World of Secrets — Season 10: The Child Cancer Scam
Episode 2: "The Director" (December 18, 2025, BBC)
Host/Lead Investigator: Simi Jalaosho
Key Contributors: Jack Goodman, Jose Antonio Lucio
Overview
This episode dives deep into the individuals behind an elaborate international charity scam exploiting families of children with cancer. The investigation focuses on the backstory of Khalil—a Filipino child whose story was used to gather tens of thousands of dollars in donations—and on Erez Hadary (alias Eric Noahide), who orchestrates these high-emotion crowdfunding campaigns, and Roy Inchiato, the local fixer in Cebu. The episode reveals how campaign organizers exploit families’ desperation, foster false hope, and often leave them with no access to the funds that were supposedly raised for their child’s care.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Tragedy and Betrayal: Khalil's Story
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Khalil’s Decline (01:47–05:53):
- The episode opens in December 2023, capturing the vibrant Filipino "barangay" festivities. Khalil, now 8 and gravely ill, participates in what becomes his last public celebration.
- Despite medical struggles and two rushed hospitalizations, Khalil passes away on December 22, 2023.
- His mother, Algin, describes her heartbreak upon later discovering that more than $27,000 was raised in her son's name—money she never knew about, let alone received.
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Algin’s Grief and Anger (05:08–05:53):
- “It makes me angry to see how many people tried to help us. ... I trusted him a lot and that's what he did to me.” — Algin (Khalil's mother), 05:08
- The campaign for Khalil remains open, drawing continued donations posthumously—compounding Algin’s sorrow.
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The Impact of Lost Funds (05:45–05:53):
- Asked if the misappropriated funds could have changed the outcome, Algin says: “Khalil could still be alive today.” (05:53)
2. Behind the Curtain: Identifying the Actors
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The Investigator’s Challenge (06:28–07:39):
- Finding Khalil’s family took digital sleuthing: host Simi Jalaosho and Jack Goodman piece together clues from campaign videos, identifying Cebu as the location via a background election poster.
- They contact a Filipino charity and Facebook page connected to Khalil's mother.
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At Khalil’s Grave (08:24–11:11):
- Simi visits the family at the cemetery. Algin recounts how Erez (Eric Noahide) visited the grave and made personal promises to help with funeral costs—promises unfulfilled.
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Insight into Erez Hadary (11:11–14:37):
- Erez is an Israeli-Canadian traveling frequently, projecting a lifestyle that is anything but impoverished.
- While maintaining a relationship with Algin built on constant communication, he frequently promises support but never delivers.
- Their exchange illustrates how hope is used as leverage: “I cannot send you money. I have only PayPal, not this GCash. ... Sweetheart, I love you. I Miss you.” — Erez (Eric Noahide), 12:36
- Erez encourages Algin to recruit more families and suggests religious conversion for relocation—demonstrating manipulative tactics beyond mere charity.
3. Dissecting the Scam’s Structure
4. The Local Link: Roy’s Role Under Scrutiny
5. Tracing the Money: Unregistered ‘Charities’
6. International Pattern: Investigation Broadens
- The Colombian Case: Ana’s Story (27:27–30:32):
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Similar scams are discovered in Colombia. Anna, a young cancer patient from Cartagena, is featured in a campaign run in the same manner. Her family never received any money.
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Voice notes between Anna’s father and “Isabel,” the organizer, reveal the relentless, pressuring communication to generate more emotional content.
“All the photos you have from the clinic or foundation, send them to me, please, without the hat on.” — Isabel, 29:44–30:07
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Anna’s family, supported by an established charity (Fundevida), confirms their exploitation.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
Khalil's Mother, Algin: Expressing Betrayal
- "We did everything he asked us to do so that we could get the help that we needed, and he kept that from us. I trusted him a lot and that's what he did to me." (05:08)
The Impact of the Scam
- "It makes me feel very sad that they're still making money using Khalil's name even after he passed away. For the peace of Khalil, I want the fundraising to stop." — Algin, 05:33
- “Khalil could still be alive today.” — Algin, 05:53
Erez's Manipulation and Excuses
- “Sweetheart, Sweetheart, listen to me. You can't call me because when you call me, I cannot answer. I don't have Wifi all the time. ... I cannot send you money. I have only PayPal, not this GCash. ... Sweetheart, I love you. I Miss you.” — Erez Hadary, 12:36
Religious Rationalizations
- "The light represents basically winning the darkness. Not by fighting, by adding more light. Because a little bit of light pushes a lot of darkness away." — Erez (Hanukkah celebration), 15:00
Roy’s Denials and Justifications
- "I did not know what after what’s going on next." — Roy, 20:26
- "For me it's not about that, it's about helping the kids." — Roy, 23:00
Timestamps for Key Segments
- [01:47–05:53] – Khalil’s last days, Algin’s discovery of withheld donations
- [06:28–07:39] – How investigators found Khalil’s family
- [08:24–11:11] – Graveside scene and revelations about Erez
- [11:42–12:36] – Erez’s promises and lifestyle
- [12:36–13:47] – Manipulation: Personal communications between Erez and Algin
- [14:37–15:49] – Erez’s public image and use of emotional persuasion
- [19:25–24:48] – Simi’s interview with Roy Inchiato
- [25:56–26:52] – Finding "Walls of Hope" and linking Erez’s identities
- [27:27–30:32] – Anna’s story in Colombia and pattern of exploitation uncovered
Conclusion & Next Steps
This episode uncovers how individuals like Erez Hadary manipulate the power of online storytelling and global sympathy, exploiting it for personal gain while leaving desperate families in the dark. The investigation reveals a web of empty promises, emotional exploitation, and a pattern stretching beyond the Philippines to Colombia and likely elsewhere. Next, the team pursues the shadowy recruiters, like “Isabel,” who facilitate this scheme, ensuring the story—and the search for justice—continues.
“Who is Isabel? This woman demanding things from a little girl that has cancer. This is very bad, Anna. Very bad indeed.” — Simi Jalaosho, 30:32
This summary captures the investigative depth, emotional resonance, and global scope of "The Director”—helping listeners grasp both the mechanics and human cost of these fraudulent campaigns.
