‘Scamanda’ documentary reveals the story of a woman who faked cancer and defrauded her community

The BBC has aired “Scamanda,” a four-part documentary series based on the podcast by Charlie Webster. The series details how Amanda Riley announced in 2012 that she had terminal cancer and began documenting her treatment on a blog. Her youth, charisma, and faith attracted attention and donations. The exact amount defrauded is unknown because many donations were in cash. Riley was a wife, stepmother, and active member of her megachurch.

Riley’s scam was uncovered after her former friend Lisa Berry became suspicious and contacted TV producer Nancy Moscatiello. Moscatiello fact-checked the blog and alerted police. The investigation later involved the IRS fraud division due to potential wire fraud from online donations. Prosecutors sought an 18-month sentence, but the judge imposed five years.

The documentary has been criticized for its length—four 40-minute episodes—and for including many silent reenactments. The reviewer argues that while the story is compelling, the series lacks insight into Riley’s motives and may be overstretched. “Scamanda” is available on BBC Two and iPlayer.