Salesman sold bosses bogus story of sick kid





ROCHESTER - As scams go, this one was particularly pitiful.
A newly hired salesman did no work for months, telling his bosses his 3-year-old son had cancer.

But the dad was unmasked as a liar when his employers tried to send flowers after being told the boy had died, when, in fact, he wasn't even sick, a lawsuit claims.

Atlanta-based software firm Lancope claims Michael Ruffalo launched his tales of tragedy right after he took a sales job last year and was given paid leave for months.

"When you hear of somebody's child being ill and ultimately the child dying, you feel for that person," Lancope exec David Cocchiara said.

The company wants Ruffalo to pay back $40,151 in salary and benefits, plus unspecified punitive damages.

Reached at his home, Ruffalo - who's accused of a similar scheme with another employer - said his lawyer had told him not to comment.