The Adelaide parents of a six-year-old boy have been accused of faking his cancer diagnosis, including shaving his head and eyebrows, to raise money for bogus treatment.

The man and woman, both 44, have been charged with criminal neglect and deception, accused of fraudulently raising $60,000 after putting their son in a wheelchair with bandages to imitate radiotherapy treatment.

Acting assistant commissioner John DeCandia said he “couldn’t think of a more devious and cruel scheme that the parents have done to their own child” in relation to the allegations.

“It’s abhorrent that people would [allegedly] seek to profit for their own personal greed and selfishness from such an insidious condition such as cancer which impacts so many families in our community,” he said.

The matter was reported to police on 26 November and the Western District Child and Family Investigation Section had been working with the Department of Child Protection, the child’s school and Child Protection Services.

DeCandia said daily risk assessments had been conducted to ensure the short-term safety of the boy and the couple’s other child, a girl aged between six and 12.

“It will be alleged that the accused shaved their six-year-old child’s head, eyebrows and placed them in a wheelchair with bandages to imitate stereotactic radiotherapy treatment,” he said.

“Our investigation has confirmed the child is not seeking medical treatment. We believe this farce illness is causing significant and serious psychological harm to the child and their sibling.

The children have been removed from the custody of the parents with a relative providing short-term care.

“There will be ongoing support needed for the child because initially thinking you’ve got cancer, and you’re not well, would be quite devastating,” DeCandia said.

The man and woman were refused police bail and were scheduled to appear in Port Adelaide magistrates court on Friday afternoon.