From Fundraising Queen to Convicted Fraudster: Amanda Riley’s Wild Ride of Deception
Amanda Riley, who skyrocketed to internet fame under the moniker “Scamanda,” orchestrated a heart-wrenching cancer fraud that duped kind-hearted folks out of more than $105,000. It all started back in May 2012 when 27-year-old Amanda made a dramatic announcement just days after giving birth: she’d been diagnosed with stage 3 blood cancer. Cue the sympathy! As she documented her supposedly harrowing journey on social media and her blog, LymphomaCanSuckIt.com, donations poured in from friends, church members of Family Community Church, and even complete strangers.
She painted a picture of a brave woman battling cancer, complete with staged hospital photos and tear-jerking updates. Despite supposedly facing numerous painful treatments, she welcomed a second child just two years later, leading many to laud her as an inspiration. And why not? She very much played the part of the strong, faith-driven survivor that many people wanted to support.
However, the façade began to crack when her former friend Lisa Berry got suspicious. After reading Amanda’s blog, Lisa tipped off a journalist in 2015, which ultimately led to an investigation. Fast forward to 2021, when Amanda pled guilty to wire fraud, admitting she had never even been diagnosed with cancer. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California, she was sentenced to five years in prison and is scheduled for release in the coming months after spending time in a residential re-entry center.
So why did it take so long for authorities to catch on? As it often goes in cases riddled with deception, the trust and belief of a community can be a hard thing to unravel, especially when the deceit comes dressed in charm. Amanda’s narrative was laced with well-crafted emotional appeals, and she expertly navigated the need for empathy, but, as they say, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
As Amanda prepares to re-enter society, one can only wonder how she plans to face a world that’s grown not just skeptical but also savvy in the wake of scams gone viral. Will she attempt to reclaim her life, or has the digital age made her notoriety shadow any hopes for redemption?
Sources: Celebrity Storm and ABC News, People Magazine, Hulu
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