The BBC true crime documentary Scamanda concludes tonight, detailing how Amanda Riley, a former California school principal and mother of two, defrauded over $105,000 from 349 identified victims by pretending to have terminal cancer.
How the scam unfolded
After her son's birth in 2012, Riley created the blog Lymphoma Can Suck It, sharing inspirational posts about her battle with terminal Hodgkin's lymphoma. For seven years, she convinced relatives, acquaintances, and strangers of her illness, fraudulently obtaining thousands for purported medical treatments.
Investigation and trial
Journalist Nancy Moscatiello investigated Riley's claims for the Scamanda podcast, even facing a civil harassment lawsuit from Riley. Moscatiello presented evidence to the San Jose Police Department, leading to a formal inquiry. In 2021, Riley pleaded guilty to wire fraud at the California Federal Courthouse.
Sentencing and imprisonment
Riley received a five-year prison sentence and was ordered to repay the full amount defrauded. She began her sentence at Federal Medical Centre Carswell in Fort Worth, Texas, and later transferred to a residential re-entry facility in Long Beach, California. Reports indicate she visited A&E 24 times during her first 18 months in custody.
Failed early release bid
Riley's legal team sought early release due to genuine health issues, but a judge rejected the application after she attempted to manipulate test results. She was reportedly freed from prison last year, but her current location is unknown. Her former husband Corey filed for divorce in 2024 and lives in Texas with their two sons.
Riley's apology
Following 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.
