The cancer example is plausible, but I am not sure you would always win.
In that case you are asking for help for a specific reason. They “get to feel good about helping solve your problem”.
Your deception deprives them of their having done something good with their money - which is the tort.
In OP’s instance, he was saying that he had a birthday and you are giving him a gift.
Not the same - you can make the same argument, but it is even thinner gruel.
Ceedoestrees@lemmy.world 31 minutes ago
The consideration is the exclusive romantic relationship. They wouldn’t have given him gifts if they didn’t believe they were in a relationship.