and is banished to a life as a cook in the “back of the house” at a restaurant, as she is deemed too unsightly as a waitress — or apparently a legal secretary — due to an unfortunate set of teeth. She’s in desperate need of dental work, and her body is full of infection, but she can’t afford to spend the money on medical or dental care. It’s a tragic, tragic story.
It’s also tragically fictional.
There is more about it over at National Review and Mediaite; and boy does it ever get deep. The biggest and most important rule when it comes to the Internet, especially with charity, is to never, ever lie about anything at all. Because if you do, it will come out; one way or another. Stephen Glass did it, and he is still paying the price for it.
Not to toot my horn; but that is one thing that I have never done at all on this blog —— and that is lie about anything related to my personal situation here. Because I knew if I did, it would come back to haunt me. Now I will tell you this, I will share what I do truly have in my personal bank account:
In case you cannot see that, I have $73.70 in my personal checking account. I recently received a payment from infolinks.com, for about 2 years of running their ads here on my site. I was paid by Paypal. Anyway, that is my true situation here. However, because I am an honest man, I will tell you that I do live with my parents; and I do have a roof over my head and three square meals a day. Now, my parents have to foot my bill for medications, as I am diabetic, have high blood pressure and have ADHD. Plus, they pay for any and all doctor’s visits. So, it is not like I am on welfare or any other social program. Hey, at least I am honest about all of that. Heck, I could lie about everything here; but I am a bit more smarter than that. Again, anytime you lie about something like this woman did here; it always catches up with you.
I might be a bit of a jaded, opinionated old duffer; who’s bit of an eccentric. But, at least I am honest! 
As the old saying goes, “Honesty is the best policy.” Too bad this woman did not follow that teaching.
Update: …and of course, HuffPo doubles down.