The BBC true crime docu-series Scamanda has captivated viewers, concluding with its final two episodes airing on Tuesday, June 23, 2026. The series, based on the hit podcast of the same name, investigates the elaborate hoax of Amanda Riley, a former California school principal and mother of two.
The Scam Unraveled
After the birth of her son in 2012, Riley launched the blog Lymphoma Can Suck It, posting uplifting content about her fight against terminal Hodgkin's lymphoma. For seven years, she convinced family, friends, and strangers that she was ill, scamming them out of thousands of dollars for supposed treatments. Journalist Nancy Moscatiello pursued the story, even filing a civil harassment lawsuit against Riley, before taking her findings to the San Jose Police Department, which launched an official investigation.
Legal Consequences
Riley's case was heard at the California Federal Courthouse in 2021, where she pleaded guilty to wire fraud. She defrauded more than $105,000 from 349 identified individuals. She was sentenced to five years in prison and ordered to repay all the money. She began her sentence at Federal Medical Centre Carswell in Fort Worth, Texas, and later moved to a residential re-entry facility, RRM Long Beach, in California.
Life Behind Bars and After
According to reports, Riley was taken to the emergency room 24 times during her first 18 months behind bars with various medical complaints. Her attorneys called for early release, citing her real health battles, but a judge denied the request after she was caught attempting to manipulate test results. It has been reported that Riley was released from prison last year, but her current whereabouts are unknown. Her ex-husband, Corey, filed for divorce in 2024 and remains in Texas with their two sons.
Riley's Apology
After her sentencing, Riley stated: “This is the worst thing I have ever done and the worst mistake I could have made. I don’t sleep well at night because this haunts me daily. I can’t even look at myself in the mirror without feeling ashamed, and I am so sorry.”
Scamanda is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
