The Amanda C Reilly scandal was a major cancer fundraising fraud case. It involved fake cancer claims made from 2012 to 2019. She used social media and blogs to trick people into donating money for her fake cancer treatment.
Imagine trusting someone who says they’re fighting cancer. You donate money to help them survive. Then you learn it was all a lie. This is exactly what happened to 349 kind people. They gave over $105,000 to Amanda C Reilly. Their generosity was met with betrayal.
Amanda created a blog called “Lymphoma Can Suck It” in 2012. She wrote about her fake battle with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Her story touched many hearts. She ran fundraising campaigns on GoFundMe and YouCaring. In 2020, the truth came out. She was arrested and later sentenced to 5 years in prison.
The False Cancer Claims
Amanda C Reilly launched her fake cancer story in 2012. She created a blog called “Lymphoma Can Suck It.” She falsely claimed to have Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a cancer that affects the lymphatic system. She maintained this lie for seven years, from 2012 to 2019.
Through her blog, she shared detailed but false stories. She wrote about chemotherapy treatments she never had. She described side effects she never experienced. She even posted about hospital visits that never happened. Her writing was emotional and seemed very real to her readers.
Her blog gained many followers who believed her story. She portrayed herself as a brave cancer fighter. She wrote about her struggles and determination to survive. Many people admired her courage, not knowing it was all fake. Her detailed writing about cancer treatments fooled both strangers and close friends.
The Fundraising Fraud
After building trust with her blog readers, Amanda started multiple fundraising campaigns. She claimed she needed money for cancer treatments. She used emotional appeals and urgent medical updates to convince people to donate.
She spread her fundraising across different platforms to reach more people. Each donation platform brought in different amounts of money. She collected personal donations from people who contacted her directly.
| Fundraising Platform | Number of Donors | Amount Collected |
| GoFundMe Campaign | 249 donors | $77,368 |
| YouCaring Platform | 84 donors | $19,775 |
| Direct Personal Donations | 16 donors | $8,370 |
| Total Donations | 349 donors | $105,513 |
The Unraveling of the Truth
The first cracks in Amanda’s story appeared when close friends became suspicious. These were people who knew her before her claimed cancer diagnosis. They noticed things that didn’t match with typical cancer treatment experiences.
Her story started showing clear problems. Her timeline of treatments had inconsistencies. She couldn’t keep track of all her lies. Some medical details she shared didn’t make sense to people with real medical knowledge. Close friends started investigating her claims more carefully.
The final exposure came when people dug deeper into her story. They found no medical records to support her claims. They discovered she had never received cancer treatment at any hospital. Her entire seven-year cancer journey was proven to be a complete fabrication.
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Legal Consequences and Sentencing
Amanda C Reilly faced serious legal consequences for her fraud. In July 2020, she was charged with wire fraud for deceiving hundreds of donors. In October 2021, she pleaded guilty to these charges. The evidence against her was overwhelming.
On May 24, 2022, she received her sentence in federal court. She got 5 years in federal prison and must repay $105,513 to her victims. This case became a landmark IRS financial conviction for cancer-related fundraising fraud.
| Sentencing Details | Information |
| Criminal Charges | Wire Fraud |
| Plea Date | October 2021 |
| Prison Sentence | 5 years |
| Restitution Amount | $105,513 |
| Release Date | May 8, 2026 |
| Prison Facility | Carswell FMC, Fort Worth, Texas |
| Prisoner Number | 26385-111 |
The Impact on Victims
Amanda C Reilly’s fraud deeply hurt her 349 victims. She stole a total of $105,513 from people who thought they were helping a cancer patient. The donors felt betrayed. Many of these people had personal connections to cancer, having lost family members to the disease or being survivors themselves.
The impact went beyond just money. Her fraud damaged people’s trust in legitimate fundraising campaigns. Real cancer patients now find it harder to get help because donors are more suspicious.
The victims suffered emotional trauma from being deceived, especially those who were close friends and had supported her for years. Some donors even shared their own cancer stories with her, making the betrayal even more painful.
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Lessons Learned and Moving Forward
This case teaches us important lessons about online fundraising. Before donating, people should verify all claims and check official documentation. It’s safer to support established charities with proven track records. Donors should look for warning signs like inconsistent stories or a lack of medical proof.
To protect ourselves and others, we need to be more careful with online donations. This means researching fundraising campaigns thoroughly, asking for proof of medical conditions, and keeping records of all donations.
We should report suspicious fundraising activities to authorities. Most importantly, we must find a balance between helping those in need and protecting ourselves from fraud. This way, we can ensure our generosity reaches those who truly need it.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Amanda C Reilly start her fake cancer blog?
Amanda C Reilly started her fake cancer blog called “Lymphoma Can Suck It” in 2012.
What type of cancer did she claim to have?
She falsely claimed to have Hodgkin’s lymphoma, which is a cancer that affects the lymphatic system.
How long did her deception last?
Her deception lasted for seven years, from 2012 to 2019, before being exposed and arrested in 2020.Based on verified facts from the case ,Stated clearly and simply ,Shows the timeline of her fraud
Final Thought
The Amanda C Reilly case represents one of the most egregious examples of medical fundraising fraud, with devastating impacts that extended far beyond the $105,513 stolen from 349 donors. From 2012 to 2019, she crafted an elaborate deception through her “Lymphoma Can Suck It” blog
Perhaps most damaging is the case’s lasting impact on legitimate fundraising efforts for real cancer patients. The betrayal experienced by donors, many of whom had personal connections to cancer, has created a climate of heightened scepticism toward online medical fundraising.
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