Scamanda
True crime podcast review — 2026
Reviewed · Updated
"Scamanda is the wildest fraud story of 2023 — eight episodes charting how a woman faked terminal cancer for nine years and built an empire of sympathy and deceit."
Who is this podcast for?
- ✓Listeners who enjoy following a single case from start to finish
- ✓Fans of financial crime and corporate misconduct stories
- ✓Binge listeners who want something they can't stop at one episode
Pros & cons
- +Rated "Must Listen" by our editorial team — exceptional across all dimensions
- +Exceptional binge factor — near impossible to stop at one episode
- +Serialized format builds a compelling, sustained narrative arc across episodes
- −Must listen in order — cannot dip in and out between episodes
About this podcast
Eight-episode investigation by journalist Charlie Webster into Amanda Riley — a woman who faked terminal cancer for nine years, built a charity around her 'illness,' and raised over $100,000 from friends, family, and strangers before being convicted of wire fraud.
Best episode to start with
Episode 1 — must listen in order
Serialized format — listen from the beginning for the full experience
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Frequently Asked Questions about Scamanda
What is Scamanda about?
Eight-episode investigation by journalist Charlie Webster into Amanda Riley — a woman who faked terminal cancer for nine years, built a charity around her 'illness,' and raised over $100,000 from friends, family, and strangers before being convicted of wire fraud.
Is Scamanda worth listening to?
Our editorial verdict is "Must listen". It scores 9/10 on binge factor. True crime fans fascinated by con artists, medical fraud, and the psychology of long-term deception within close-knit communities.
Who is Scamanda for?
Scamanda is ideal for: Listeners who enjoy following a single case from start to finish; Fans of financial crime and corporate misconduct stories; Binge listeners who want something they can't stop at one episode.
What is the best episode of Scamanda to start with?
We recommend starting with Episode 1 — must listen in order. As a serialized show, it's best to listen from the beginning of a season.
Where can I listen to Scamanda?
Scamanda is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify. Search for it by name on any of those apps.
What podcasts are similar to Scamanda?
If you enjoy Scamanda, you might also like: Chameleon: Hollywood Con Queen, Dirty John, The Dropout, Uncover (CBC). See our full "Podcasts Like Scamanda" page for more recommendations.
Quick facts
- Format
- Serialized
- Host style
- Solo narrator
- Style
- Investigative, incredulous, compelling
- Episode length
- 8 episodes; bingeable in a weekend
- Binge factor
- 9/10
- Country
- United States
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