Who is Amanda Riley? ABC docuseries Scamanda explores tale of woman who faked cancer for years

The ABC docuseries Scamanda chronicles the case of Amanda Riley, a Bay Area woman who faked terminal cancer for nearly a decade, defrauding her community of over $100,000 before being convicted of wire fraud.

The four-part series, based on the Scamanda podcast by journalist Charlie Webster, examines Riley’s elaborate deception, which included fabricating medical updates, hosting fundraisers, and accepting donations under false pretenses.

Riley, born Amanda Maneri in 1985, was raised in San Jose and later married Cory Riley, whose daughter had battled cancer. By 2012, Amanda claimed to have been diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma, portraying herself as a terminally ill mother.

She frequently spoke about her illness at Family Community Church in San Jose, attended fundraising events, and maintained a strong social media presence, even shaving her head to appear as if undergoing chemotherapy.

She repeatedly announced remission, followed by relapses, further convincing supporters of her struggle.

Federal prosecutors revealed that Riley operated two scam websites—lymphomacansuckitblogspot.com and supportamanda.com—to solicit donations. Over 349 individuals and businesses contributed $105,513 for her supposed medical expenses. However, Webster suggests that financial gain was not Riley’s primary motivation. Instead, she appeared driven by a need for validation, relishing the sympathy and attention her fabricated illness brought.

Riley’s deception unraveled when an ex-friend tipped off investigative producer Nancy Moscatiello, leading to a deeper investigation into her claims. In July 2020, Riley was charged with wire fraud and later pleaded guilty in 2021. Despite overwhelming evidence, some friends believed in her innocence until her courtroom admission.

Scamanda highlights the extent of Riley’s fraud and the psychological factors that may have fueled it, offering insight into one of the most shocking medical fraud cases in recent years.