Amanda Riley, loving mother of two, devoted wife, and cancer faker. That’s the paradox explored by the shocking new series Scamanda, which mirrors a wildly popular podcast of the same name. Amanda C. Riley’s Hodgkins lymphoma scam fooled friends, family, and members of her megachurch, raking in over $100,000 along with gifts and immense public sympathy.
It all began publicly in 2012 when Riley, at the time living in San Jose, California, announced she had been diagnosed with stage three Hodgkin’s lymphoma. She documented her alleged cancer battle on her blog titled "Lymphoma Can Suck It," where she falsely claimed to be terminally ill. Her blog quickly garnered attention and sympathy, leading to financial support from her community.
According to investigative producer Nancy Moscatiello, who played a pivotal role in exposing Riley’s lies, her case highlighted astonishing inconsistencies. Moscowiello received anonymous tips and began to dissect Riley's narrative. The unraveling led to Riley’s 2021 conviction on wire fraud charges.
“This came on suddenly, it came on hard,” stated Lindsey Wilder, a community member, recalling the feelings of anguish felt upon learning about Riley's deception.
Riley, who reportedly received over $105,000 from 349 individuals, initially drew sympathy by weaving emotional narratives underscoring her supposed illness. She claimed she was suffering from the side effects of intensive cancer treatments, which she never underwent.
What fueled her actions? Charlie Webster, the creator of the Scamanda podcast, surmised, “I’m 100 percent convinced it wasn’t for the money. I think it was an addiction; she craved the attention and validation.” This “addiction,” Webster argued, provided her the emotional high of community support, which many crave through social media.
Riley attempted to manipulate her circumstances to maintain the illusion of her illness. According to reports, she even shaved her head to portray the side effects of chemotherapy and falsified medical records.
Throughout her hoax, she garnered sympathy through dramatic revelations, such as announcing her miraculous pregnancy amid her alleged health struggles. “After all this chemo and radiation she had, she's pregnant?” questioned Mahasti Ameli, Riley’s babysitter at the time. “It doesn’t add up.”
By 2019, doubts began to surface, primarily through her close friends, including Lisa Berry. Berry's suspicions pointed out flaws; her investigations led to Moscatiello as she discovered discrepancies such as Riley swimming recreationally after purportedly suffering significant medical episodes.
“At some point, I just knew something wasn’t right,” Berry shared as she connected the dots. This prompted the investigation by Moscatiello and eventually led to IRS involvement.
Riley’s deception culminated in her arrest and guilty plea. She was sentenced to five years but was released early, becoming eligible for reentry programs and serving the remainder of her sentence at a residential reentry center.
“She destroyed trust,” admitted one donor affected by Riley’s scheme. “I will never look at another fundraiser the same way again.”
The Scamanda docuseries reflects not just Riley's fall from grace but also highlights the human propensity to trust and believe those who appear vulnerable. It challenges viewers to be vigilant against deception, especially when emotional narratives tug at the heartstrings. The four-part series explores her elaborate con, centering on insights from the victims, investigators, and community members.
“We don’t question people who have cancer, and nor should we,” stated Webster, underscoring the dilemma society faces when truth blends with sympathy. With the show now airing every Thursday, it serves as both cautionary and reflective of human nature complicit to manipulation.