The BBC has released a new true crime series about Amanda Riley that is streaming for free, but what did she do and where is she now? Premiering on Tuesday night (June 16) was Scamanda, a four-part series about a wife, mother, and devout Christian who captivated thousands with her tragic cancer story. However, it soon emerged that she was hiding a secret she was desperate to keep.
The Deception Begins
In 2012, Riley took to social media seeking donations, claiming she was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma, a blood cancer that affects white blood cells. She started a blog titled Lymphoma Can Suck It, sharing photos and updates, often showing herself with little hair, which she had shaved. Riley asked for money to fund her medical care, and the website gained so much traction that she even received a signed guitar from a meet-and-greet with country singer LeAnn Rimes.
The Truth Revealed
However, Riley was never actually diagnosed with cancer or any other terminal illness. To maintain her facade, she faked letters from doctors and medical bills. Any money given to her went directly into her bank account and was used for personal expenses. She and her husband, Corey Riley, shared two sons, Carter and Connor. The couple also used the scheme, which ran until 2019, to lower Corey's child support payments to his ex-wife for their daughter, Jessa Gonzalez.
Investigation and Arrest
In 2015, investigative journalist Nancy Moscatiello received an anonymous tip that Riley was faking her illness. Moscatiello contacted various hospitals and spotted inconsistencies in Riley's blogs. After gathering her findings, the case was referred to the Internal Revenue Service. In 2020, an IRS special investigator charged Riley with wire fraud resulting from digital donations. A total of 349 individuals and entities who made contributions totaling $105,513 to Riley were identified by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Sentencing and Aftermath
The following year, Riley pleaded guilty to wire fraud in federal court as part of an agreement with the prosecutor. She admitted that she set out to deceive people but still faced up to 20 years in prison. In the end, Riley was sentenced to five years and ordered to pay restitution equal to the amount of the donations. Her husband Corey has not faced any charges related to the scheme.
After her sentencing, Riley said: “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.”
Riley began serving her sentence at Federal Medical Center Carswell in Fort Worth, Texas. She was soon moved to RRM Long Beach, a residential reentry facility in California. According to reports, Riley was taken to an emergency room 24 times during her first 18 months of incarceration, issuing various medical complaints. Her attorneys claimed her recent illness battle is real and called for her early release. However, a judge denied the request last year after learning Riley was caught attempting to manipulate test results. She is said to have been released from prison late last year.
All four episodes of Scamanda are available to watch on BBC iPlayer now.
