‘Scamanda’ Case: California Woman Who Faked Cancer for Years Exposed and Convicted

A woman from California was exposed for orchestrating a scam by pretending to be a cancer patient for years and collecting money through donations. For years, she lied about having cancer and collected donations through various platforms that were supposed to be used for medical bills.

A woman identified as Amanda Riley was a teacher in California who, for years, falsely claimed she had cancer. She collected donations for her cancer treatment. She raised more than $100,000 from loved ones and strangers, claiming the money would pay for her medical expenses. Through the scheme, she also received trips, gifts, event tickets, free babysitting, and more.

Riley started a blog and used social media accounts to spread the lie. Railey claimed she was battling Hodgkin’s lymphoma, alternating between remission and relapses at least four times from 2012 to 2016. During this time, she and her husband had two sons, whom she called miracle babies.

The story of Amanda Riley and her scam was detailed in a crime podcast in 2023 named “Scamanda”, which was later adapted into an ABC series. The Scamanda docuseries premiered in January 2025 on ABC and Hulu.

Amanda was born in 1985 in San Jose, California. She met her husband, Cory Riley, when she was a 17-year-old cheerleader. She was hired to teach dance to Cory’s previous wife’s daughter, who at the time was battling cancer and was immunocompromised.

In the following years, Amanda frequently cited illness for her absences from her job as a resident advisor at San Jose State University, classmates recalled in a bonus episode of Scamanda. Cory and his previous wife, Aletta, divorced, and he later married Amanda. Cory and Amanda filed for full custody of Cory’s daughter Jess, whom Amanda referred to as a “bonus daughter.” To date, Cory and Amanda have full custody of Jess.

Amanda began her blog, Lymphoma Can Stuck It, in 2012 where she chronicled her alleged battle with Hodgkin's lymphoma, a form of blood cancer. She claimed to have been diagnosed with the condition when she gave birth to her first son.

Over time, Amanda started inviting donations through online fundraisers. Despite her claims that she had terminal cancer and was undergoing chemotherapy, Amanda got pregnant again, welcoming her second son in May 2014.

Amanda was convicted of wire fraud related to her online fundraising and stole $105,513.43 from 349 people and entities. However, donations in cash, checks, gift cards, items, and services were not included in that total.

Moscatiello said in a Reddit AMA that he traced at least another $80,000 in donations that were not included in the official total.

Moscatiello received an anonymous tip that Amanda was scamming donors. The source included a link to her blog, which led him to begin investigation. He spoke to several people, including hospitals where she claimed to have been treated and Cory’s ex-wife. Her sister, who had lung cancer, pointed out several inconsistencies in her blog.

She later presented her findings to the California police department in 2015. The detective flagged the case, and it took years before further action was taken. Amanda was sentenced in May 2022.