Ep 181 : The Maddie Russo Cancer Scam

Mama Mystery with Kelly Evans

What if everything you thought you knew about someone—someone you admired, donated to, and rallied around—turned out to be a carefully crafted lie? That’s the story of Maddie Russo, a seemingly courageous 19-year-old college student from Iowa who captured the hearts of thousands with her tearful TikTok updates about battling not one but multiple forms of cancer. Her story was inspiring—she maintained a 4.0 GPA, worked her dream internship, and even supported others through their own battles with illness.

But Maddie’s heartbreaking tale wasn’t just improbable—it was entirely fabricated. From falsified medical details to stolen photos of real cancer patients, Maddie orchestrated an elaborate hoax that manipulated countless people and raised over $37,000 in donations. It was a betrayal that left a trail of devastated donors, disillusioned followers, and betrayed nonprofits.

This story unravels Maddie’s web of deceit, exposing the cracks in her carefully curated online persona and the devastating consequences of her manipulation. How did she pull it off, and what led to her eventual downfall? This is the shocking case of Maddie Russo.

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