The highly anticipated Hulu docuseries Scamanda is set to premiere on ABC on October 9, 2024, before it becomes available for streaming on Hulu the following day, October 10, 2024. Produced by Pilgrim Media Group, a division of Lionsgate Alternative Television, this compelling documentary is produced for ABC News Studios. Scamanda is inspired by the widely popular podcast of the same name from Lionsgate Sound, which first premiered on May 15, 2023.
This four-part docuseries delves into the shocking story of Amanda Riley, a young Christian mother and wife who initially claimed to be suffering from stage 3 blood cancer. However, it was later uncovered that Amanda had been fabricating her diagnosis for years.
The official synopsis of Scamanda reads:
“Wife, mother, and blogger Amanda Riley’s tragic cancer tale captivates thousands, but following an anonymous tip to an investigative reporter, her own words may prove to be her downfall.”
The Real Story Behind Scamanda Explored
A devout Catholic and a well-known figure in her local church, Amanda Riley was not only a wife and mother but also had a background in education, previously serving as a teacher and elementary school principal in Northern California.
Starting in 2012, Amanda began informing her family and friends about her supposed diagnosis with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, a type of stage 3 blood cancer. Shortly after this announcement, she launched a blog to document her illness and treatment, sharing updates across social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter (now X).
Amanda went to great lengths to maintain her fraud, posting images of herself in hospitals undergoing treatment, alongside deceptive medical records and forged letters from physicians. She even shaved her head to convincingly portray having chemotherapy.
By publicly sharing her story of illness, Amanda raised funds, becoming a local celebrity as she inspired others in similar situations. Over the span of seven years, she managed to deceive 349 individuals into donating a total of $105,513 between 2012 and 2019.
In July 2020, federal authorities charged Amanda Riley with several crimes, leading her to plead guilty to wire fraud in October 2021. In May 2022, she was sentenced to five years in federal prison.
The Scamanda Podcast Covered Her Story
In May 2023, a podcast titled Scamanda was released, hosted and produced by journalist Charlie Webster, further examining Amanda’s fraudulent scheme over eight engaging episodes. This podcast saw immense success, periodically topping the Apple Podcast charts throughout its run.
The investigation into Amanda’s case was sparked by an anonymous tip received by journalist Nancy Mosciatello, who was the first to delve into Amanda’s unsettling story. Nancy dedicated five years of her life to uncovering the truth.
Plot Summary
Scamanda details how Amanda Riley fabricated a terminal cancer diagnosis for seven long years, from 2012 until 2019, manipulating her friends, family, and local community into donating over $100,000 for her supposed medical treatment.
The docuseries features exclusive interviews with Amanda’s former acquaintances, alongside a neuropsychologist who sheds light on Riley’s psychology. It also includes insights from law enforcement and IRS agents involved in the case, alongside materials collected by both Mosciatello and Webster during their investigations.
All episodes of Scamanda will debut on ABC on Wednesdays, beginning October 9, 2024, at 10 pm ET, and will be available for streaming on Hulu the following day.
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