A Dartmouth woman allegedly forged sick notes and a death certificate to get paid leave and donations from a fundraiser organized by co-workers.

The 47-year-old woman now faces more than 50 fraud-related charges, according to a news release from police.

Halifax Regional Police got a report on Aug. 15 that a hardware store worker in Lower Sackville committed fraud. RCMP learned that between 2021 and August 2024, the employee forged multiple sick notes and the death certificate of a loved one.

The employee’s co-workers organized a fundraiser in the wake of the fictitious death, police say.

RCMP and Halifax Regional Police found and arrested the woman outside of a home on Joseph Young Street.

They found IDs with five different names on her person when she was arrested.

Officers searched her home with a warrant later that day and seized several medical documents, mobile devices, IDs and an unsecured rifle.

Her charges include:

• 16 counts of fraud under $5000
• 19 counts of property obtained by crime
• 20 counts of using or having forged documents
• False pretence (intentionally misrepresenting a fact, with fraudulent intent, to get someone to act on that fact)
• Unsafe storage of a gun
• Unauthorized possession of a gun
• Possessing a gun and knowing its possession is unauthorized
• Possession of Property Obtained by Crime (19 counts)
• Use or Possession of Forged Documents (20 counts)

She appeared in court Thursday and was remanded into custody.

The investigation continues.