Some people fake cancer for sympathy. Others do it for money. But the truth is darker than most of us want to believe.
In this episode, we break down the tactics, behaviors, and mindsets of some of the most convincing cancer fakers out there. From Madison Russo’s botched medical props to Elizabeth Teckenbrock’s alleged search history...“Is it illegal to fake cancer?” Um, yeah.
Bill Petrich, a real cancer survivor who now investigates fake cases, helps us understand the psychology behind the deception.
We also take a look at the biggest cancer cons in recent history: Scamanda, Belle Gibson, Jennifer Flynn Cataldo and how these scams went from emotional manipulation to full-on fraud.
To learn more about Bill Petrich’s work documenting these cases, check out his TikTok: @faking.cancer.expert:
https://www.tiktok.com/@faking.cancer.expert
Listen to eLIESabeth podcast:
https://open.spotify.com/show/2nlxXhewsTRAyJhvyvaQbb?si=5de4d34489f549e9
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