“She shaved her head, faked chemo, and took advantage of people’s kindness for cash. But her time ran out.”
For nearly a decade, California mom Amanda Riley pulled off one of the most twisted scams ever—pretending to have terminal cancer and collecting $105,513 from 349 donors who thought they were helping save her life.
She ran a blog called Lymphoma Can Suck It, documenting her “brutal battle” with Hodgkin’s lymphoma—posting tear-jerking updates, hospital selfies, and even shaving her head for extra effect.
The only problem? She was never sick.
Now, Riley’s shocking fraud is the subject of the viral podcast Scamanda and an ABC docuseries, and her betrayed victims are speaking out.
How She Fooled Everyone
This wasn’t just a small lie—Amanda built an entire brand around her fake suffering.
- Fake Treatments – She posted hospital selfies, used IVs, and even wandered into ERs pretending to faint to make her story look real.
- Forged Medical Records – She used an app called FollowMyHealth to create fake doctor’s notes and test results.
- Emotional Manipulation – She hosted church fundraisers, shared emotional speeches, and guilt-tripped people into donating.
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Her biggest red flag? She once claimed to have “brain fluid drained” but was seen swimming the next day.
“She didn’t just scam people—she made us feel like heroes for ‘saving’ her,” said Lindsey Wilder, a former church member who donated.
How She Got Caught
In 2015, an anonymous tip led investigative producer Nancy Moscatiello to Riley’s blog.
Moscatiello began digging into Amanda’s story and discovered major inconsistencies:
- Her clinical trials didn’t exist.
- Hospitals had no records of her supposed treatments.
- She would “pause” chemotherapy during pregnancy—something doctors said was impossible.
With the help of Cory Riley’s ex-wife and daughter, investigators built a case. By 2016, authorities raided Amanda’s home and found no evidence of cancer—just medical supplies bought online.
In 2022, Amanda pleaded guilty to wire fraud and admitted to stealing money through lies.
“This Isn’t Right” – Her Victims Speak Out
Hundreds of donors, including friends, church members, and strangers, were left feeling betrayed.
“I babysat for free and cooked meals for her family because I felt sorry for her,” said Mahasti Ameli. “Now I just feel like a fool.”
Others noticed inconsistencies but struggled to believe someone would fake cancer.
Where Is She Now?
- Amanda Riley – Sentenced to five years in prison, released to a California reentry center in December 2024, and expected to be fully released by December 2025.
- Cory Riley (Her Husband) – Never charged, now living in Texas. His daughter Jessa, who helped expose Amanda, says he’s still in denial.
- The Scamanda Docuseries – Airing on ABC & Hulu, diving deep into how Riley fooled hundreds.
How Social Media Reacted
People online were quick to call her out:
“Imagine shaving your head for clout. Jail time isn’t enough.”
“She’s so committed to scamming, she probably faked being sick in prison too.”
“Munchausen meets GoFundMe greed. A new Netflix doc incoming?”
The Chilling Takeaway
Amanda Riley’s case isn’t just about fraud—it’s a reminder of how easy it is to exploit human kindness.
“People don’t want to doubt a cancer patient. But sometimes, the biggest liars wear the saddest masks.”
